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Armenian Church to celebrate the Feast of Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/04/armenian-church-to-celebrate-the-feast-of-ascension-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/
13:45 04.05.2013
On May 9 the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension
of Our Lord on the fortieth day following the Feast of the Glorious
Resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
Following His Resurrection and defeat of death, Christ remained on
earth for forty days, and continued to appear to His disciples. On the
fortieth day, Christ is seen by His disciples for the last time. He
blesses them and leaves them with instructions, after which He ascends
into heaven.
Two of the Gospel writers, St. Mark and St. Luke, testify about
Christ's ascension. There is also an account of it in the Acts of the
Apostles.
Following a final meeting of Christ with the eleven remaining
apostles, St. Mark writes, `So then, after the Lord had spoken unto
them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of
God.' (Mark 16:19)
St. Luke gives a little greater detail as he writes, `And he led them
out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed
them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from
them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the
temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.' (Luke 24: 50-53)
But by far the most beautiful account of the Ascension can be found in
the Book of Acts: `And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven.' (Acts 1:9-11)
The hymn that is sung in the Armenian Church on Ascension Day mentions
the miraculous event of Christ's Ascension into heaven and the descent
of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.
In the Armenian Church, the day of Jesus Christ's Ascension is also
commemorated for another reason as well. On this date in 1441, the See
of the Catholicosate of All Armenians was returned to its historical
origins. Following a resolution of the National Assembly gathered in
Vagharshapad, the Patriarchal See was relocated from the city of Sis
in Western Armenia to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Following
his vision of Christ striking the ground with a golden hammer, St.
Gregory the Illuminator had founded the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
in 303. However, less than 200 years later, in 484, the Patriarchal
See was forced to relocate, and for the next 1000 years, settled in
various cities throughout Armenia. The decision to return the throne
of the Catholicos to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was the
fulfillment of a national dream for the Armenian people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/05/04/armenian-church-to-celebrate-the-feast-of-ascension-of-our-lord-jesus-christ/
13:45 04.05.2013
On May 9 the Armenian Church will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension
of Our Lord on the fortieth day following the Feast of the Glorious
Resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ.
Following His Resurrection and defeat of death, Christ remained on
earth for forty days, and continued to appear to His disciples. On the
fortieth day, Christ is seen by His disciples for the last time. He
blesses them and leaves them with instructions, after which He ascends
into heaven.
Two of the Gospel writers, St. Mark and St. Luke, testify about
Christ's ascension. There is also an account of it in the Acts of the
Apostles.
Following a final meeting of Christ with the eleven remaining
apostles, St. Mark writes, `So then, after the Lord had spoken unto
them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of
God.' (Mark 16:19)
St. Luke gives a little greater detail as he writes, `And he led them
out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed
them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from
them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and
returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the
temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.' (Luke 24: 50-53)
But by far the most beautiful account of the Ascension can be found in
the Book of Acts: `And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have
seen him go into heaven.' (Acts 1:9-11)
The hymn that is sung in the Armenian Church on Ascension Day mentions
the miraculous event of Christ's Ascension into heaven and the descent
of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.
In the Armenian Church, the day of Jesus Christ's Ascension is also
commemorated for another reason as well. On this date in 1441, the See
of the Catholicosate of All Armenians was returned to its historical
origins. Following a resolution of the National Assembly gathered in
Vagharshapad, the Patriarchal See was relocated from the city of Sis
in Western Armenia to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Following
his vision of Christ striking the ground with a golden hammer, St.
Gregory the Illuminator had founded the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
in 303. However, less than 200 years later, in 484, the Patriarchal
See was forced to relocate, and for the next 1000 years, settled in
various cities throughout Armenia. The decision to return the throne
of the Catholicos to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was the
fulfillment of a national dream for the Armenian people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress