The Liturgical Celebration of Ascension

The Feast of the Ascension is an important Dominical feast (one relating to the life of Jesus Christ) that has been celebrated in the universal church since ancient times.  Modern scholarship traces its earliest observance to the 4th century. 

It is always celebrated on the 40th day after Easter and falls on a Thursday.  Though in the Armenian Church the observance of the feast begins on Wednesday evening, during vespers. 

According to the rubrics in the calendar of Holy Etchmiadzin, instead of the vespers hymn that is proper for the day, the hymn dedicated to the feast of Ascension is chanted from the center of the nave of the church by all the clergy, deacons, and clerks. 

On Thursday morning the Night Hour and the Matins services are said with all the variables that are proper for the celebration of the Ascension.  At the end of the matins, the clergy, deacons, and clerks go on a procession, singing the special Ascension hymn.  After scriptural readings they hold the Antasdan (or Blessing of the Fields) service. 

As on other feasts that fall on weekdays, the Divine Liturgy is also solemnly celebrated to mark the feast of the Ascension.  A few hours after the end of the Divine Liturgy, in mid-afternoon, the clergy, deacons, and clerks congregate and go on procession singing one of the day's special hymns.  After Scriptural readings, the Antasdan is held for the second time on that day, at the end of which the matins are said. 

From ancient tradition we know that the Ascension of the Lord took place on the Mount of Olives.  To this day the Armenian Brotherhood of St. James in Jerusalem hold vesper service and a vigil on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension at the sanctuary on the Mount of Olives.

Besides being a Dominical feast, the Ascension also marks the anniversary of the reestablishment of the Holy See at the monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441, after a separation of almost 1,000 years.

As with other feasts, Ascension and the Resurrection of the Lord are celebrated over the following nine days until Pentecost.