TheFeast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ[1](also called theSolemnity of the Ascension of the Lord,Ascension Day,Ascension Thursday,or sometimesHoly Thursday[2][3]) commemorates the Christian belief of the bodilyAscension of Jesusinto Heaven. It is one of theecumenical(shared by multiple denominations) feasts of Christian churches, ranking with the feasts of thePassionandPentecost.Following the account ofActs 1:3that the risen Jesus appeared for 40 days prior to his Ascension, Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day ofEasteraccording toinclusive counting,although some Christian denominations have moved the observance to the following Sunday, sometimes calledAscension Sunday.The day of observance varies by ecclesiastical province in many Christian denominations, as with Methodists and Catholics, for example.
| Feast of the Ascension | |
|---|---|
 Christi HimmelfahrtbyGebhard Fugel,c. 1893 | |
| Also called | Ascension Day Ascension Thursday Holy Thursday |
| Observed by | Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Moravians, Methodists, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox |
| Type | Christian |
| Significance | Commemorates theAscension of JesusintoHeaven |
| Observances | Service of Worship/Mass |
| Date | 39 days after Easter |
| 2023 date |
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| 2024 date |
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| 2025 date |
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| 2026 date |
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| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Easter,Pentecost |
Ascensiontiderefers to the ten-day period between the Feast of the Ascension and the Feast of Pentecost.[4]The Sunday within that period may be referred to as the Seventh Sunday of Easter or the Sunday in Ascensiontide.[5]
History
editThe observance of this feast is of great antiquity.Eusebiusseems to hint at the celebration of it in the 4th century.[6]At the beginning of the 5th century,Augustine of Hipposays that it is ofApostolicorigin, and he speaks of it in a way that shows it was the universal observance of the Catholic Church long before his time. Frequent mention of it is made in the writings ofJohn Chrysostom,Gregory of Nyssa,and in theConstitution of the Apostles.ThePilgrimage of Aetheriaspeaks of the vigil of this feast and of the feast itself, as they were kept in the church built over the grotto inBethlehemin which Christ is traditionally regarded as having been born.[7]It may be that prior to the 5th century the event narrated in the Gospels was commemorated in conjunction with the feast of Easter or Pentecost. Some[who?]believe that the much-disputed forty-third decree of theSynod of Elvira(c. 300) condemning the practice of observing a feast on the fortieth day after Easter and neglecting to keep Pentecost on the fiftieth day, implies that the proper usage of the time was to commemorate the Ascension along with Pentecost.[citation needed]Representations of themysteryare found indiptychsandfrescoesdating as early as the 5th century.[citation needed]Hymns for this feast are found in the Georgian Chantbook of Jerusalem,[8]which contains material composed during the 5th century.[9]
In Western Christianity
editThe Latin terms used for the feast,ascensioand, occasionally,ascensa,signify that Christ was raised up by his own powers, and it is from these terms that the holy day gets its name. In theBook of Common Prayerof theAnglican Communion,"Holy Thursday" is listed as another name for Ascension Day.[2][3][10]William Blake's poem "Holy Thursday"refers to Ascension Day; Thomas Pruen used the term to refer to Ascension Day in hisIllustration of the Liturgy of the Church of England,published in 1820;[11][12]however use of the term "Holy Thursday" to mean Ascension Day is rare,[13]and the term is more generally applied by most Christian denominations toMaundy ThursdayinHoly Week.
InWestern Christianity,the earliest possible date is April 30 (as in 1818 and 2285), the latest possible date is June 3 (as in 1943 and 2038). In theCatholic Church,the Ascension of the Lord is ranked as aSolemnityand is aHoly Day of Obligation.In theAnglican Communion,Ascension Day is aPrincipal Feast.
The three days before Ascension Thursday are sometimes referred to as theRogation days,and the previous Sunday—the Sixth Sunday of Easter (or the Fifth SundayafterEaster)—asRogation Sunday.
Ascension has avigiland, since the 15th century, anoctave,which is set apart for anovenaof preparation for Pentecost.[14]
In traditional Methodist usage,The Book of Worship for Church and Home(1965) provides the followingCollectfor Ascension Day, commonly called Holy Thursday:[15]
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that according to his promise he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the world; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.[15]
Sunday observance
edit| Year | Western | Eastern | Western |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Sunday | ||
| 2017 | May 25 | May 28 | |
| 2018 | May 10 | May 17 | May 13 |
| 2019 | May 30 | June 6 | June 2 |
| 2020 | May 21 | May 28 | May 24 |
| 2021 | May 13 | June 10 | May 16 |
| 2022 | May 26 | June 2 | May 29 |
| 2023 | May 18 | May 25 | May 21 |
| 2024 | May 9 | June 13 | May 12 |
| 2025 | May 29 | June 1 | |
| 2026 | May 14 | May 21 | May 17 |
| 2027 | May 6 | June 10 | May 9 |
| 2028 | May 25 | May 28 | |
| 2029 | May 10 | May 17 | May 13 |
| 2030 | May 30 | June 6 | June 2 |
| 2031 | May 22 | May 25 | |
Catholic parishes in a number of countries that do not observe the feast as a public holiday have obtained permission from theVaticanto move observance of the Feast of the Ascension from the traditional Thursday to the following Sunday, the Sunday before Pentecost. Similarly, theUnited Methodist Churchallows the traditional celebration on Holy Thursday to be moved to Sunday.[16]This is in keeping with a trend to moveHoly Days of Obligationfrom weekdays to Sunday, to encourage more Christians to observe feasts considered important.[17][18]The decision to move a feast is made by eachConference of Catholic Bishopswith prior approval of theApostolic See.[19]In some cases the Conference may delegate the determination for specific feasts to the bishops of anecclesiastical provincewithin the conference, i.e. anarchbishopand the neighbouring bishops.
