The Orthodox Christians on June 8 celebrate Whitsunday or Pentecost, a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Pentecost is one of the Orthodox Great Feasts. On this day, the clergy and faithful carry flowers and green branches in their hands during the services, IPN reports.

Pentecost became not only a commemoration of the Holy Spirit’s visit but also marks the birth of the Christian Church. On this day, as a result of the preaching of Saint Peter the Apostle, about 3,000 people converted to Christianity and formed the first Christian community in Jerusalem, which represented the nucleus of the later Church.

As recorded in the Bible, it was on the 50th day after Easter that the apostles were praying together and the Holy Spirit descended on them. They received the “gift of tongues” – the ability to speak in other languages – and immediately began to preach about Jesus Christ to Jewish people from all over the world.

The service is celebrated with an All-night Vigil on the eve of the feast day, and the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast itself. An extraordinary service called the Kneeling Prayer is observed on the night of Pentecost. Orthodox churches are often decorated with flowers and branches of walnut tree and linden tree.

On Whitsunday, the Christians go to church to obtain power and internal harmony with the descent of the Holy Ghost.