Ascension of Jesus

== Liturgy: Feast of the Ascension ==
{{Main article|Feast of the Ascension}}
[[File:The Ascension of Jesus - Orthodox.ogv|thumb|270px|Orthodox [[Feast of the Ascension]]]]

The Feast of the Ascension is a major [[feast day]] of the Christian [[liturgical year]], along with the [[Passion of Jesus|Passion]], [[Easter]], [[Pentecost]], and [[Christmas]].{{sfn|Quast|2011|p=45}} Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on the sixth Thursday after Easter Sunday, the fortieth day from [[Easter]] day, although some Roman Catholic provinces have moved the observance to the following Sunday to facilitate the obligation to attend Mass. [[Saint Jerome]] held that it was of apostolic origin, but in fact the Ascension was originally part of [[Pentecost]] (the coming of the [[Holy Spirit]]), and developed as a separate celebration only slowly from the late 4th century onward. In the Catholic tradition it begins with a three-day "rogation" to ask for God's mercy, and the feast itself includes a procession of torches and banners symbolising Christ's journey to the [[Mount of Olives]] and entry into Heaven, the extinguishing of the [[Paschal candle]], and an all-night vigil; white is the liturgical colour. The feast was retained at the [[Protestant Reformation]]. It continues to be observed in [[Lutheran]], [[Anglican]], [[Methodist]], and most [[Calvinism|Reformed]] churches. The [[Eastern Orthodox]] tradition has a slightly different calendar up to a month later than in the Western tradition. Other denominations, such as the [[Plymouth Brethren]] and [[Quakers]], do not celebrate it as they do not adhere to the traditional Christian calendar of feasts.{{sfn|Quast|2011|p=45}}{{sfn|Stokl-Ben-Ezra|2007|p=286}}

One of the Ascension hymns is [[Christ fuhr gen Himmel]].