Ascension

40 days after Easter

"You have ascended in glory, O Christ our God, granting joy to your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that you are the Son, the Redeemer of the world."

Forty days after Pascha, the resurrected Christ ascended into heaven. According to the Bible, Christ’s Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany. After appearing to the disciples for the last day, Christ was surrounded by a cloud. The disciples could no longer see Him. The cloud moved up into the sky and Jesus was no where to be seen. During His last weeks on earth, Jesus talked to his disciples about the Kingdom of God. He explained to them that He would be the King in Heaven, not here on earth. He also told them to stay here in Jerusalem until God’s Holy spirit came to speak to them and give them he power to teach his words. After witnessing Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, the eleven disciples returned home. They decided to pick one more man to replace Judas. After praying to God for guidance, they picked Matthias. These men became known as the Twelve Apostles.

Read the story of the Ascension in Acts 1: 9 – 14