The Akathist to the Ascension of the Lord is a prayer that is read in Christian churches to honor the Ascension of the Lord. This prayer helps believers to understand the significance of the Ascension and its impact on human life.
Кондак 1
Thou Who Art Exalted, O Commander, Creator of Heaven and Earth! We offer thee hymns of praise, O Conqueror of Death, as thou hast risen from the dead in thy resplendent Resurrection, and hast ascended to the heavens with glory, and hast taken thy seat at the right hand of God the Father with thy holy flesh, that thou mayest also exalt our fallen nature with thee, and deliver us from sin and eternal death. We, thy disciples, celebrate thy divine Ascension with thee, and cry out to thee from the heart:
Jesus, having ascended to heaven from us, do not leave us desolate.
Икос 1
The ranks of Archangels and Angels stood before thee, O King of all, on the Mount of Olives, beholding thee in awe, as thou didst ascend to the heavenly heights with thy flesh, and they hymned thy great mercy, singing to thee thus:
Jesus, King of Glory, ascend to the heavens in a trumpet-like voice of triumph.
Jesus, Lord of Powers, ascend to the Cherubim and soar on the wings of the wind.
Jesus, Eternal God, give thy voice the voice of power, that the earth may now tremble.
Jesus, Supreme Light, manifest thy power in the clouds, and let the fire from thy face be kindled.
Jesus, Redeemer of creation, prepare thy throne in heaven, and may thy kingdom have no end.
Jesus, Creator of heaven and earth, sit at the right hand of thy Father, that God may be all in all.
Jesus, having ascended to heaven from us, do not leave us desolate.
Кондак 2
When the Apostles saw thee, O Lord, rising from the dead, and thou didst appear to them on the fortieth day, speaking to them of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, and when they received from thee the command not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, until they were clothed with power from on high, they came together, united in heart and voice, and prayed to thee thus:
Alleluia
Икос 2
Revealing the wisdom of thy divine providence, O Jesus, thou didst lead thy disciples out of Bethany, and didst ascend them to the Mount of Olives, beginning to prepare them for thy Ascension to heaven, saying: “Draw near, O friends, the time of my Ascension is at hand, go, therefore, and teach all nations the word that ye have heard from my voice, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” And they, still reasoning in earthly terms, asked thee, “Doth not the Kingdom of Israel come this year?” But thou didst reply to them, “Ye do not understand the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power,” that they might be prepared to meet their Heavenly Bridegroom, crying out:
Jesus, Good Shepherd, do not depart from us, but remain with us unceasingly.
Jesus, Good Teacher, send us the Holy Comforter, that he may abide with us unchangingly.
Jesus, Enlightener of our souls, enlighten our souls by thy heavenly Ascension.
Jesus, our Savior, save us from weakness and the turmoil of thy Ascension.
Jesus, our Teacher, guide us by the word of thy lips to thy service.
Jesus, our Helper, remember us by the Holy Spirit, that we may recall thy Revelation.
Jesus, having ascended to heaven from us, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 3
By the power from above, O Lord, Thou didst commission the Apostles, saying unto them on the Mount of Olives, “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Paraclete will not come unto you.” Thou didst command them to be witnesses unto Thee in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and even unto the uttermost parts of the earth, saying: “Come, and enter in at the gates of My Kingdom; prepare the way for Me, and make straight the path for My people, and remove the stumbling block from the path, and raise up a banner on the hills, that all the faithful may sing with you:
Alleluia
Icos 3
O Most Merciful Jesus, Thou didst fulfill the countless joys of Thy disciples and the women who followed Thee, and especially the joy of Thy Most Holy Mother, when Thou didst ascend into heaven, having already departed from them, Thou didst stretch forth Thy hands and bless them, saying: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” And they, being filled with fear, didst glorify Thy merciful condescension, saying:
O Jesus, Giver of Mercy, have mercy upon the human race at the Mount of Olives.
