Ascension of the Lord
On May 28th (Thursday of the 7th week following Pascha) we celebrated the Ascension of Christ into the Heavens.
“The Ascension is a sign and token of the Second Coming. “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). “
http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=42
There is a Liturgy served on Ascension. In the Russian tradition, the Vigil is celebrated the evening before.
Following Pascha, there has been much relaxed fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays with fish, wine, and oil permitted. Following Pentecost, there will be a fast-free week, and then, after the Sunday of All Saints we will enter the Apostles Fast.
We celebrate by attending the services, receiving the Holy Gifts, and hearing the priest’s instructional homily. We take the memory of the Feast home with us. We talk about Christ’s Ascension in our families, and talk about how grateful we are that our God came to be among us, to suffer and die for the life of the world, and Ascended to return to the Father.
Each season is celebrated with a special Feast. Each day is a feast for one or more saints. Each hour of the day has a prayer.
And so we Orthodox go through life constantly praising God – from hour to hour, from day to day, from season to season, from Feast to Feast, from year to year. Each hour, each day, each season, each Feast assures us that God is With Us!
