ASCENSION SUNDAY Meaning and
Definition
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Ascension Sunday is a Christian religious observance that takes place on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, as mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible.
According to Christian teachings, Ascension Sunday marks the conclusion of the earthly ministry of Jesus after his resurrection. As recounted in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, Jesus ascended into heaven in the presence of his disciples, rising bodily into the sky until he vanished from their sight. It is believed that Jesus ascended to be seated at the right hand of God and to assume his position of authority and power.
On Ascension Sunday, Christians attend special church services that emphasize the significance of this event in the life of Jesus. The liturgy often includes hymns and prayers that reflect on the exaltation of Christ and his promise to send the Holy Spirit upon his followers. Some Christian denominations celebrate with processions or other ceremonial activities.
Ascension Sunday is considered a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church, which means that Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on this day. It holds a prominent place in the liturgical calendar, especially in Western Christian traditions. The observations associated with Ascension Sunday serve as a reminder of Jesus' divine nature, his victory over death, and his role as the intermediary between God and humanity.
Etymology of ASCENSION SUNDAY
The word "Ascension" has its etymology in the Latin word "ascensio", which means "to ascend" or "to go up". It comes from the verb "ascendere", where "ad" means "to" and "scandere" means "to climb" or "to mount". "Ascension Sunday" refers to the Christian holy day that commemorates the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. The term "Sunday" indicates that it is observed on a Sunday, the first day of the week, as per Christian tradition.
