Eastertide (Sacred Period that Follows Easter)

From Easter to the Sunday of Pentecost is a 50-day period called Eastertide (also known as Quinquagesima).  The first 40 days of Eastertide culminate with the Feast of the Ascension, celebrated on the Thursday of the sixth week.  This entire period is dedicated solely to the mystery of the resurrected Savior's encounters with His Apostles and followers, with the exception of four special remembrances that do not detract from the preeminence of the Resurrection.

The first of these special remembrances is the Decapitation of St. John the Baptist, which occurs on the first Saturday of Eastertide.  It is remembered by the lection (during the Morning Service) of the Gospel of St. Mark, which describes the episode.

The second is New Sunday, which is the first Sunday after Easter.  Its purpose is to emphasize the wondrous Resurrection, with only minor variables in the hours services.

The next is the Sunday of the World Church, which follows New Sunday and commemorates the establishment in Jerusalem of the first Christian Church.  According to some, it was founded in the Chapel on Zion, where the Upper Room was and where our Lord established the Sacrament of Holy Communion.  (According to others it is the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulcher.)

The last is the fifth Sunday of Quinquagesima, when the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross over Jerusalem is celebrated.  This event took place during the time of Emperor Constants of Byzantium and Patriarch Cyril of Jerusalem.

After the Feast of the Ascension, which commemorates our Lord's ascent into heaven, the ensuing nine days until Pentecost celebrate Christ's Resurrection and Ascension.

The Seventh Sunday of Eastertide, which falls within this 10-day period, combines an ecclesiastical and national tradition, which is recalled in the sharagan of the day. 

According to tradition, an angel visited St. Gregory the Illuminator daily during his imprisonment in Khor Virab; yet on one day the angel did not appear.  On the following day when the saint asked the angel about his absence, the angel explained that each day a rank of heavenly hosts celebrated Christ's Ascension and since it was the fourth day and he belonged to the fourth rank he took part in the celestial celebration.

This Sunday is also known as the Second Palm Sunday because the gospel readings of Sunday recall Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem (on Palm Sunday).

The final feast of the Resurrection series is the Advent of the Holy Spirit, which takes place on the 50th day of Quinquagesima (a Sunday 10 days after the Ascension).  It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles in the Upper Room in tongues of fire, granting power and grace to them for the establishment of the Christian Church. 

In ancient times this feast was celebrated only one day, since the next day the Fast of Elijah commenced.  In the 12th century, St. Nersess the Graceful established the 7-day celebration of Pentecost retaining the fast. 

Readings:

The Raising of Lazarus: John 11:1-44

Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19

Holy Week: Matthew 26:1-27:66, Mark 14:1-15:47, Luke 22:1-23:56, John 13:1-19:42

Resurrection-Easter: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18

Decapitation of St. John the Baptist: Mark 6:14-29

Ascension: Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53

Pentecost: Acts 2:1-4