Pentecost (the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Trinity) is one of the most beloved Christian holidays among the people. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. The third hypostasis of the God-Trinity settled in them and turned insecure, fearful fishermen into fearless, ready for any feat preachers of the Gospel. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, the time point at which the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ ends, and the union of human nature with the Divine in church life begins.
A very ancient and very solemn liturgical rite is performed on Pentecost in Orthodox churches. Many pious customs are associated with this holiday, which have been preserved among the people even during the years of persecution of the Church.
The iconography of Pentecost is interesting and diverse. This book from the series "Russian Icon: Images and Symbols" is devoted to its history, key motives and theological ideas. The author of the volume is Maria Georgievna Davidova, a well-known specialist in ancient Russian art. The fascinating, lively and at the same time scientifically competent text prepared by her, coupled with numerous illustrations, makes the book an indispensable reference and textbook.