O Jesus, Comforter of the Afflicted, may those who are with Thee be comforted.
O Jesus, Hope of the Hopeless, may Thy blessing preserve us from despair at Thy departure into heaven.
O Jesus, Refuge of the Forsaken, may Thy Ascension into heaven be a means of our ascent to the Heavenly Father, and may Thou grant us the gift of eternal joy.
O Jesus, Good Comforter, may the Comforter, sent from the Father, be our Comforter.
O Jesus, Great Shepherd of the Flock, may Thy blessing not permit Thy faithful flock to be scattered.
O Jesus, having ascended into heaven, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 4
Being overwhelmed by the storm of doubt and sorrow, the Apostles were filled with tears and lamentation when they saw Thee, O Christ, being lifted up into the clouds, and they cried out: “O Lord, how dost Thou leave Thy servants? Thou hast loved them for Thy mercy’s sake, and now Thou art departing, holding the ends of the hands? We, having left all, have followed Thee, our God, rejoicing, and having hope of being with Thee forever. Do not leave us desolate, as Thou hast promised, but do not separate Thyself from us, O Good Shepherd, but send us Thy Holy Spirit, to guide, enlighten, and sanctify our souls, that we may thankfully sing unto Thee:
Alleluia
Icos 4
When the disciples of Thy Apostles heard their lamentation, O Lord, Thou didst grant them the highest blessing, saying: “Do not weep, beloved ones, and cast aside all sorrow, for it is expedient for you that I go away, that the Comforter may come unto you. I go unto My Father, and I will prepare a place for you, and I will not leave My sheep behind, for I have loved them, and I will not forget them.” And they, being comforted by Thy divine words, didst cry out unto Thee with humility:
O Jesus, Most Good, may our sorrow and tears be transformed into joy, and may we partake of eternal joy in Thy Kingdom.
O Jesus, Most Merciful, may Thou fill us with joy in Thy Ascension, and may Thou preserve our spirit in the joy of Thy presence, and in our earthly pilgrimage.
O Jesus, as Thou didst gather Thy chicks under Thy wings, do not permit us to be scattered in the midst of this world.
O Jesus, having bound us together in love at the Supper, do not give us over to the power of Satan, that we may be scattered like chaff.
O Jesus, may Thy peace be our inheritance, and may Thou preserve us in unity and love.
O Jesus, having prepared many mansions in Paradise, may Thou prepare a place for us in Thy Heavenly Mansion.
O Jesus, having ascended into heaven, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 5
The divine cloud, resplendent with light, was lifted up, O Life-giving Lord, before the eyes of the beholders, when, having departed from them, Thou didst bless them, and thus, with great glory, Thou didst accomplish Thy wondrous Ascension to the Father, on the wings of the Cherubim, to the heavens that were previously inaccessible to the spirits of the air and to the princes of the powers of the air, and now, Thou art received within, that Thou mayest hear the angelic hymn, visible and invisible, of all creation:
Alleluia
Icos 5
Beholding Thy glorious Ascension on high, O King of all creation, the heavenly hosts were amazed, saying to the highest powers: Take the eternal gates, for the King of Glory is coming; open the heavens and the heavens of the heavens, receive the Lord of powers and worship Him, crying out:
Jesus, the radiance of the Father’s glory, enlighten us with the light of Thy countenance.
Jesus, the shining of the highest minds, enlighten us in the day of Thy eternal kingdom.
Jesus, who came in the midst of fire and storm, call Thy wise heaven from above.
Jesus, the Great and Glorious One in Thy holy mountain, proclaim Thy truth in the heavens.
Jesus, who exalts Thy mercy to the heavens, manifest Thy glory on all the earth.
Jesus, who ascended to the heavens on the east, may Thy Word endure forever in the heavens.
