Holy Spirit’s Procession

Holy Spirit’s Procession

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, eternally proceeding from the Father, equal in divinity and essence to the Father and the Son, yet distinct in His personal property and role.

Where the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father. This procession is a different mode of origin, defining who the Spirit is as a distinct divine Person.

The procession of the Holy Spirit is eternal and timeless. It is not an event that occurred at some point in history, but the eternal relationship by which the Spirit exists within the life of the Trinity.

In Orthodox theology, the Father is the sole source and single principle of origin within the Trinity. Eternally and ontologically, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.

At the same time, Orthodox theology distinguishes between eternal Trinitarian relations and the economy of salvation. In time, the Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father and the Son. Christ breathes on the disciples and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit," and the Father sends the Spirit in the Son’s name.

Orthodoxy is therefore comfortable speaking of the Spirit as being sent by the Son, manifested through the Son, or shining forth from the Son in history. However, this must not be confused with the Spirit’s eternal procession, which belongs to the inner life of the Trinity and is from the Father alone.