Ascension metal icon

The Ascension of Jesus (anglicized from the Vulgate Latin: ascensio Iesu, lit. 'ascent of Jesus') is the Christian teaching that Christ physically departed from Earth by rising to Heaven, in the presence of eleven of his apostles.^[1] According to the New Testament narrative, the Ascension occurred on the fortieth day counting from the resurrection.^[1] In the Christian tradition, reflected in the major Christian creeds and confessional statements, God exalted Jesus after his death,^[2][3] raising him from the dead and taking him to Heaven, where Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God.^[4]

In Christian art, the ascending Jesus is often shown blessing an earthly group below him, signifying the entire Church.^[5] The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the 40th day of Easter, always a Thursday;^[4] some Orthodox traditions have a different calendar up to a month later than in the Western tradition, and while the Anglican Communion continues to observe the feast, many Protestant churches have abandoned the observance.^[6][7]