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Pentecost

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

This prayer to the Holy Spirit begins every Orthodox service – Except that it is not sung or said from Pascha until it reappears prominently in the Pentecost services.

When we use a prayer often, there’s always the danger that we will become inattentive to its power. So for me there’s a special joy in the freshness that comes from hearing “Heavenly King” once again after 50 days’ deprivation.