In the Eastern Church this feast is known in Greek as Analepsis, the “taking up”, and also as the Episozomene, the “salvation from on high”, denoting that by ascending into his glory Christ completed the work of our redemption. Ascension is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year.

The feast is observed with an All-night vigil. The day before is the Apodosis (leave-taking) of Easter (i.e., the last day of the Feast of Easter). The Paroemia (Old Testament readings) at Vespers on the eve of the Feast are Isaiah 2:2-3; Isaiah 62:10-63:3, 63:7-9; and Zechariah 14:1-4, 14:8-11. At the Divine Liturgy, the Epistle is Acts 1:1-12, and the Gospel is Luke 24:36-53. (Wikipedia)

The murals in the Protaton, Karyes photograped by Millet in 1918.

Detail of the Ascension scene in the Protaton by Le Baron 1918.

The ascension in the Lavra katholicon by Millet.

Xenofontos

Paulou

Docheiariou
More photographs by Millet.

Herman Voogd