I was looking forward to the day since Easter. I like the big candle they used to light in every church from Easter and wanted to photograph as many as possible in different churches I go to before Pentecost. I did take some, but not many.
They have a new flyover infront of the Basilica on the highway. Now, if we are coming from Ernakulam we have to go much forward and take the U-Turn from under the flyover and drive back to the church. Safe, though many who come to the church continue to take a right turn infront of the church the way they used to do earlier before the flyover. Unsafe and causes traffic block.
The feast of the Holy Ghost was on at the Church. As we know when the Portuguese Missionaries started this church in 1524 it was dedicated to the Holy Ghost. It could be the first church in Asia dedicated to the Holy Spirit according to the church notification. Naturally, Pentecost, which is the beginning of the history of the church should be a big celebration at our church. But somehow the celebrations are there but not as big as the Mary's feast in September.
In Jewish traditions there are three compulsory pilgrimages to Jerusalem temple the Jews have to undertake no matter where ever they are settled. "Shavout" or The Pentecost is one of them which is the fiftieth day from Passover. Galileans like Jesus and disciples had come to Jerusalem for the Pessach and it was during one of those pilgrimages when Jesus was caught and killed. After The Resurrection Jesus had instructed the disciples to be in Jerusalem. So when the Shavout arrived the disciples and Mary was in Jerusalem preparing for the festival. Mostly Shavout is a two day festival which celebrates the receiving of ten commandments by Moses from God nearly 3300 years ago. Women and children light candles and lamps at home while men will stay over at night awake in the synagogue and study Torah and read the book of Ruth. Since Shavout is also coinciding with the harvest of wheat its also a harvest festival when the Israelites offered the first fruit of their harvest to the temple. The offering included the first born of men and cattle also.
Naturally Jerusalem and the temple was crowded when the incidents of The Pentecost occurred. The arrival of Holy Spirit with the sound of storm and the disciples beginning to speak in many tongues. Many scholars comments that was the beginning of the church history too.
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| An old offering box at the church. I like the simple, yet creatively crafted wooden box, still very well taken care of. |
Wish you all the blessing and grace of the Pentecost. May the breath Jesus breathed upon the disciples continue to live through us and help us carry our crosses and follow the One who came in the name of the Father.
Bless you Adonai, Bless you Jesus, Thank you Mary & Apostles.