Jesus, who ascended from us to the heavens, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 6
The heralds of the divine glory, the chief ranks of the angelic hosts, dwelling in the heights of the heavenly kingdom, the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, opened all the heights of the heavens together, greeting Thee, O Ruler of all, and seeing Thee, who hast ascended in the flesh, they cry out to one another in wonder: Who is this, who has come from Edom, the Ruler and the Strong in battle? Who is this, who has come from Bozrah, which is of the flesh? Why are His garments red, as if dyed with blood, and why does He wear a crown of thorns? This is truly the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, who was slain for the salvation of the world and has risen, and now comes in the flesh, sitting at the right hand of the Father, to whom we shall sing:
Alleluia
Icos 6
Thou hast shone forth with divine glory, O Jesus, when Thou didst assume human nature, in which Thou didst clothe Thyself, Thou didst mercifully ascend, Thou didst prepare the Father, and Thou didst deify it. Therefore, the heavenly, bodiless orders, being amazed at the wonder, were terrified, and, being held in awe and trembling, they praised Thy humanity. With them, we earthly ones, praising Thy condescension and Thy Ascension to the heavens, pray, saying:
Jesus, the fountain of life, by Thy Ascension to the heavens, Thou hast shown us, O strangers on earth, the way of eternal life to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Jesus, the boundless sea of mercy, by Thy sitting at the right hand of the Father, Thou hast deified our flesh.
Jesus, who hast taken upon Thy shoulder our fallen nature, take upon Thyself and my heavy sins.
Jesus, who hast ascended in the flesh to the Father, who is without flesh, raise up my fallen thoughts.
Jesus, who hast ascended from the earth to the heavens, grant me to receive the right hand of the saved sheep.
Jesus, who hast shown forth Thy beauty from Zion, enable me to be a partaker of Thy eternal blessedness.
Jesus, who hast ascended from us to the heavens, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 7
Although Thou hast exalted and glorified the human nature fallen in Adam, Thou, as the second Adam, hast ascended to the heavenly height, and hast prepared for Thyself a throne for all eternity, and hast sat at the right hand of God the Father, never separating Thy Divinity from the paternal bosom. Therefore, come, O Jesus, who hast ascended to the right hand of the Father, and we shall worship Thee, and give Thee glory, and sing from the depths of our soul:
Alleluia
Icos 7
Thou hast revealed a new and pure dwelling, O Lord, when Thou didst ascend to the heavens with Thy Body, that Thou mightest renew the world, which had grown old with many sins, by Thy Resurrection and Ascension, showing us clearly, as the divine Paul says, that our dwelling is in the heavens. Therefore, let us separate ourselves from the vain world, and transfer our mind to the heavens, and crying out to Thee thus:
Jesus, by Thy Divinity, which is with the angels in the heavens, call us to the heavenly dwelling, that we may strive.
Jesus, by Thy earthly Body, teach us to renounce earthly passions, that we may ascend to the heavens.
Jesus, who hast come to seek the lost sheep, lead us to Thy flock, which is not lost.
Jesus, who hast come to unite the separated natures, unite us to Thy flock, which is in the heavens, with the Father.
Jesus, who hast ascended to the heavens in a cloud, enable us, who are earthly, to behold the heavenly gates.
Jesus, who sittest in glory on the throne of Divinity, grant us, who have opened our eyes, to understand Thy wonders, according to the Law.
Jesus, who hast ascended to the heavens, leaving us behind, do not leave us desolate.
Condak 8
Thy Resurrection, O Christ, is strange and wondrous, Thy Ascension is strange and terrifying, the divine Ascension from the holy mountain, is incomprehensible and beyond human understanding, Thy sitting at the right hand of the Father in the flesh, of which David spoke in spirit, saying: “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Therefore, all the heavenly powers, beholding Thy Ascension to the heavens, have truly been subjected to Thy feet, singing the Cherubic hymn in angelic language:
Alleluia
Icos 8
Thou wast in the heavens, O sweetest Jesus, when Thou didst ascend to the heavens with glory, and didst sit at the right hand of God the Father, but Thou didst not separate Thyself from the lower regions, for Thou didst promise to remain unchanging in the Church, and didst cry out to those who love Thee: “I am with you, and no one shall be against you.” Remembering and keeping this gracious promise of Thine in our heart, we cry out to Thee thus:
Jesus, receiving us into Thy eternal inheritance, which Thou hast received by Thy Ascension.
