The Feast of the Ascension
Categories: hymns, feast-days, poetry
Date: 27 May 2009 12:23:33
Troparion - Tone 4:
O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory,
Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Through the blessing they were assured
That You are the Son of God,
The Redeemer of the world!
Kontakion - Tone 6:
When You had fulfilled the dispensation for our sake,
and united earth to heaven:
You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
not being parted from those who love You,
but remaining with them and crying:
"I am with you and no one will be against you!"
Today is the Feast of the Ascension, one of the 12 Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church Year. It is also the first day after the leave-taking of Pascha, which means the joyful Resurrection hymn, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!", will not be heard again until Pascha next year. We continue our journey though, towards the Feast of Pentecost and the remembrance of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
I could not attend our parish's Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast as it was my last class of the five-week Reading the Classics: St Gregroy of Nyssa's "The Life of Moses". Sad to end what has been an personally, as well as educationaly, illuminating and challenging course, but tonight was just as wonderful as the past four weeks have been: but more on that in another post.
A blessed Feast Day to all! Rather than Orthodox hymnography, as I have posted in years past, here is some verse from my favourite poet, John Donne, on the topic of the Ascension of Christ:
7. ASCENSION. Salute the last and everlasting day, Joy at th' uprising of this Sun, and Son, Ye whose true tears, or tribulation Have purely wash'd, or burnt your drossy clay. Behold, the Highest, parting hence away, Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon ; Nor doth He by ascending show alone, But first He, and He first enters the way. O strong Ram, which hast batter'd heaven for me ! Mild Lamb, which with Thy Blood hast mark'd the path ! Bright Torch, which shinest, that I the way may see ! O, with Thy own Blood quench Thy own just wrath ; And if Thy Holy Spirit my Muse did raise, Deign at my hands this crown of prayer and praise. from La Corona