5. In addition to these, you will find many other names for the Holy Spirit. He is called the Spirit of holiness, as it is written: according to the Spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4).He is also called the Spirit of sonship, as Paul says: "For do not receive the Spirit of work in fear, but receive the Spirit of sonship, for Whom we cry out: Abba Father" (Romans 8:15). It is also called the Spirit of revelation, as it is written: "That He may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation unto the knowledge of Him" (Ephesians 1:17). It is also called the Spirit of promise, as the same Paul says: "In Him also ye who believed were signified by the Holy Spirit of Promise" (13). He is also called the Spirit of grace, as the same Apostle says again: "And he who reproaches the Spirit of grace." (Hebrews 10:20). It is called by many other similar names. Thou hast clearly heard in the former teaching that in the Psalms He is sometimes called good (Psalm 142:10), sometimes He is called the Lord (50:14). And in the prophecy of Isaiah he is called the Spirit of wisdom, and understanding, and counsel, and strength, and knowledge, and godliness, and the Spirit of the fear of God (Isaiah 11:2, 3).

For I want you to remember what I have just said, and to know perfectly that there is not one in the law and the prophets, but another in the Gospel and the Apostles, but one and the same Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments, who spoke the Divine Scriptures.

6. This same Holy Spirit descended upon the Holy Virgin Mary. For when Christ the Only-begotten was to be born, the power of the Most High overshadowed Her, and the Holy Spirit, Who came upon Her, sanctified Her, so that She might be able to receive Him through Whom all things came to pass. I need not say much about these things to teach you that this birth is undefiled and pure: for you know what Gabriel said to her, I declare to you that which is to be, but I do not act in it; though I be an Archangel, yet I know my office, and I proclaim joy to Thee; but how you have to give birth does not depend on my gift. The Holy Spirit shall come upon Thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow Thee: by the same also that which is born is holy, and shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

7. This Holy Spirit was at work in Elizabeth. For not only is He in virgins, but He also draws near to those who are married to their husbands, if the marriage is according to the law: and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (40) and prophesied. And this good servant said of the Lord, "And whence shall I come this, that the Mother of my Lord may come to me"? Elizabeth blessed her. Filled with this Holy Spirit, Zachariah, the father of John, prophesied, saying that the Only-begotten would bring good to many, and that John would be His Forerunner after his baptism. By this Holy Spirit also Simeon the Righteous was informed, that he did not see death, that he did not even see the Christ of the Lord (Luke 2:26), and having received this Christ in his arms in the temple, he bore clear witness to Him.

8. And John, who was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb, was sanctified by Him, that he might baptize the Lord; he himself did not give the Spirit, but preached about Him who gives the Spirit. For he said, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who comes after me," and so on. He baptizes you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matt. 3:11). Since the descent of the Holy Spirit was in the form of tongues of fire, of which the Saviour joyfully speaks: "Thou hast come to bring fire upon the earth, and what will I if it be already kindled" (Luke 12:49)?

9. This Holy Spirit descended when the Lord was baptized, so that the glory of Him who is being baptized would not be hidden, as John says: "But He who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, 'Over Him thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon Him, He is baptizing with the Holy Spirit' (John 1:33). But note that the Gospel says: "The heavens are opened" (Matt. 3:16). And they were opened because of the glory of him who is descending. And behold, he says, the heavens were opened, and seeing the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon Him, that is, He descended by Himself. For it was necessary, as some have explained, that the beginnings and preeminences of the action of the Holy Spirit, which is given to those who are baptized, should be communicated to the humanity of the Saviour, Who bestows this grace. He descended in the form of a dove, perhaps, as some say, in accordance with the pure and gentle dove that depicted Him, which was sacrificed during prayers for children born and for the remission of sins. For it was divinationly foretold that Christ would reveal Himself in this obvious way. For in the songs about the Bridegroom it is proclaimed and said: "His eyes are like doves, full of waters" (Song of Songs 5:12).

10. This dove was partly prefigured, according to some, by Noah's dove. For as in his time salvation was accomplished for those who were with him by means of wood and water, and together a new existence began, and the dove returned to him in the evening with an olive leaf: in the same way, say these interpreters, the Holy Spirit descended upon the true Noah, the author of another existence, uniting into one the wills of all the peoples, which were prefigured by various kinds of animals, who were in the ark. For at His coming, the mental wolves will feed with the lambs. His Church has a calf and an ox and a lion grazing together, since we still see that Church teachers guide and teach earthly rulers. And so, this spiritual dove descended at the time of Baptism, according to the expression of some, in order to show that this is the same One Who through the tree of the Cross will save the faithful, and in the evening through His death will grant salvation.

11. But this can be explained in another way: however, it is better for us to listen now what the Saviour Himself has to say about the Holy Spirit. He says: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). And what is this grace from the Father, He says: how much more does the Father, who is from heaven, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). And that God should be worshipped in spirit, saying: But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such as those who worship Him. The Spirit is God, and whosoever worshipeth Him, in spirit and in truth, is worthy to worship (John 4:2324). And again: if I cast out demons in the Spirit of God, and so on. (Matt. 12:28), after this quickly: "For this reason I say unto you, All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven by man; but whosoever blasphemes against the Spirit shall not be forgiven (31). Immediately: whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven him either in this world or in the 6th (32). And in another place He says: "And I will beseech the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that the Spirit of truth may be with you forever, Whom the world cannot see, because it does not see Him, but knows Him below." But you know Him, for He dwells in you, and will be in you (John 14:16, 17). And again he says, "This is what I say to you in you." But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things, and will bring all things to your remembrance (14:26). And again: "And the Comforter of hell shall come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, which beareth witness of Me" (John 15:26). And in another place the Saviour says: "For if I do not come, the Comforter will not come to you: and when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:7, 8). And then again: Many more Imam have spoken to you, but you cannot bear them now (12). And when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth: for it is not of thyself that thou shalt speak, but if he heareth, thou shalt speak, and that which is to come shall declare unto you (13). He will glorify Me, for He will receive Me and declare it to you (14). All that the Father has is my essence: for this reason I have spoken unto you, for he shall receive from me, and shall declare unto you (15). I have now set before thee the testimony of the Only-begotten Himself, that thou mayest not hearken unto the words of men.

