Vespers

Stichera

The Lord was taken up into the Heavens that He might send the Comforter unto the world. The Heavens made ready His throne, and the clouds His ascent. The Angels marvel as they see a man more exalted than they. The Father receiveth Him Whom He hath with Him eternally in His bosom. The Holy Spirit commandeth all His Angels: Lift up your gates, O ye princes. Clap your hands, all ye nations; for Christ hath ascended whither He was before.

O Lord, at Thine Ascension, the Cherubim were sore amazed, beholding Thee, God that art seated upon them, ascending on the clouds. And we glorify Thee, for Thy mercy is good. Glory be to Thee.

O Lord, fulfilling the mystery of Thy dispensation, Thou didst take Thy disciples and ascend the Mount of Olives; and behold, Thou didst pass through the firmament of heaven. O Thou Who for my sake becamest poor like unto me, and didst ascend thither whence Thou wast not separated, send forth Thine All-holy Spirit to enlighten our souls.

Doxasticon for the Ascension

Without being separated from the bosom of the Father, O most sweet Jesus, after living as a man with those upon the earth, Thou wast taken up in glory today from the Mount of Olives. And raising up our fallen nature by Thy compassion, Thou didst seat it together with the Father. Wherefore, the heavenly orders of the Bodiless were amazed at the wonder, beside themselves with astonishment. They were seized with trembling, and they magnified Thy love for mankind. With them, we on earth also glorify Thy condescension toward us, and Thine Ascension from us, entreating and saying: O Thou Who at Thine Ascension didst fill with infinite joy Thy disciples and the Theotokos who bare Thee, by their prayers deem us also worthy of the joy of Thy chosen, for Thy great mercy’s sake.

Doxasticon for the Ascension (Aposticha)

God is gone up in jubilation, the Lord with the voice of the trumpet, to raise the fallen image of Adam, and to send the Comforting Spirit to sanctify our souls.

Aposticha

Beholding Thee being taken up from the Mount of Olives, O Christ, the Powers cried one to another: Who is this? And it was said unto them: This is He that is strong and mighty. This is He that is mighty in war. This is truly the King of Glory. And wherefore are His garments red? Because He cometh from Bosor, which is the flesh. But Thou Thyself, being God, didst sit at the right hand of majesty and sentest unto us the Holy Spirit, that He might guide and save our souls

Apolytikion of the Ascension in Tone Four

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, making them confident through the blessing that Thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

Orthros

Kathismata of the Ascension

As the angels, O Savior, wondered at Thy strange elevation, and the Disciples were amazed at Thy dread rising, Thou didst ascend in glory, being God, and the gates were lifted up for Thee. Wherefore, the heavenly powers were surprised, shouting, Glory to Thy condescension, O Savior; glory to Thy reign; glory to Thine Ascension, O Thou Who alone art the Lover of mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The eternal Word before all the ages, Who took a human nature and deified it in a mystical way, today doth rise ascending. Wherefore, the angels came forth to show Him to the Disciples going to heaven in great glory. And they worshipped Him, saying, Glory to the ascending God.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Thou didst descend from the heavens, O Christ, towards the earthly ones; and with Thee, being God, didst raise the likeness of Adam, cast into the vaults of Hades, lifting it with Thine Ascension to the heavens and making it equal in rank to Thy Father’s throne; for Thou art merciful and the Lover of mankind.

Festal Troparion

Today the hosts on high, beholding our nature in the Heavens, marvel at the strange manner of its ascent, and, being perplexed, they say one to another: Who is this that cometh? And when they saw that it was their own Master, they were commanded to lift up the heavenly gates. With them we ceaselessly praise Thee, Who again shalt come from thence in the flesh, as the Judge of all and Almighty God.

Kontakion

When Thou didst fulfill Thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto Thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

Leaving the things of earth upon the earth, and surrendering to the earth things of ashes, come, let us come to our senses and raise our eyes and thoughts on high; let us, O mortals, turn our gaze together with the senses up unto the heavenly gates. Let us consider ourselves present at the Mount of Olives, and gaze intently at the Redeemer Who is riding upon a cloud; for the Lord hath hastened up from there into the heavens. And there the bountiful Giver of gifts distributed gifts unto His Apostles, calling to them as a Father, and strengthening them; He guided them like sons and said unto them: I am not separated from you; I am with you, and no one shall be against you.

Synaxarion

Thou didst sit at the right hand of the Father, O Word,
Granting Thine initiates a faith far more steadfast.

Ninth Ode of the First Ascension Canon

Thee, that wentest down unto the extreme of the earth, and didst save fallen man and in Thy holy Ascent on high didst exalt him: O Lord, Thee do we magnify.

Ninth Ode of the Second Ascension Canon

Beholding the ascent of the Master, the Angel hosts were sore amazed, how He was taken up with
glory from earth unto the Heavens.
O exceeding gifts that pass understanding! What a fearful mystery! For the Sovereign Lord of all, arising from the earth to celestial realms, hath sent the Holy Spirit to His own disciples below, that the Spirit might illuminate their mind and with grace make them blaze like a fiery flame.

The magnificence is notably lifted high above the heavens now of Him in the flesh made poor; and so our fallen nature is magnified and honored with the session with the Father on His throne. Let us keep feast, and with one accord cry out, gladly clapping our hands in exceeding joy.

alt translation: The majesty of Him Who beggared Himself by assuming flesh is manifestly exalted higher than the heavens, and our fallen nature is honored in being seated with the Father. Let us all celebrate and exclaim together, and clap our hands, rejoicing.

Ainoi

Let us on earth now keep festival like the Angels’ host, and let us cry out their hymn unto God, Who is seated on the Throne of Majesty: Holy art Thou God the Father in Heaven’s heights; Holy art Thou, co-eternal and timeless Word; and All-holy Spirit, Holy art Thou.

Divine Liturgy

Megalynarion

Thou who art God’s Mother transcending mind and word, who ineffably in time gavest birth unto the Timeless One, thee do we the faithful magnify in one accord.