The Church devotes the fortieth day after Easter to the memory of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. This event is briefly mentioned by the evangelists Mark and Luke.
Mark, ch. 16, art. 19 (Mark 16:19): The Lord, after talking with them (the disciples), ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Luke, ch. 24, art. 46-52 (Luke 24:46-52): [Appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, Jesus Christ] said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day... And I will send the promise of My Father upon you; But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high. And He led them out of the city as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. And when he blessed them, he began to move away from them and ascend to heaven. They worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
The same evangelist Luke tells in much more detail about this event in the book of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:1-12).
Troparion.
Thou art exalted in glory, O Christ our God, having brought joy to the disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit, which was communicated to them by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. Christ our God! You ascended in glory, filling Your disciples with joy through the promise of the Holy Spirit, in which You assured them of Your blessing, because You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.
Kontakion.
Having fulfilled your concern for us and having united us on earth with the heavenly, you ascended in glory, Christ our God, in no way departing, but remaining persistent and crying out to those who love You: I am with you, and no one is against you.
Greatness.
We magnify Thee, life-giving Christ, and honor the Divine Ascension into heaven with Thy most pure flesh.
Irmosy.
1. To the Savior God, who in the sea taught people with wet feet and drowned Pharaoh with all his hosts, to Him alone we praise: for he was glorified.
3. By the power of Your cross, O Christ, confirm my thoughts to sing and glorify Your saving ascension.
4. I heard the sound of the power of the cross, as if paradise had been opened to them, and I cried out: Glory to Your power, O Lord.
5. We cry out in the morning to Thee, Lord, save us: For Thou art our God, do we know no other to Thee?
6. The abyss passed over me, my grave became a whale, but I cried out to You, O lover of mankind, and Your right hand saved me, O Lord.
7. In the fiery furnace of hymns, saved the youths, blessed be God our father.
8. From the Father, before the age of time, the Son and God was born, and in the last year of the incarnation of the Virgin Mother, sing, the priests, exalt the people to all ages.
Chorus.
Magnify, my soul, Christ, the giver of life, who ascended from earth to heaven.
9. You, more than intelligence and words, the Mother of God, who inexpressibly gave birth in the summer of the Flightless One, we magnify with the same wisdom.