Today we celebrate one of the greatest events in the Holy History – the Ascension into Heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, the event happened in 40 days after the Holy and Glorious Resurrection.

Though, this seems to be a strange feast, as no one could be glad that the Lord was leaving the earth. And, nevertheless, the apostles “went back into Jerusalem with great joy”. (He, as Man, actually left the earth in the most natural way, by death – but, as God, “trampling down death by death!”)

To realize why this is a joyous Feast, the Gospel (namely the Gospel of St John, that shares many highly spiritual revelations) saved for us those words of the Saviour:

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (Chapter 16)

And in chapter 14: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

The two-fold truth of those words is, first – He is lifting up the glorified by the resurrection human nature, and due to this, somewhere in the mystical depths of deity, now this nature is capable to become the First Fruit of our reunion with God by the Grace of the Holy Spirit! This is what we partake in the Sacrament of the Holy Communion!

That is why the apostles were so joyous at that moment – they began to realize it!

“…that …you may be partakers of the divine nature, — says Apostle Peter.

And he continues: “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness…”

This is what the Lord says about: And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Actually, the same way He went!

So, we still need to have some effort, or some sacrifice… Yes, it is very often a sad way: the yoke of Christ, but: “for if I do not go away, the Helper – the Comforter – will not come to you – the Spirit of Truth”, say the Lord.

Who now can dwell in the Body of Christ, that is in the Church, that is in any one of us!

We shall celebrate it just in 10 days, and then (right after Pentecost) even the Day of the Holy Spirit.

Who is guiding us on this Christian way, curing our spiritual wounds, helping us discern things Godly from things worldly, praying with us and in us, nurturing us in many unseen and unutterable ways.

So, if there is a proclamation (or a greeting) similar to the Paschal, which would be appropriate for this Holy Day, it would sound like:

Christ is ascending – let us rejoice in Him! Amen!