Jesus, fulfilling the promise of the Holy Spirit to Thy disciples, fill us with that grace.
Jesus, having exalted all creation by Thy Ascension, exalt my soul to sing Thy glory with the angels.
Jesus, Word of God, establishing the heavens by Thy Word, establish Thy words in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.
Jesus, Son of the Father, revealing Thy power from heaven by the Spirit of Thy lips, renew the right spirit within me, that I may not defile myself.
Jesus, who hast ascended to the heavens, leaving us behind, do not leave us desolate.
Kondak 9
All human nature, fallen and debased, and consumed by sin, Thou hast taken upon Thyself, O Lord, Thou who art the New Creator, and hast exalted it above all beginning and authority, and hast brought it to God the Father, and hast seated it with Thee on the Throne of Heaven, that Thou mayest sanctify it, and glorify it, and deify it. The bodiless ones, who are astonished, say: Who is this Redemptive Man, but not merely a man, but also God and Man, to Whom we shall sing:
Alleluia
Icos 9
The divine virtues, Thy disciples, O Savior, are astonished at Thy glorious Ascension, and looking up to heaven, they sorrow, and I, ascending to Thee, behold two angels standing before them in white garments, and they say to them in consolation: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up at heaven? This Jesus, who has ascended into heaven from you, will come in the same way as you saw Him going into heaven.” This angelic announcement of Thy Second Coming, O Lord, Thy disciples having heard, came in joyful trembling, and with them, let us joyfully sing to Thee thus:
Jesus, having ascended from us in all Thy glory, come quickly with Thy holy angels.
Jesus, having again come to establish justice, come with glory in the light of Thy saints.
Jesus, great and terrible beyond all the surrounding, have mercy and protect then all the humble earth.
Jesus, glorified in the Council of Thy saints, glorify us also in Thy Kingdom in heaven.
Jesus, having passed through the heavens in the flesh, be pleased to conduct our souls through the air and to behold Thee.
Jesus, having ascended on the clouds of heaven, enable us to meet Thee with joy and boldness on the clouds in the last day.
Jesus, having ascended from us to heaven, do not leave us desolate.
Kondak 10
Save, O Christ, Thy disciples who are with Thee, and all believers because of their word, and having gone up to heaven because of Thee, prepare a place for them, as in the house of Thy Father, there are many mansions, as Thou Thyself saidst going to the passion, saying: “If I prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to Myself, that where I am, you also may be.” For this reason, enable us, O Lord, after our mortal ascension to obtain an uncreated, eternal habitation in heaven, prepared not from wood, or hay, or straw, because of our earthly works, which will not stand in the fire, but from gold, or silver, or precious stones, named on Thy foundation, where we shall sing and hymn to Thee:
Alleluia
Ikos 10
Most High King, Jesus Christ, having ascended to the heavens with Your immaculate Flesh and calling us all to our heavenly homeland, raise us from the earth, vanquished by worldly passions and carnal reasonings, to the heights of heaven, and grant us, even in the days of our flesh, to partake in the heavenly life with a pure conscience, and to taste the heavenly food in the mystery of the Divine Eucharist, that from a clean heart and a right spirit we may sing to You thus:
Jesus, Great Archbishop of future blessings, having ascended to the heavens in Your Body, and having gone up not to a man-made temple, but to the very heavens, may You appear to us with the radiant glory of God.
Jesus, Heavenly Architect, having built the uncreated tabernacle in the heavens and having entered into the Holy of Holies with Your own Blood, may You accomplish eternal redemption.
Jesus, Immaculate Lamb of God, having been offered once for the sins of the world, “to bear the sins of many,” may You raise my offering to the Throne of God for my sins.
