What date the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated in 2024 depends on another great Orthodox holiday - on the 40th day after the Bright Resurrection of Christ. The solemn date falls on Thursday, June 13th. The twelfth Christian holiday is dedicated to the memory of a long-standing event: on this day, the apostles, gathered on Mount Olivet, testified how the resurrected Jesus ascended to Heaven to his Father.
Ascension of the Lord
The New Testament contains information that after the resurrection, Christ communicated with his disciples and the Most Holy Theotokos for forty days.Concluding his earthly stay, the Lord gave the last instructions to the apostles, reminded them of the second coming and blessed them, raising his hands to heaven. At that moment, He soared in the air and ascended upward - there He was hidden by a cloud. There was such a significant event for Christians on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
Holiday traditions
On the fortieth day after Easter, believers try to visit the temple in order to pray at the solemn divine service or at least put candles in front of the festive icon lying on the lectern in front of the Royal Doors. Priests read the Ascension chapter from the Gospel of Mark and glorify Christ as the Savior of mankind.
It is from the Ascension service that the vestments of priests change from red to white. So it remains for the next ten days - until the Holy Trinity.
If you can't visit the church, you can pray in front of the home iconostasis.The holiday falls on Thursday, not everyone can refuse to work. You can gather for dinner with your family, celebrate an important event for believers. Along with other dishes (there is no fasting, any food is allowed, including animal origin), it is customary to serve pies stuffed with green onions, pancakes and cinnamon rolls. The main traditional pastries are considered to be peculiar bread "ladders" with seven crossbars. They symbolize the path to Heaven - it is much easier to get to Paradise, gradually climbing the "ladder" of the seven virtues.
Ascension of the Lord is considered a holiday of generosity, kindness and mercy, so it is very important not to forget about charity. Our ancestors from the outside of the dwellings laid out coins under the windows, and left food for the needy near the doors. In past centuries, people believed that under the guise of a beggar, Christ himself could visit their home on Ascension.
What not to do on Ascension
Orthodox Christians try to adhere to a number of prohibitions so as not to "offend" the holy day. The rhythm of modern life does not always contribute to the preservation of traditions, but if possible you need:
- do not conflict, do not sort things out, do not swear, be more tolerant of others than usual;
- avoid hard physical work, including gardening, general cleaning, repairs;
- put off sewing, embroidery and other needlework;
- keep clean and tidy, do not litter the surrounding space.
The sacrament of the wedding is not performed on the great Lord's holiday, therefore it is more correct to appoint the wedding ceremony in 2024 for other days. The most favorable moment can be chosen by referring to the church calendar.
Folk beliefs and omens
The dew that appears on the holiday is credited with healing properties, so from ancient times they tried to wash themselves with it in the early morning or walk barefoot on the grass. According to popular beliefs, on the 40th day after Easter, one should swim in the river at least once in order to gain physical he alth and strength of mind. The ancestors performed the first kind of ritual in the coming year, which they called cumulation. Young people jointly fried eggs, gave each other scarves or simple jewelry, exchanged wreaths of greens and wild flowers.
People noticed that from this day on, spring completely cedes its rights to summer - hot days come, trees stop blooming. According to the beliefs of the peasants, an egg laid by a chicken on Ascension is considered lucky. Often he was not allowed to eat, but hung under the roof of the house so that it protected, protected and brought good luck. When it was raining or a heavy downpour with wind on a holiday, they were worried, perceiving the vagaries of nature as a harbinger of a strong crop failure and pestilence of domestic animals.Sunny weather and a rainbow in the sky were rejoiced as a good omen.
Even our ancestors were sure: a crow croaks - for good, a magpie chirps - for money. If the nightingale was given into hands, one could hope that the whole year would be happy. The Ascension to Heaven of the crucified and risen Christ is one of several major events in Sacred History. It was after the Ascension of the Lord that the earthly sojourn of Jesus was transformed into His invisible presence in the Church.
Happy Ascension in 2024!
