What is the Feast of the Ascension?*

The Feast of Ascension marks the ascent of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40th day after his glorious Resurrection. Until that time, Christ presented himself alive to the apostles, “appearing to them during 40 days and speaking of the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 

On the 40th day, “as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9 (see also Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51).  From ancient tradition, we know that the Ascension of the Lord took place on the Mount of Olives.  The Feast of Ascension is always celebrated on a Thursday, the 40th day after Easter.  In the Armenian Church, observance begins on Wednesday evening during vespers.  The hymn dedicated to the feast of Ascension is chanted from the centre of the nave of the church by all the clergy dressed in copes (a liturgical vestment), the deacons and the clerks.  Thursday morning, the Night Hour and the Matins (vigil and morning services) are said and then the clergy, deacons and clerks form a procession, singing the Ascension hymn.  After scriptural readings, they hold the Antasdan (Blessing of the Fields service). The Divine Liturgy is also celebrated on Ascension Day.  In mid-afternoon, the clergy, deacons and clerks again form a procession, singing one of the Ascension hymns.  This is followed by scriptural readings and the Antasdan for the second time, at the end of which, Matins are said. Ascension and the Resurrection of the Lord are celebrated over the following nine days until Pentecost.

The Feast of Ascension also marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Holy See at the Monastery of Holy Etchmiadzin in 1441. Prior to this, the Holy See was operating in exile for almost 1,000 years.

In Armenian folk tradition, Ascension was a festive day cherished especially by young girls.  Water was collected from seven springs and pebbles from seven hills and they were placed together in a large container.  Each girl in the village would put a small personal item into the container. An elderly woman would sit by the container which was covered by a large cloth and pull out items at random, making a wish for their owner.  The girls believed her wish would come true during the course of the year.  The process was called veejag.

*Taken from Frequently Asked Questions About The Armenian Church, St. Vartan Press, New York, N.Y. 2004