Jesus, Advocate of the New Covenant, having ascended to the heavens to the Father, to open the way to the Heavenly Tabernacle, may You receive my prayer, beset by uncleanness.
Jesus, Beloved Bridegroom of our souls, preparing the radiant dwelling place in heaven, prepare a place for Yourself, that those who desire may serve You.
Jesus, Good Shepherd of Your flock, having caused the heavenly pastures to flourish in Your paradise, grant us crowns, that we may follow You, who are One, with desire.
Jesus, having ascended to the heavens from us, do not leave us desolate.
Kondak 11
The all-hymned hymn offered to Your Divine Ascension, O Word, was offered by Your immaculate Mother, who, in Your sufferings, suffered more than all other pains for You, and therefore, she was granted to rejoice in the glory of Your Flesh, and with this great joy, she descended from the Mount of Olives with the Apostles, and returned to Jerusalem, and ascended to the upper room, and all the Apostles, united in prayer, supplication, and fasting, with the women and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and His brethren, awaiting the Descent of the Holy Spirit, praising and blessing God, and hymning Him:
Alleluia
Ikos 11
The eternal and incorruptible light shone forth to the whole world from the Holy Mount of Olives, where You stood, O Christ, Savior, when You ascended to the heavens with glory, for having gone up to the heavens with Your Body, You opened the heavenly gates, closed by Adam’s fall, and You, being the Way, the Truth, and the Life, revealed the way to every flesh to the abode of Your heavenly Father, as You also foretold to Your disciples, saying: “From that time you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Therefore, following Your path, as no one comes to the Father, except through You, we sing to You thus:
Jesus, having ascended to the heavens on clouds, enlighten the lamp of my soul.
Jesus, having ascended to the heights of the saints, having become the life-giving fire, ignite the fire of Your Spirit in my heart.
Jesus, having shone brighter than the sun in the heights of heaven in Your Ascension, dispel the chill of my soul with the warmth of Your Spirit.
Jesus, having shone forth as light from the light of Your Divinity to the world from the Father, enlighten us, sleeping in the night of sin, with the light of Your words.
Jesus, Eternal Light, having had Your departure, as a lightning flash from the east and to the west, Your appearance, may Your fiery wrath not strike us then.
Jesus, having ascended to the heavens from us, do not leave us desolate.
Кондак 12
Thou hast bestowed upon us, O most sweet Jesus, a new grace for the completion of the saints and the edification of Thy holy Church, when Thou didst ascend on high to the heavens with Thy immaculate Flesh and didst sit at the right hand of God the Father, as it is written: “Descending before the lower parts of the earth, for the salvation of our race.” Thou hast now ascended on high above all the heavens, that Thou mayest fill all things for the completion of the saints, in the edification of the Body of Christ, therefore Thou hast bound the strong man and hast given gifts to men, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Thee, O Son of God, in the man perfect, in the measure of the fullness of Thy age, that thus, having obtained salvation, we may give thanks to Thee:
Alleluia
Икос 12
Singing Thy voluntary Ascension to the heavens with glory, we worship Thee, O Lord Christ, seated at the right hand of God the Father, we praise Thy kingdom on high and on earth, and we believe with Thy Apostles, that Thou hast truly ascended on high, as Thou shalt again come on the clouds with great power and glory. Therefore, do not shame us, who believe in Thee and cry out to Thee:
Jesus, seated with Thy Father on the throne of Divinity, help those who are victorious with Thy aid to sit with Thee in Thy Kingdom.
Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, Thy Paraclete, who is glorified, do not deprive us of the promise of Thy Coming in Thy service.
Jesus, with the Cherubim and Seraphim, and with the ranks of the saints, who are glorified with Thee on high, grant us the presence of Thyself, gathered in prayer, to feel Thy presence in Thy Name.
