Sixth Sunday of Eastertide

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Eastertide. Eastertide (also known as Quinquagesima), begins on Easter Sunday and continues until Pentecost in the Christian liturgical calendar, spanning a total of 50 days, roughly seven weeks. 

What is Eastertide? 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. The second is New Sunday, which is the first Sunday after Easter.  Its purpose is to emphasize the wondrous Resurrection. The next is the Sunday of the World Church, which commemorates the establishment in Jerusalem of the first Christian Church. The fifth Sunday, the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross over Jerusalem is celebrated. The first 40 days of Eastertide culminate with the Feast of the Ascension, celebrated on the Thursday of the sixth week. 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. According to tradition, an angel visited St. Gregory the Illuminator daily during his imprisonment in Khor Virab; yet one day the angel did not appear--the Seventh Sunday of Eastertide.  When the saint asked 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.