“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

— Acts 1:9

Celebrated 40 Days after the Resurrection of Our Lord

June 13, 2024

The Feast of Holy Ascension is celebrated each year 40 days after Pascha (Easter). This is why the Feast is always celebrated on a Thursday and is one of the 12 Great Feasts in the Orthodox Church.

Here you’ll find 10 fun ways to celebrate Ascension as a family in hopes that one of these ideas will spark some ideas for you as you live out the Liturgical Calendar. Perhaps they will become your annual tradition for each Ascension! These are not just activities for activities sake, of course. My hope is that these will aid you in sharing more about our faith with your children in a way that is developmentally appropriate, allows for their exploration and participation in the feast, and hopefully cultivate a rich soil in their hearts that allows the seed of Truth that stays with them all the days of their life. I absolutely love major feasts and try my best to set them apart from other days, prioritizing services and engaging in the feast however that looks.

Scroll to learn more about this Great Feast and find 10 ways to celebrate this feast with your kids

My own personal photo of the icon of the Ascension at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY

What is Ascension? Ascension is the name that marks the event when Jesus ascended into Heaven after his Resurrection. The story of Ascension is found in multiple places in the Bible. In Luke 24, Jesus blesses his disciples and is carried up into heaven. In Mark 16:19, Jesus is received into heaven, taking His place at the right hand of the Father. In Acts Chapter 1, we know that Jesus remained with his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection. He gives his disciples specific instructions that they should remain in Jerusalem for a few more days and wait for the Holy Spirit which will descend on them (Pentecost). “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, 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, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11). This is why the Church in her wisdom has fashioned that we celebrate Ascension 40 days after Christ’s Resurrection (Pascha) and Pentecost 50 days after Pascha. It is in line with the Biblical account as well.

Fun Fact: In some Jurisdictions, a general fasting dispensation has been given from fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays from Pascha until Ascension (40 days)!

10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Ascension with Kids:

1. Attend Liturgy

If you choose to do one thing, make this your priority! The most important way to celebrate any feasts is to attend Divine Liturgy for the feast! This is how we connect our lives at home with our lives in the church. Our lives ought to be hinged in the Church, as this is where Christ offers us Life. Jesus tells us “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) We have to attach ourselves to the vine, as often as we are able. Partaking in the Eucharist, giving thanks to God for all He has given us, communing this is the Christian life. Prioritize attending Divine Liturgy for the 12 Great Feasts. Check with your local parish to find out when the services are being offered.

2. Read about Ascension as a family

Book Pictured : Heaven Meets Earth by Ancient Faith Publishing

For Biblical events, we love to read them directly from the source! Read the story of the days Jesus spent with His disciples after the resurrection in Mark 16:14-19, in Luke 24:50-51, or in Acts 1:9-12.
The Ascension of Our Lord (The Twelve Great Feasts for Children) by Mother Melania Salem or listen to it read aloud in Readings from Under the Grapevine on Ancient Faith Podcast
Heaven Meets Earth: Celebrating Pascha and the Twelve Great Feasts by Ancient Faith Publishing
The Great Feasts by Exaltation Press

3. Listen to the song about Ascension by Gigi Baba

4. Cloud Watching Picnic

This time of year the weather can be unpredictable, but plan ahead, pack a picnic lunch for after morning Liturgy (if it’s offered in the morning). Find a park or hike that you can lay out a blanket and look at the clouds and talk about Christ’s Ascension. Read the story in the Scriptures together Mark 16:14-19, or Luke 24:50-51, or in Acts 1:9-12.

5. Make Ascension Themed Food

Who doesn’t like a fun symbolic recipe to help us remember a Special and Holy Feast Day? These recipes are not only fun but they help children remember the details of Christ’s ascension into heaven!