Jesus, who hast given to Thy holy churches, after Thy departure to the heavens, the right to believe in Thee, help us who stand in the temple to think of Thee on high.
Jesus, who hast left Thy immaculate Mother and the Apostles in prayer for the whole world at Thy Ascension, do not leave us without the intercession of Thy saints.
Jesus, who hast left Thy Church, Thy Bride, on earth until the end of the ages, do not deprive us, Thy children, of Thy gracious gifts.
Jesus, who hast ascended from us to the heavens, do not leave us orphans.
Кондак 13
O most sweet and most merciful Jesus, who hast ascended from us to the heavens and, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, hast forgiven and deified our fallen nature! Look down from on high upon Thy weak and fallen servants and grant us the strength from above to overcome all temptations from the flesh, the world, and the devil, that we may be guided by heavenly wisdom, not earthly. Preserve us from all visible and invisible enemies rising against us. At the end of our earthly life, raise our souls to the heavenly abodes, where we shall sing with all the saints:
Alleluia
[This kondak is repeated three times.]
[We repeat the first ikos and kondak:]
Ikos 1
Archangels and Angels stood before Thee, O King of all, on Mount Olivet, beholding Thee taken up into the heights of heaven with the flesh, and they glorified Thy great mercy, singing to Thee thus:
Jesus, King of Glory, ascend on high to the heavens in a trumpet-like voice.
Jesus, Lord of Powers, ascend on the Cherubim and soar on the wings of the wind.
Jesus, Eternal God, give Thy voice the voice of power, that the earth may now tremble.
Jesus, Exalted Light, manifest Thy power in the clouds, and let the fire from Thy face be kindled.
Jesus, Redeemer of creation, prepare Thy throne in heaven and let Thy kingdom have no end.
Jesus, Creator of heaven and earth, sit at the right hand of Thy Father, that God may be all in all.
Jesus, having ascended from us to heaven, do not leave us desolate.
Kondak 1
Raised Warrior, Creator of heaven and earth! We offer a hymn of praise to Thee, O Conqueror of death, as Thou hast risen from the dead in Thy resplendent glory and hast ascended to the heavens with Thy holy flesh, and hast sat at the right hand of God and Father, that Thou mayest also exalt our fallen nature with Thee, and deliver us from sin and eternal death. We, celebrating Thy divine ascension with Thy disciples, cry out to Thee from the heart:
Jesus, having ascended from us to heaven, do not leave us desolate.
Molitva Vzneseniyu Gospodnemu
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, having descended from the heavenly heights of our salvation and having nourished us with spiritual joy in the holy and radiant days of Thy Resurrection, and having ascended from us to heaven with glory, and having sat at the right hand of God and Father! In this “bright and all-shining day of Thy divine ascension to the heavens,” the earth celebrates and rejoices, and heaven also rejoices at Thy ascension, O Creator of the universe. Men praise Thee unceasingly, beholding their fallen and erring nature on Thy breast, taken up and ascended to the heavens, and the Angels rejoice, saying: Who is this, coming in glory, mighty in battle? Is this not the King of Glory? Enable us also, O Savior, who are still earthly-minded and carnally inclined, to make Thy ascension our theme of unceasing praise, and to lay aside earthly and worldly cares, and to gaze with all our heart and all our thoughts upon the heavens, where our dwelling place is, and to remember that we are but strangers and sojourners on earth, having departed from the house of the Father to a distant land of sin. For this reason, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy glorious ascension, revive our conscience, which is of no use in the world, deliver us from the prison of this sinful flesh and the world, and make us wise in the things of heaven, that we may not live for ourselves, but for Thee, our Lord and God, and may serve Thee, that, having cast off the bonds of the flesh and having passed through the air unimpeded, we may attain to the heavenly habitations of Thy glory, where, standing at the right hand of Thy Majesty, we may praise Thy all-holy Name with the Archangels and Angels and all the saints, with the Father, Who is without beginning, and the Holy Spirit, Who is Life-giving, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.