In the Orthodox Church Tradition, green is a color that points to the Holy Spirit and the gift of eternallife, provided by God our Creator as a road to endless worship of God and the ongoing discovery ofHis holy creation. We also honor God’s demonstration of green that appears in countless ways innature upon the earth. We decorate our churches with green on the Feast of Holy Pentecost, andduring the Pentecost period, the clergy, tonsured readers, and acolytes wear green vestments to honorthe season of Pentecost and the time when God choose to allow the Holy Spirit to descend upon theapostles, and ultimately upon all who are Baptized in Christ. (“As many as have been baptized intoChrist, have put on Christ. Alleluia!” –sung in the event of all baptisms in the Eastern OrthodoxChurch.)In our Liturgical expression, the whole church becomes like a garden or forest, evoking paradiserestored and the joy of the feast. Faithful often hold branches or flowers during the services.This custom is especially prominent in Eastern Slavic Orthodox practice but reflects a broaderpatristic and biblical sensibility of using creation to glorify the Creator.There is also a biblical/historical connection. The color echoes the Jewish feast of Shavuot, wherehomes and synagogues were decorated with greenery to recall the spring harvest and the time atSinai. Early Christians continued and adapted this practice. Some also link it to the oak at Mamrewhere the Trinity appeared to Abraham (Genesis 18), evoking a lush, living setting.