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CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS
Ascension Day
Ascension Day commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:1 to 1:11). 

According to the creed, Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried. He descended into hell, but on the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father. The ascension of Christ can be understood traditionally as his taking up into heaven at the conclusion of his earthly ministry.

For a full discussion of the deeper theological issues and some of the debate regarding the implications of this doctrinal statement please read the article on the ascension of Christ on pages 15 to 16 of A Dictionary of Christian Theology edited by Alan Richardson, SCM Press.

Ascension is traditionally a Thursday but in some churches it is commemorated on the subsequent Sunday, the last Sunday before Pentecost.