The Orthodox Christians celebrate the Feast of Ascension on May 17. This feast, also known as Ascension Thursday or Ascension Day, commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. On this day, the Christians greet each other with “Christ has ascended!”
Contacted by IPN, priest Eugen Onicov, of the Chisinau Church “Saint Pantelimon”, said namely Jesus Christ predicted that he will rise up to where he came from and, on the fortieth day of Easter, took his apostles with him, went up the hill and ascended into his glory. He promised that the Holy Spirit will descend on Earth in ten days, on Whitsuntide or Pentecost.
The priest said the Ascension is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year and is celebrated with piousness by the faithful. As on Easter, they paint eggs red and have Easter cake and bread on the holiday table. “In a way, we this way celebrate the end of the Easter period during which we greeted each other with “Jesus has risen!”, during 40 days,” stated Eugen Onicov.
The tradition of greeting each other with “Christ has ascended” and of responding “He has ascended indeed” differs from region to region. In some parts, the Christians greet each other this way during a day, while in others during three or even ten days, until Whitsuntide. On this day, the Christians go to service in the morning, celebrating the feast by prayer and by taking communion.