12. The Saviour granted this communion of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, for it is written: "And these rivers, I breathed, and said unto them, The Holy Spirit is unto them: To whom ye shall forgive sins, they shall be forgiven, and to whom ye hold, they shall hold" (John 20:22, 23). This is the second inspiration, since the first is lost from voluntary sins (Gen. 2:7). Of this second it is written: "Come up, breathe in thy face, and take thee away from the offended" (Nahum 2:1). Ascended, from whence come? From hell. For the Gospel tells us that this breath of His was after the Resurrection. And although he now communicates grace, yet he still wants to give more, and says to the Apostles: I am ready to communicate even now, but you cannot yet receive. For the time being, receive grace to the extent that you can contain it; However, expect more. But ye sit in the city of Jerusalem, until ye are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). Now take several, then you will receive in full. For it often happens that he who receives does not make perfect use of what is given to him: but he who puts on is covered with clothing on all sides. Do not be afraid, He says, of the devil's weapons and his arrows; for you will have the power of the Holy Spirit. (Remember what was said recently that the Holy Spirit is not divided, but only the grace sent down through Him).

13. So Jesus ascended into heaven and fulfilled his promise. He said to his disciples: "I will beseech the Father, and he will give you another Comforter" (John 14:16). They dwelt in Jerusalem, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit: and at the coming of the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:2), in this city of Jerusalem (1 this is the privilege we have, the blessings of which we speak are not sent down anywhere, but are given to us). On the day of Pentecost, when they were together, the Comforter descended from heaven, preserving and sanctifying the Church, caring for souls, helmsman of the overwhelmed, enlightening the erring, rewarding ascetics, and crowning the victors.

14. And he came down to clothe the apostles with power and to baptize them. For the Lord says: "Ye have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, not after many of these days" (Acts 1:3). This is not a particular grace, but a perfect power. For just as he who is immersed in the waters and baptized is surrounded on all sides by waters, so the Apostles were completely baptized by the Holy Spirit. But water washes the outside, but the Holy Spirit baptizes the entire inner soul, and why are you surprised? Here is a sensual example for you, which, although small and unimportant, is useful for ordinary people: if fire, penetrating the hardness of iron, makes all it fiery, so that the cold is hot and the black becomes light: if (I say) fire, being a body, enters into the body of iron and there performs its effect without hindrance, then what is it surprising if the Holy Spirit enters into the very interior of the soul?

15. But in order that the greatness of such grace descending should not be hidden, it roared like a heavenly trumpet: for there was a noise from heaven, like a storm carried by the breath (Acts 2:2). What did its descent mean? That the eyes may see the tongues of fire, and the ears may hear the noise: and fill the whole house, where it sits (2)? This house became a receptacle of Spiritual water. The disciples were inside, and the whole house was filled with it. And so, according to the promise, they were baptized with all their being, clothed in soul and body in the Divine and salvific garment: and there appeared unto them divided tongues as of fire, and sat on the one which they had, and thou wast filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3, 4). They received the fire, not scorching, but saving; a fire that destroys the thorns of sins, and enlightens the soul. This fire is now to come upon you, and to burn and destroy the thorns of your sins; and the precious acquisition of your souls will enlighten you even more and grant you grace. For He then gave it to the Apostles as well. In the form of tongues of fire He descended upon them, in order to crown their heads with new spiritual crowns by means of tongues of fire. The flaming sword formerly barred the entrance to paradise: The saving fiery tongue restored grace.

16. And they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit had given them to prophesy (Acts 2:4). The Galilean Peter and Andrew spoke now in Persian and now in Medes: John and the other Apostles spoke in all languages before the pagans. For it is not now that strangers have begun to gather here from everywhere in great numbers, but from those times. What kind of teacher would suddenly teach what they learned without studying? For so many years, under the guidance of grammar and in other ways, they have been learning the Greek language in order to speak it well, and yet not everyone else says: the Rhetorician speaks well, and the Grammarian sometimes does not speak well, and he who knows grammar does not know science and wisdom. But the Holy Spirit suddenly teaches many languages, which the Apostles did not know in all previous times. This is truly great wisdom; it is the Divine power. How can their long-term ignorance be compared with the complete, varied, extraordinary, suddenly revealed action of tongues?

17. There was confusion among the people who listened. The second confusion is the opposite of the first, the evil Babylonian confusion: for in this confusion of languages there was a division of the will, since the plan was contrary to God; and in this is the affirmation and unification of thought, since the goal here was piety. Through falling away, through the same is restoration. And they that heard these things were amazed, and said, "How do we hear them that speak" (Acts 2:6). Not less surprising if you know; for even Nicodemus did not know how the Spirit comes, and he was told: "The Spirit, where He wills, breatheth, and heareth His voice: but thou shalt not know whence cometh (John 1:8). Nor can I tell you what He is in His Being.