A Living Encounter in the Pentecost Room

Notre Dame of Jerusalem
Sep 4
3 min read

Updated: 11 minutes ago

By Nina Samara

September 3rd - Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

Nina Samara, guide of the Pentecost Room at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.

For the past month, I have had the joy of welcoming guesthouse visitors into the Pentecost Room. The first word I hear, without fail, as they step inside is always the same: “Wow.”

Their faces light up with amazement as they take in the impressive scene that surrounds them. Eyes brighten, smiles grow, and in that instant the room itself seems to come alive. Guests fall into quiet expectation, waiting for me to begin — eager to enter more deeply into this artistic depiction of the moment of Pentecost.

The visit begins with a warm welcome, followed by the playing of an audio guide that recounts the story and highlights the room’s main elements. As the narration begins, something remarkable happens: silence. A stillness falls over the group as the voices from the recording seem to echo from the very walls. I watch as visitors gently nod, as though each word is speaking directly to them. Many tell me they feel as if they, too, are gathered in the Upper Room, receiving the Holy Spirit alongside the disciples. By the end, it is not uncommon to see tears in their eyes.

For me, guiding in the Pentecost Room is a privilege. I feel people’s hunger to know more about what happened on that day — the day the Church was born in fire and light. Visitors listen not only to the words I share, but also to the language of the painting itself, gazing at the tongues of fire and every carefully brushed detail. Time seems to stand still, as they linger, reluctant to leave this moment of encounter.

What moves me most is how people of different religions and backgrounds respond. Some who do not profess belief in Jesus still sense something profound. I see happiness in their faces, as though the Spirit has touched a hidden place within them. It convinces me that this artwork carries a universal message — that the story of Pentecost, and the miracle it represents, has the power to awaken something deep in every heart.

In the Pentecost Room, I witness this transformation daily: wonder, silence, reflection, and finally, joy. Each visitor leaves carrying not just the memory of a painting, but an encounter with mystery — a moment of light that remains with them long after they return to the streets of Jerusalem.

This room not only represents the historical beginning of the Church; it also brings to life the mission of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center: welcoming pilgrims, fostering divine worship, promoting cultural education and the formation of the local population, and advancing ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.

Starting September 1st, we began welcoming visitors into the Pentecost Room. The doors are open to all who wish to learn more about the mystery of Pentecost, and we are here, ready to welcome you.

Come, listen, and rediscover the mystery of Pentecost — a moment brought to life through art and the Word of God.

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