2024

–Message from Father Anthony–

Icon of the Ascension of Christ in Glory
Russian, early 18th century

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians,

As we gather tonight in prayer and celebration, as Our Saviour’s anthem of Victory over Death, ‘Christ is Risen from the dead, by death hath he trampled down death and on those in the graves, hath he bestowed life,’ is chanted for the last time until next Pascha, let us all keep the joy of Resurrection, and the certainty of our Faith that Christ our God has destroyed death, is the triumphant Victor over Hades and darkness, and has bestowed light and life on all who believe in Him!.

In the Vigil tonight beginning at 8pm, we celebrate the Ascension of Christ. The hymns and readings in the Service will bring us deeper into the meaning of this event and the magnitude of the mercy of God.  Our Saviour leads us from the Resurrection to the next wonder of His glorious Ascension into the Heavens.

Saint Luke the Evangelist tells us in the first chapter of the Book of Acts, that the Holy Apostles, ‘…to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.’  After Christ had spoken to them of many things, that the Apostles, ‘while they beheld, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.’  And two Angels spoke to them saying, ‘This same Jesus, Who is ascended from you into heaven, shall come thus in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.’

Saint John Chrysostom in his sermon delivered on the Feast of the Ascension around the year 390 A.D. said,

‘What then is the present Feast?  It is venerable and great!  O beloved, surpassing the mind of man and worthy of the largesse of God who made it.  For on this day of the Ascension has taken place the reconciliation between God and mankind. Today, the ancient enmity and the lengthy war have been abolished. Today, a wondrous peace has returned, one that was inconceivable before. We who proved ourselves unworthy of the earth, have today been raised up to heaven, have even surpassed the heavens, and assumed the royal throne.  And that nature which the Cherubim were assigned to keep out of Paradise is today seated upon the Cherubim.’ He continues with the beautiful response of the Angels to men, ‘For it is this that the Angels long yearned for; it is this that the Archangels long desired: our nature gleaming from the Royal Throne, resplendent in immortal glory and beauty.  Christ led up our nature across all the distance and height.

From the Feast of the Ascension tonight until Friday, the 21st of June when we take leave of the Ascension feast, let us add the Hymn of the Ascension to our daily prayers and rejoice in Christ’s work of Salvation for us!

Dismissal Hymn of the Ascension
Tone 4

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing, that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.

With prayers,

Father Anthony

The Chapel of the Ascension, Jerusalem