Ascension Day: Jesus’ Last Journey to Heaven
Ascension Day is an important Christian festival, celebrated on the 40th day after Easter. On this day, special prayers and religious ceremonies are held in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven.
Three days after being crucified, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and began appearing to His followers. For the next forty days, He taught His disciples and assured them that He was still alive and that His mission was not yet over. One day, while He was with His disciples on the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, He said to them, “Go to the ends of the earth and bear witness to me, showing people the way of truth.” He also promised that very soon the Holy Spirit would descend upon them and empower them. Then, raising His hands, He blessed the disciples and slowly began ascending into the sky. Amazed, the disciples watched Him rise into the heavens. At that moment, two angels appeared and said, “Just as Jesus has gone into heaven, He will one day return.” This event was meant to assure His followers that Jesus was not just a teacher, but the Son of God, and that He is still alive. His ascension became a symbol of His divine nature and the fulfillment of His earthly mission.
Ascension Day in 2025
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Timing: 40th day after Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025)
Observed by: Christian communities around the world
Religious Significance
Meaning of Ascension: Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven after blessing His disciples. This event is described in the Bible in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.
Christian Belief: This day symbolizes the completion of Jesus Christ’s work on Earth and His ascension to sit at the right hand of God in heaven.
Waiting for the Holy Spirit: After the ascension, the disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit, who came upon them on Pentecost.
Traditions and Rituals
Special Prayers: Churches hold special prayer gatherings on this day.
Religious Processions: In some places, processions or re-enactments of Jesus’ ascension are carried out.
Music and Hymns: Special hymns and musical programs are organized to mark the occasion.
Global Recognition
Public Holiday: Ascension Day is a public holiday in several countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland.
Status in India: While it is not a public holiday in most parts of India, it is observed with religious devotion by Christian communities.
~ Religion World Bureau
