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The Holy Spirit descending from Heaven upon the disciples in a mystical
form. “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one
sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit...”
- Saint Gregory of Nyssa explains that "The Holy Spirit is fire, not as
burning material things, but as kindling hearts; not consuming, but illuminating.
Fire, as a figure, reveals the energy of the Spirit, which transforms souls
into light.”
The Apostles, depicted with halos, signifying their sanctification by
the Holy Spirit at this moment.
The Apostle Peter is seated at the top and directly across him is the
Apostle Paul. This placement shows their pre-eminent position of honor
among the apostles. However, they are depicted at the same level and proportions
as the other disciples, seated in the same semi-circle, indicating their
unity and equality with all the others disciples and apostles.
Although he was not historically present at the descent of the Holy Spirit
on Pentecost, the Apostle Paul is nonetheless still depicted as being there
because the icon is a mystical vision of the Church. With God there is
no distinction of the past, present and future. With God, it is always
now.
The Apostles are all holding scrolls signifying their ministry of proclaiming
the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world.
The Twelve Apostles are seated on elaborate chairs signifying the thrones
of spiritual authority they are given by Christ, which foreshadows their
role in the future judgment. So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to
you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of
His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel.’” ()
An empty spot at the top and central position of the gathering is the
place of Christ who is invisible there among the Apostles. "Behold, I am
with you always (). In other icons of Pentecost, the Holy Theotokos is
depicted seated here, symbolizing her authority as the Queen of Heaven
and the mother of the Church.
A symbolic figure called "Kosmos" who represents the entire world that
is depicted as an old man in the darkness of ignorance and death. The twelve
scrolls in his cloth represent the teaching of the twelve apostles being
sent into the world. His position below the apostles signifies the pre-Christian
world in ignorance, the nations awaiting salvation and the universe in
anticipation of Christ’s enlightenment through the Church.
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