The switch to Sunday was made in 1992 by theConference of Catholic Bishops in Australia;[20]before 1996 in parts of Europe;[21]in 1997 inIreland;[22]before 1998in Canadaand parts of the western United States;[17]in many other partsin the United Statesfrom 1999;[17]and inEngland and Walesfrom 2007 to 2017, but in 2018 reinstated toThursday.[23]In the U.S., the determination of whether to move Ascension was delegated to the provinces by theUSCCB,and the ecclesiastical provinces which retain Thursday observance in 2022 areBoston,Hartford,New York,Omaha,Philadelphia,[24][25]and thePersonal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.When celebrated on Sunday, the earliest possible date is May 3, and the latest is June 6.
In Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christianity
editIn theEastern Churchthis feast is known in Greek asAnalepsis,the "taking up", and also as theEpisozomene,the "salvation from on high", denoting that by ascending into his glory Christ completed the work of ourredemption.[citation needed]Ascension is one of the TwelveGreat Feastsof the Orthodoxliturgical year.
Celebration
editThe feast is always observed with anAll-night vigil.The day before is theApodosis(leave-taking) of Easter (i.e., the last day of the Feast of Easter). Before the Vigil, thePaschal Hoursare said for the last time and thePaschal greetingis exchanged.[citation needed]
TheParoemia(Old Testamentreadings) atVesperson the eve of the Feast areIsaiah 2:2–3;Isaiah 62:10–63:3,63:7–9;andZechariah 14:1–4,14:8–11.[citation needed]ALityis celebrated. Thetroparionof the day is sung, which says:[This quote needs a citation]
O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory,
Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Through the blessing they were assured
That You are the Son of God,
The Redeemer of the world!
During thePolyeleosatMatins,theEpitaphios,which was placed on the altar onHoly Saturday(either at Matins or theMidnight Office,depending on local custom) is taken from the altar and carried in procession around the church. It is then put in the place reserved for it. The Gospel isMark 16:9–20.The kontakion is sung, which announces:[This quote needs a citation]
When You did fulfill the dispensation for our sake,
And unite earth to Heaven:
You did ascend in glory, O Christ our God,
Not being parted from those who love You,
But remaining with them and crying:
I am with you and no one will be against you.
Themegalynarionandirmosfrom Ode IX of the Canon (also sung at liturgy) is:
Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of Life,
Who has ascended from earth to heaven!
We magnify you, the Mother of God,
Who beyond reason and understanding
gave birth in time to the Timeless One.
At theDivine Liturgy,special antiphons are sung in place of Psalms 102 and 145 and the Beatitudes. TheEpistleisActs 1:1–12,and theGospelisLuke 24:36–53.[citation needed]
Observance
editAscension Thursday also commemorates the HolyGeorgianMartyrsof Persia (17th–18th centuries).[26]
Ascension has anAfterfeastof eight days. The Sunday after Ascension is the Sunday of theHoly Fathersof theFirst Ecumenical CouncilatNicaea.[citation needed]This council formulated theNicene Creedup to the words, "He (Jesus) ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end."[27]The Afterfeast ends on the following Friday, the Friday before Pentecost. The next day is appropriately aSaturday of the Dead(general commemoration of all faithful departed).
The Eastern Orthodox Church uses a different method ofcalculatingthedate of Easter,so the Eastern Orthodox commemoration of Ascension will usually be after the western observance (either one week, or four weeks, or five weeks later; but occasionally on the same day). The earliest possible date for the feast is May 13 (of the Western calendar), and the latest possible date is June 16. Some of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, however, observe Ascension on the same date as the Western Churches.[28]
Music
editThefeast has been associatedwith specific hymns and other church music. The oldesthymnin German related to the feast is theLeise"Christ fuhr gen Himmel",first published in 1480.Johann Sebastian Bachcomposed severalcantatasand theAscension Oratorioto be performed in church services on the feast day. He first performedWer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37,on 18 May 1724,Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128,on 10 May 1725,Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43,on 30 May 1726 and the oratorio,Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11,on 19 May 1735.
ManyMessianic psalmsare used at the feast of Ascension includingPsalm 24,Psalm 47andPsalm 68.The dialogue "Lift up your heads, O ye gates" from Psalm 24 (verses 7–10) has inspired Handel's setting in Part II of hisMessiahin the scene "Ascension",andChristoph Bernhard Verspoell's 1810 hymn in German, "Öffnet eure Tore".Phillip Moore's anthemThe Ascensionsets words based on the same verses.[29]
Olivier Messiaenwrote an orchestral suite, later partly transcribed for organ, calledL'Ascensionin the 1930s.
