Pfingsten Marks Church’s Biblical Origins

Why this is here: The disciples, gathered in Jerusalem, reportedly experienced a sudden ability to communicate with people of different languages after the descent of the Holy Spirit.

In Germany, Aljona Hofmann, a pastor in Berlin, explains that Pentecost commemorates the birth of the Christian church. The holiday falls 50 days after Easter and originated in Jewish tradition as the harvest festival of Shavuot. Biblical accounts state the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’s disciples in Jerusalem, allowing them to communicate across languages—an event Hofmann describes as a “wonder of understanding.”

About 3,000 people reportedly received baptism after this event, forming an early organized Christian community. Pentecost is celebrated across Christian denominations with the color red symbolizing the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some churches, like the Pantheon in Rome and baroque churches in Austria, Germany, and France, have “Holy Ghost holes” in their ceilings, releasing rose petals or dove figures to represent the descent of the Spirit. Hofmann notes that Pentecost lacks easily understood imagery unlike Christmas or Easter, and remains a more abstract celebration. The pastor’s congregation celebrates with an ecumenical service and a casual gathering, emphasizing connection despite differences.