Feast of Paraclete
Teacher Mulat Demlie
The Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Feast of Paraclete is a great feast of the Church, celebrated on the tenth day after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended, and also on the fiftieth day from His resurrection. “Paraclete” is an ancient Greek word meaning “Comforter, Counselor, Advocate”; and this refers to the Holy Spirit. This feast is the day on which we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, the proclamation of the birth of the Church, and the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise.
The Holy Spirit and the Mission of the Apostles
When the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, they received various spiritual graces enabling them to carry out the ministry of the Gospel with power and success:
The grace of boldness and strength:
The Apostles, who had previously feared and scattered when the Lord was arrested (Matthew 26:56), testified about Christ without fear after the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Saint Peter and Saint John appeared before the council and spoke boldly (Acts 4:13). “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
The grace of wisdom and understanding:
The Holy Spirit opened their minds to understand the prophecies of the Old Testament and to relate them to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Saint Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost is a clear demonstration of this. (Acts 2:14-41)
Power to perform miracles:
The Apostles healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons in the name of Christ; this confirmed the truth of the Gospel. Saint Peter’s healing of the lame man, saying, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6), is a manifestation of this power.
The grace of speaking in different tongues:
On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they began to speak in different tongues so that Jews from various nations could hear the Gospel in their own languages (Acts 2:4-11).
The grace of unity and love:
The Holy Spirit created a deep unity and love among the Apostles and early believers. “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul… and they had all things in common.” (Acts 4:32).
Guidance in ministry:
The Holy Spirit directly guided the Apostles on where to go and what to do. (e.g., Acts 13:2; 16:6-7).
The Church Fathers on the Paraclete
The scholars of the Church have taught extensively about the person and work of the Holy Spirit:
General teaching:
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, is worshipped and glorified together with the Son, the Giver of life, Almighty, Omnipresent, True God (Prayer of Faith). He is the Comforter, Counselor, the Source of all grace, the origin of holiness, and the revealer of truth.
Saint Yared In his Dǝggʷa, he praises in melody the descent of the Holy Spirit, His comforting of the Apostles, and His enabling them to be the light of the Gospel to the world, singing, “The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in the upper room of Zion.”
Saint John Chrysostom extensively teaches how the Holy Spirit made the fearful Apostles courageous, the unlearned wise, and fishermen fishers of men. He highlights the transformative power of the Paraclete by saying, “Behold Peter, he who denied, he who feared, how he stood with boldness after the Holy Spirit descended upon him.”
Saint Cyril of Alexandria explains that the Holy Spirit reminded the Apostles of Christ’s teachings and revealed the mysteries of the Scriptures to them, quoting the words, “The Comforter, He will teach you all things.”
The scholars generally teach that the Holy Spirit is a grace given not only to the Apostles but, through them, to the entire Church. While the Apostles are the foundations of the Church, the Holy Spirit is its life and soul. Even today, the Church is guided and lives, and the holy mysteries are performed, by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Why do we celebrate the Feast of Paraclete?
The main reasons we celebrate this great feast are:
The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ was fulfilled. (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15).
The Holy Spirit clearly descended, and the divine work of the Trinity was revealed.
The Church was officially established, and the Apostles’ preaching began with power (Acts 2:41).
It is because the Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles for the ministry of the Gospel and encouraged them, and through it, the door to the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit was opened for us.
The Meaning of the Feast and its Proper Celebration
The commemoration of Paraclete signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit, Divine Guidance, and the manifestation of power. This feast should be celebrated by being filled with the Holy Spirit, and by leading a life of love, peace, and truth. Celebrating the coming of the Paraclete while walking in division, hatred, a life of falsehood, and being engrossed in carnal desires contradicts the spirit of the feast. When we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit, our lives, actions, and speech should be transformed and renewed by the Spirit, and should bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). A person who says, “I am filled with the Holy Spirit,” while being full of strife, unforgiving, or deceit, shows that they have not yet understood the gift and power of the Holy Spirit; for them, the Feast of Paraclete does not bring life change and spiritual renewal beyond its name.
What do we, Christians of this age, learn from the Apostles?
The life and ministry of the Apostles are a firm foundation and a living example for us Christians of this age:
Obedience to God’s word and command:
Just as the Apostles kept Christ’s command and patiently waited in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4), and fulfilled the Lord’s command in Matthew 28:19-20, we too should hear God’s word and apply it in our lives.
Seeking the power of the Holy Spirit and being led by Him:
The success of the Apostles’ ministry was not by their own wisdom and strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. We too must strive through prayer, holiness, and humility for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and guide us (Acts 1:8; Gal. 5:16).
Persevering in prayer and fellowship:
The early Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). A strong prayer life and holy fellowship with believers are crucial for our spiritual growth.
Enduring suffering with patience:
Although the Apostles endured much suffering for the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), they did not turn back from testifying. We too, when faced with trials because of our faith, should be comforted by their example (2 Corinthians 1:7)
Humility and giving glory to the Lord:
Even though the Apostles performed great miracles, they did not take glory for themselves. After Saint Peter healed the lame man, he said, “Why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (Acts 3:12), giving glory to God. We too, in all we do, should cast away pride and give glory to God.
Conclusion
The Feast of Paraclete is a great and holy feast where we remember the descent of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church, and the equipping of the Apostles for the ministry of the Gospel. Beyond merely commemorating a historical event, this feast is a time when we prepare ourselves in holiness so that the living and continuous work of the Holy Spirit may be manifested in our lives and in the Church. The Holy Spirit, who is the Paraclete, is with us today, just as He prepared, strengthened, and guided the Apostles. Their lives, teachings and sacrifices are an unfailing source of spiritual strength and an example of faith for us Christians of this age.
Let us learn from them humility, obedience, perseverance in prayer, being led by the Holy Spirit, and testifying about Christ without fear. Therefore, as we celebrate the coming of the Paraclete, our lives should be transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit to bear the fruits of love, peace, truth, and holiness, and by avoiding division and carnal desires, we should demonstrate in practice our understanding of the gift and power of the Holy Spirit.
Glory be to God!