HAPPY 2011TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR HOLY MOTHER CHURCH

TROPARION:
Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, 

who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise 

by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit: 

through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. 

0 Lover of Man, Glory to Thee

KONTAKION:

When the Most High came down and confused the tongues, 
he divided the nations. 
But when he distributed the tongues of fire, 
he called all to unity. 
Therefore, with one voice, 
we glorify the All-Holy Spirit!

Today is the Solemnity of Pentecost, when we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles and considered the Birthdate of the Catholic Church, diverse in tradition but united in one faith coming from the Apostles headed by the "Prince of the Apostle, St. Peter, who himself is the first Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Mother the Catholic Church


Here is what the Church Fathers on the Holy Mother Church:

"Let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers.  On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian."  St. Athanasius ("Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuisc," c. 360 A.D.)


"It is called Catholic then because it extends over all the world, from one end of the Earth to the other; and because it teaches universally and completely one end and all the doctrines which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it brings into subjection to godliness and the whole race of mankind, governors and governed, learned and unlearned; and because it universally treats and heals the whole class of sins, which are committed by soul and body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which is named, both in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts."  St. Cyril of Jerusalem ("Catechetical Lectures," c. 350 A.D.)