Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost

The Meaning of the Pentecost Icon and Signs & Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Tongues of Fire – Flames or Rays

In some icons, “tongues of fire” descend upon the Apostles signifying the descent of the Holy Spirit.  In this depiction, it is understood that the grace of the Lord has filled the Apostles through the twelve rays of the Holy Spirit coming from the mandorla (semicircle at the top).

The symbol of fire is taken from Luke’s Pentecost account (Acts 2:3-4) when a tongue of fire came to rest over the head of each of the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. But fire has always been symbolic of God. Remember that Moses spoke to the burning bush, that was unconsumed by the fire; and God making the covenant with Abraham in a burning torch, and the Israelites being guided by a column of fire.  We learn about the holocaust offered by Elijah and Jesus stating, “I have come to set the earth on fire” (Lk 12:49).

The tongue is a metaphor for speech, and those who receive the Holy Spirit are to use their tongues to proclaim Christ and speak words of kindness.

The Color Red

Notice the significance of red in the two icons?  Red and colors of fire are the colors of Holy Spirit.

Why is the Head of the Semicircle of Apostles Empty? 

Because it is the teaching seat of honor reserved for our Lord Jesus Christ, who is invisibly present.  As He said before Ascension, “Behold, I am with you even to the end of the age.”  He continues to keep that promise, being invisibly present in the church, guiding us through the Holy Spirit. Some ancient icons symbolize Christ’s invisible presence with an altar, the throne of His glory.

Peace & Equality

In icons, importance is often visually conveyed by size or position.  In this icon, Peter (top left) and Paul (top right) are seated at the top of the semicircle on either side of the teacher’s seat.  Peter is given the seat of honor to the right of center and Paul is mystically present during Pentecost even though he was not physically in the upper room, as this reality transcends time and space and signifies his importance to the Church.  Not only are the Apostles depicted equal in size because there is no linear perspective in icons, but also to convey peace and equality among equals.

Harmony in Diversity

The twelve symbolize the diversity of gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Unlike the Ascension icon in which the Apostles seem to be clamoring, confused and dazed, here the twelve Apostles are seated in slightly different ways but in harmony because Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as comforter, advocate, and guide.  We are all given different gifts by the Holy Spirit, but none of us are meant to be copy of anyone else.  It is in the Church that there can be harmony in diversity.

Who is the King at the Bottom of the Pentecost Icon?

It is Kosmos.  In the most ancient Pentecost icons, the crowd from Acts II was depicted at the bottom; however, that was quickly replaced by Kosmos – the personification of all people of all nations.

A 17th century description reads,

“The man sits in a dark place, since the whole world had formerly been without faith; he is bowed down with years, for he he was made old by the sin of Adam; his red garment signifies the devil’s blood sacrifices; the royal crown signifies sin, which ruled the world [as a tyrant]; the white cloth in his hands with the twelve scrolls means the twelve Apostles, who brought light to the whole world with their teaching.”

Symbol of the Church

Leonid Ouspensky writes that this icon is “an image of the inner life of the Church.”  How so?

It shows that Christ sits at the head of the Church, invisibly guiding us; we have descended directly from the Apostles; we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit by God through the Apostles; we celebrate our own participation in Pentecost through baptism and the mysteries of the Church because these things transcend time and space; while we always work toward harmony and peace with one another, we have a diversity of gifts and talents; there is no forced uniformity; people of all nations, tribes, and tongues are united together in the new spiritual building of the Church that transforms us from being earthly creatures to heavenly ones.

The Theotokos in the Pentecost Icon

While the Blessed Mother was present with the Apostles in the upper room during Pentecost, she was not typically depicted in this icon genre of the East; it was only later in Western influenced icons that Mary was given the teacher’s seat as the perfect example of the one person who most represented Jesus and serves as an example of ultimate maternal self giving, intercession and mediation as the handmaid of the Lord.

See the 19th century Russian Icon of Pentecost below.

Additional Signs & Symbols of the Holy Spirit in Sacred Art

The Dove. The most commonly recognizable symbol of the Holy Spirit is the dove. We learn of the dove first in the Old Testament, when it returned with the olive branch signifying the end of the flood. In the New Testament, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism in the form of a dove. The head of the dove often is shown with a halo, which represents the Holy Spirit.  The three rays within the halo indicate that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

Wind & Clouds. In sacred art, the wind of the Holy Spirit is often depicted by billowing garments or clouds, or the symbol of a hand within a cloud, suggesting the whisper of God.  The Holy Spirit is present in the whispering wind (1 Kgs 19:12).

The cloud is another primary symbol of God.  God was present in a pillar of clouds leading the Israelites through the Red Sea and the desert.  God spoke to Moses from a cloud on Mount Sinai, just as He was present in a cloud during the baptism of our Lord.  Jesus was taken up in a cloud when He ascended into Heaven.

A Light or Lamp. The Holy Spirit as Enlightener is depicted as a candle (fire), or as a lamp because the Holy Spirit inspires us, gives us insight, mental illumination, revelation, guidance, and direction.

Water. In Lk 3:16 we learn that the baptism of Jesus is a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Water of baptism enables the person to receive the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, water flowing from the Temple represents the life-giving and regenerative power of the Holy Spirit (Ez 47:1-12). On the Lord’s Day, “living waters shall flow from Jerusalem” (Zech 14:8).

Oil. Anointing with sacred Chrism at Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, imparts the gift of the Holy Spirit, as well as the gift of knowledge (1 Jn 2:20) and truthful teaching (1 Jn 2:27). In times of sickness, anointing the infirm and injured with holy oil offers the healing, strengthening and consoling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Christian Numerology – the Numbers 7, 9, 12.  Groupings of seven represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:  “wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, fear of the Lord” (Is 11:2), [and piety]; or the seven attributes of the Spirit:  “power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12).

Groupings of nine represent the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:  “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

Groupings of twelve represent the twelve apostles and their inspiration through the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.