Pentecost 2002
Pentecost is our parish's feastday. On this day, it is customary to decorate the church with green leaves and branches, symbolizing the "new life" which the Holy Spirit gives to us.
David Mastroberte, our Reader, was in charge of decorating this year. He really enjoys decorating for this feast... maybe a little too much! With help from some of the parish kids, or as he called them "the Green Team," branches were cut and placed everywhere: over each icon, behind the Processional Cross, shooting up from each beam of the Iconostas, over the Royal Doors, all over the Tetropod; some large (4" or so) branches were placed in vases in front of the Iconostas and in the Vestibule.
It truly was a sight to behold. Many of the older parishioners smiled as they saw the church, probably remembering Pentecost in the "good ole' days." The youth who assisted in decorating learned the meaning of this custom, and will hopefully continue it in the future.
These few photos do not give justice to the way the church looked, but you get the idea. ;-)
The Narthex.
A view of the Iconostas and Tetropod with the Festal Icon.
During the Litany of Fervent Supplication and Collection.
The Green Team