The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Entrance Hymn.
God ascended among the shouts of victory. As the Lord ascended the trumpets pealed.

Troparion 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 by Thy blessing they received clear assurance that Thou art the Son of God, the Deliverer of the world.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion of the Ascension, Tone 6.
When Thou hadst fulfilled Thy dispensation for our sakes, and united things on earth with those in heaven, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not departing hence, but remaining inseparable from us, and crying to them that love Thee: I am with you, and no one can be against you.

Prokimenon, Tone 7.
Psalm 56:12, 8.
Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and Thy glory above all the earth.
Verse: My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and rehearse a psalm.

The Lesson of the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
Acts §1 (1:1-12).
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom He had chosen, He was taken up. To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And eating together with them, He commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith He) by My mouth. For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. They therefore who were come together, asked Him, saying: Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? But He said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in His own power: but you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had said these things, while they looked on, He was raised up: and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were beholding Him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen Him going into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day’s journey.

Alleluia, Tone 2.
Psalm 46:6, 2.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.
Alleluia.
Verse 2: O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of joy.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §114 (24:36-53).
At that time: Jesus, risen from the dead, stood in the midst of His disciples, and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See My hands and feet, that it is I Myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see Me to have. And when He had said this, He shewed them His hands and feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, He said: Have you any thing to eat? And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb. And when He had eaten before them, taking the remains, He gave to them. And He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And He said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, the third day: and that penance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. And I send the promise of My Father upon you: but stay you in the city till you be endued with power from on high. And He led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst He blessed them, He departed from them, and was carried up to heaven. And they adoring went back into Jerusalem with great joy.

Zadostoinik.
Magnify, O my soul, Christ the giver of life, Who ascended from earth to Heaven.
Irmos: O Thou who art God’s Mother transcending mind and word, who ineffably in time hast given birth unto the Timeless One, Thee do we the faithful magnify with one accord.

Communion.
Psalm 46:6.
God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.