Pentecost, the fire of the Spirit.
The Day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day of Easter, keeps the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). All four traditions on this site wear red for it.
The days ahead
- The Day of PentecostSunday 16 May 2027 Red
- Trinity SundaySunday 23 May 2027 White: the white stole
- The next dates appear here as the calendar turns.
What each tradition wears
- Roman Catholic
- Red.
- Episcopal
- Red.
- Lutheran
- Red.
- Methodist
- Red, and at other times when the work of the Holy Spirit is emphasised.
Trinity Sunday, a week later, is white.
Choosing
The red stole has a gold cross over flames on one end and a white dove over flames on the other: the fire and the dove of the Spirit. The Spirit and Flame stole is printed with a dove rising through flames. The red simple cross is the plainest of the three.
Red is also worn for ordinations in the Episcopal Church and many Anglican churches, and through Holy Week in Episcopal use (except at Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday), so a red stole serves more than one day.
Sources: The Roman Missal, General Instruction ch. VI, ยงยง346 to 347 (USCCB); Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, Liturgical Colors & Seasons; Nebraska Synod (ELCA), The Colors of the Church Year; UMC.org, Colors, liturgical.