Settings of "God is gone up" have been composed byWilliam Croft,Arthur HutchingsandGerald Finzi(words by Edward Taylor).[30]Other settings suitable for the occasion includeWilliam Matthias'sLift up your heads."Im Himmel hoch verherrlicht ist"(Highly gloryfied in Heaven) is a 1973 hymn in German for the occasion.
TheRSCMhas produced an extensive list of music (including hymns, anthems and organ music) suitable for Ascension.[31]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^"Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ".Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2017.Retrieved17 May2015.
The Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on the fortieth day after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter). Since the date of Pascha changes each year, the date of the Feast of the Ascension changes. The Feast is always celebrated on a Thursday.
- ^abThomas Ignatius M. Forster (1828).Circle of the Seasons, and Perpetual key to the Calendar and Almanack.Oxford University Press.p.377.Retrieved1 April2012.
Holy Thursday or Ascension Day. Festum Ascensionis. Le Jeudi Saint d' Ascension.
- ^abGeorge Soane(1847).New Curiosities of Literature and Book of the Months.Churton. p.275.Retrieved1 April2012.
Ascension Day, or Holy Thursday. This, as the name sufficiently implies, is the anniversary of Christ's Ascension.
- ^St Joseph's Catholic Church, Derby,AscensiontideArchived2023-01-15 at theWayback Machine,published 14 May 2021, accessed 14 January 2023
- ^Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (1999),Methodist Worship Book,p. 580
- ^Eusebius,Life of ConstantineIV.54
- ^Louis Duchesne,Christian Worship: Its Origin and Evolution(London, 1903), 491–515.
- ^Frøyshov, Stig Simeon."[Hymnography of the] Rite of Jerusalem".Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology.
- ^The first Christian hymnal: the songs of the ancient Jerusalem church.Stephen J. Shoemaker. Provo, Utah. 2018.ISBN978-1-944394-68-4.OCLC1047578356.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - ^Church of England, "A Table of the Vigils, Fasts and Days of Abstinence to be observed in the year"
- ^Pruen, Thomas (1820).An Illustration of the Liturgy of the Church of England.W. Bulmer and W. Nicol. p.173.Retrieved11 May2014.
Ascension Day. This, called also Holy Thursday, is ten days before Whitsuntide.
- ^Keene, Michael (2000).Christian Life.Nelson Thornes. p. 60.ISBN9780748752874.
The day is sometimes called Holy Thursday.
- ^Collins English Dictionary:Definition of "Holy Thursday"
- ^"Rules to Order the Christian Year".Church of England.2015.Retrieved14 May2015.
Rogation Days are the three days before Ascension Day, when prayer is offered for God's blessing on the fruits of the earth and on human labour. The nine days after Ascension Day until Pentecost are days of prayer and preparation to celebrate the outpouring of the Spirit.
- ^abThe Book of Worship for Church and Home: With Orders of Worship, Services for the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Aids to Worship According to the Usages of the Methodist Church.Methodist Publishing House. 1964. p. 122.Retrieved25 March2017.
- ^Hickman, Hoyt L. (2011).United Methodist Altars.Abingdon Press. p. 52.ISBN9781426730696.
- ^abcAscension Day is MovingArchived2004-01-19 at theWayback MachineMichael Kwatera, OSB. Office of Worship, Diocese of Saint Cloud.
- ^On the following Sunday in some areas: seeSunday observance
- ^Canon 1246 §2
- ^ "Column 8".Sydney Morning Herald.14 May 1992. p. 1.
- ^ "Church holy day changes sought".The Irish Times.10 October 1996. p. 5.Retrieved2009-06-11.
- ^ Pollak, Andy (17 October 1996)."Holy days moved to following Sunday".The Irish Times.p. 7.Retrieved2009-06-11.
- ^The Spectator's Notes: Charles Moore's reflections on the weekArchived2008-12-03 at theWayback Machine,Charles MooreThe Spectator,Wednesday, 7 May 2008
- ^Is Ascension a Holy Day of Obligation?Archived2011-07-07 at theWayback MachineScott P. Richert, About.com
- ^Staff Reports (2022-03-22)."Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord permanently transferred to Sunday - Catholic Star Herald".Retrieved2023-05-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Мученики, в долине Ферейдан: житие, иконы, день памяти".Православный Церковный календарь(in Russian).Retrieved2023-04-04.
- ^– viaWikisource.
- ^"The Church in Malankara switched entirely to the Gregorian calendar in 1953, following Encyclical No. 620 from Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem I, dt. December 1952."Calendars of the Syriac Orthodox Church.Retrieved 22 April 2009.
- ^"Philip Moore – Ascension (Lift Up Your Heads) SATB & Organ".www.boosey.com.Retrieved2021-04-20.
- ^"Finzi G – God is gone up".The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge.2015-10-15. Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-20.Retrieved2021-04-20.
- ^"Sunday by Sunday on the web: Musical resources for Ascension Day"(PDF).