6. Try a Hands On Activity

Two Ingredient Cloud Dough Recipe This recipe is super easy to make. In fact, this cloud dough is even easier to make than slime! The ingredients to make cloud dough are hair conditioner, and cornstarch. That’s it…just 2 ingredients!
Puffy Paint Clouds - all you need is shaving cream, white liquid glue, and blue construction paper to make puffy paint clouds that dry fluffy! Check out this YouTube video on how to make them.
Check out this Ascension Craft you can easily make at home using a cup and string and free printables by April Homemaking Blog
FREE Ascension Printable Pack by Joy in Play. Includes timeline of events, copy work printable, color the scene and more!
Color an Icon of the Ascension available from the OCA Christian Education website.
Print this foldable centerpiece about the feast of the Ascension from the Antiochian Archdiocese

7. Try out one of these Science Experiments

Science experiment to Illustrate Ascension using Raisins, vinegar and baking soda

Science Experiment to Illustrate Ascension - Using vinegar and baking soda cause raisins to rise to the top of the water to illustrate Christ's ascension!

Learn more about the affects of the Great Commission that Christ gives at the Ascension in this fun experiment with milk, oil and food coloring!

8. Listen to the Story of Ascension

Listen to The Ascension of Our Lord from the series The Twelve Great Feasts for Children by Mother Melania (Conciliar Press) read aloud in the Podcast “Under the Grapevine” on Ancient Faith
Check out this YouTube video about Ascension by the Greek Orthodox Church (12 mins)
Listen to this Podcast for Families about the Ascesion “Tending the Garden of our Hearts” by Ancient Faith (9 mins) which includes a break down of the Biblical Event and includes family discussion prompts to help you dive deeper.

9. Ballon Release

Here’s an idea that your kids will likely not forget! Buy some helium biodegradable balloons for the special day. Enjoy their happy presence all day. Then in late afternoon or early evening before the sun sets, take the balloons outside, read the story of Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:6-11, write a note or message to Jesus on your balloon and then together release them. Watch them disappear into the sky and imagine His disciples watching Jesus ascend to Heaven.

10. A Bedtime Discussion

Book Heaven Meets Earth by Ancient Faith Publishing

For bedtime conversation (or any time that day) ask your kids to imagine what it must have been like to watch Jesus rise off the ground, into the air and then disappear in a cloud. Read Acts 1:6-9 together to hear what actually happened. If you have an icon of the Ascension or a photo of the icon (i.e. in the book Heaven Meets Earth page 42 - See above)

What were Jesus’s promises on Ascension? (there are 3: to send the Spirit, to be with them always, and to return in glory)
What did He tell his disciples to do?
Where did the Ascension occur? (on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany)

For Older kids, continue the discussion:

Where does Jesus sit now? (at the right hand of the Father)
Where is that? (the point here is that it is not an earthly place; thus the angels asked the bewildered disciples why they were looking at the sky)
A cloud came and removed Jesus from the sight of His disciples; where else do we see a cloud with a divine appearance? (Red Sea, Mt. Sinai and the 10 Commandments, Mary at the Annunciation, Transfiguration)
What did the apostles do between Ascension and Pentecost? (wait!!!) Compare and contrast Ascension and Transfiguration.

Bonus

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Bonus 〰️

Sing the Festal Hymn of the Feast:

Troparion:

Thou has ascended in glory, O Christ our God,

and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit,

having become confident of the blessing.

Verily, Thou art the Son of God, the Deliverer of the world!

You can listen to it sung on Youtube here

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.

One final Word

When it comes to Major Feast Days, I always prioritize 2 things: (1) Attending the service and (2) telling my children about the feast day prior - or afterwards. Usually this is done by showing them the icon or reading the account from their Children’s Bible. If I can do those two things, I feel a great sense of success! My hope is that these feasts days imprint on their hearts during their childhood and they have a greater love for our Savior as they grow up because of them. Now, if you are able to do those two things, you’re a gold star! Bravo! If you are in a season where you want to go a little deeper and make those connections stronger, I will cheer you on and encourage you on that venture. Some seasons allow for more, especially as children grow older. But if you find yourself in a busy season with littles, rest assured, you have many many years ahead to be able to add more to your plate!