Pentecost is the birthday of the church and the flame represents the Holy Spirit. The Apostles and other followers of Jesus had gathered to celebrate the feast of the summer harvest. A great wind was heard and what looked like flames appeared on the heads of the disciples and each began to speak in tongues. Miraculously, each of the pilgrims present heard the apostles speak in his own native language. Peter quickly realized that it was the Holy Spirit. This encounter lit a fire in the disciples, replacing their fear with the courage to begin sharing the story of Jesus with the world.