Christian Festivals: Ascension (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

The meaning and significance of Ascension

• Ascension means “to go up” or ascend

• The Ascension is celebrated by Christians 40 days after Easter, which is the festival that marks the resurrection of Jesus

• According to the Bible, after Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, he spent time with the apostles

  • During this period, he told them that God would send down the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had promised

• The final time Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection is referred to as the Ascension

• At the Ascension, Jesus returned to the Father in heaven

• The significance of the Ascension for Christians is that it:

  • Shows that the work of redemption was complete and that reconciliation between God and humanity had been achieved through Jesus

  • Proves Jesus is divine and shares fully in the glory of God

  • Marks the end of Jesus’s time on earth and the start of the disciples’ mission to spread the gospel in his name

  • Prepares them for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

  • Encourages believers to remain faithful and have hope that they will also join Jesus and the Father in heaven

Customs of the Ascension

• Common customs Christians use to mark the Ascension include:

  • Church services and hymns focused on the theme of Jesus’s glory and kingship

  • Lighting of candles to symbolise Christ rising to heaven

    • In the Catholic and Anglican churches, the Paschal (Easter) candle is extinguished on Ascension Day to show that Christ is no longer just risen but is now glorified in heaven

  • In some churches, a statue or image of Christ is raised or removed to symbolise the Ascension

  • Bible readings retelling the Ascension story are shared

  • In some countries, Ascension Day is a public holiday, and outdoor services or processions take place

  • Some Christians start a novena (nine days of prayer) on Ascension Day, leading up to Pentecost

Religious reasons for observing Ascension

• Christians observe the Ascension to remember and reflect upon Jesus’s return to heaven at the end of his time on earth

• Christians believe that the Ascension is a time:

  • To celebrate that Jesus completed the work of redemption and that reconciliation between God and humanity had been achieved

  • To celebrate Jesus’s authority and place with God the Father in heaven for eternity

  • To focus on hope and the promise of Christ’s return and their own future in heaven

  • To prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

  • When Christians think about their own role in spreading the gospel in the world, as Jesus had asked of them in the teaching known as the Great Commission:

Social significance of observing the Ascension

• Like all Christian festivals, the Ascension brings Christians together in shared worship and community reflection

• It encourages believers to think about their mission and purpose in the world

• It helps Christian communities mark the end of Easter and prepare for Pentecost

• Some schools and churches hold Ascension assemblies or open-air services, which promote Christian values and help children to learn more about their faith

Different ways of observing Ascension

• Catholic and Anglican churches may hold a Mass or Holy Communion service with hymns, Bible readings about the Ascension and even a procession

• Orthodox Christians also have a Divine Liturgy and readings about the Ascension. They may display icons of the Ascension

  • Some Orthodox Christians take part in an all-night vigil

• Protestant Christians may not have a set liturgy for the Ascension, but some may hold services at which sermons are preached about Jesus’s divine authority and promise to return