Pentecost is a holiday on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus, but no movement that could be meaningfully called “the church.” Thus, from a historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus Pentecost is the church’s birthday.
