Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Πεντηκοστή
Celebrated: 50 days after Pascha
The Twelve Apostles are seated in a semicircle, with tongues of fire above their heads. At the bottom of the icon, a figure often labeled 'Kosmos' (the world) stands in darkness, holding a cloth with twelve scrolls — representing the apostolic preaching going out to all nations.
This icon represents the birthday of the Church and the beginning of the Church's mission to the world.