The feasts of Ascension and Pentecost mark the conclusion of the Great Fifty Days of Easter. The Feast of the Ascension comes on the 40th day of Easter, and the feast of Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day of Easter. These are followed by Trinity Sunday and the remaining Sundays after Pentecost which are sometimes called "the long green season."

Ascension

The Ascension into heaven after the Resurrection from the dead is narrated in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:1-12, and mentioned in John 20:17, Ephesians 4:7-13, Romans 10:5-7, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 3:21-22. It is affirmed in the Church's liturgy in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.

In John's Gospel the resurrected Christ says to Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the resurrection, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God" (John: 20:17)

The first chapter of Acts indicates that, forty days after his resurrection and other post-resurrection appearances, the Lord is taken up into Heaven. Beforehand, he promises his disciples that they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), commissions them to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), and directs them to make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt: 28:19).

Jesus also promises his followers that he will be with them always, even to the end of the world (Matt: 28:20). The Feast of the Ascension celebrates Jesus Christ's return to the Father. As such, it represents an important stage in the paschal mystery, consisting of His passion, crucifixion, death, burial, descent among the dead, and resurrection.

The Ascension proves the claim that Jesus was the Messiah. It represents Christ's triumph over the power of Satan and His exaltation to the right hand of the Father. It also represents the completion of the work of our salvation, and not only marks Christ's entry into heaven with our human nature glorified, but also signifies the pledge of our glorification with Christ.

Christ's Ascension into heaven has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Church's history. The African St. Augustine indicates that the Feast of the Ascension was apostolic in its origin. Its importance to the members of the early Church is also evidenced in frequent examples of early iconography portraying the Ascension.

Although the feast day of the Ascension falls on Thursday, it is now often observed on the following Sunday when more people can come to church for its celebration .The importance of the solemnity ranks with the feasts of the Passion, Easter, and Pentecost. One writer in emphasizing the importance of the Ascension has asserted, "Jesus left our human space and time but not our human experience, for while he now reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven, he also lives and works with us here on earth."

This writer also points out that, "In the pre-Vatican II liturgy, the Easter candle was extinguished after the reading of the Gospel on Ascension Thursday. Now the Easter candle remains lit until Pentecost, to show that the risen Christ is with us in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Ascension is not simply the celebration of a past historical event; it is also a celebration of our risen life with Christ, now and in the future."

Pentecost

Ten days after Ascension and fifty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday is one of the oldest and most important feasts of the Church. It was celebrated early enough to be mentioned in the books of Acts (20:16) and in Corinthians (16:8).

The first Christian celebration of Pentecost took the place during the Jewish feast of Pentecost. The Jewish Pentecost was observed fifty days after Passover to celebrate the sealing of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai and the harvest of the first fruits.

The story, recorded in the second chapter of Acts, tells that Jesus' disciples were gathered in a house when suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing wind, filling the dwelling. Tongues of fire appeared on each of them, and as they were filled with the Holy Spirit, each one began to speak in other languages (Acts 2:1-4).

When people who had come to Jerusalem from all over the Roman Empire for the feast heard the disciples, they were amazed to hear simple people from Galilee speaking in other languages. Those hearing this wondered what it meant, and some even thought the disciples were intoxicated (Acts 2:7-13).

The apostle Peter responded to their comments by preaching to them about the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of God's Holy Spirit. He told them about the crucified Jesus and His Resurrection. He told them that if they repented of their sins and werebaptized in Jesus' name, they, too, would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Acts goes on to indicate that more than three thousand people were baptized on that day. It adds thatthese early Christians continued to meet regularly for prayer and the breaking of bread. Many signs and miracles were done through them, and the Lord added daily to the number of those in the Church. Thus, Pentecost, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, is often called "the birthday of the Church."

Pentecost Sunday is also called "Whitsun" (or Whit Sunday). The term is derived from the middle English and old English words that referred to the "wit" or "wisdom" filling the apostles when they received the Holy Spirit and to the white robes that used to be worn by the newly baptized on this Sunday.

However, the liturgical color worn by the clergy and decorating the altar on Whitsun is red, suggesting the tongues of fire that appeared over the apostles on this day). The symbols of the Holy Spirit include flames, wind, the breath of God, and the dove. Among the well loved hymns associated with Pentecost, we sing "Come Down, O Love Divine", "Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire", "Breathe on Me. Breath of God", "Spirit of the Living God", etc.

Lovely traditions have grown up around the celebration of Pentecost. For example, in Italy, rose petals are scattered from the ceilings of churches in recalling the miracle of the fiery tongues. In France, trumpets are blown during the service to remind worshippers of the mighty wind that accompanied the descent of the Holy Spirit. The following collect for Whitsunday is found in the Book of Common Prayer:

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Trinity

The feast of the Holy Trinity is celebrated on first Sunday after Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is one of the few feasts of the Christian Year that celebrates a reality and doctrine rather than an event. It is observed by all western liturgical churches – the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist – and it celebrates the Christian doctrine of God in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Trinity Sunday is a feast of primary importance in the Church of England and is one of seven principal feasts recognized in the Episcopal Church USA. Although the doctrine of the Trinity dates back to the early centuries of Church history, Trinity Sunday is a relatively young feast when compared to the other major feasts of the Church.

Thomas à Becket (1118-70), upon his consecration as Archbishop of Canterbury, ruled that the first Sunday after Whit Sunday should be a festival in honor of the Holy Trinity. This observance spread from Canterbury throughout the whole of Christendom. Trinity Sunday finally gained official recognition as a feast day in 1334. Worshipers in the Church of England often say the Creed of Saint Athanasius (BCP p. 864) on Trinity Sunday.

The doctrine of the Trinity is not easily discussed or understood. Trinity itself is said to be a mystery: that is, a reality that we mortals may begin to grasp, but that no one can completely comprehend because the human mind cannot completely probe the depths of God. Although many passages in the Bible allude to it (Matthew 28:18-20 and II Corinthians 13:14 ), we cannot come to a rational understanding of the Trinity. It is only through worship, symbol and faith that we are able to relate to this reality.

The early Church through the aid of the Holy Spirit reflected on the implications of God's nature and even began to use the word Trinity by the middle of the 2nd century to describe the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Nicene definition of the Trinity was developed over time, based on Scripture and Tradition. Most Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestants) believe that the Nicene Creed is the best description that we have of the Trinity.

Pentecost and Trinity Sunday are movable feasts whose dates are determined by the date of Easter. In 2008, Pentecost Sunday fell on Mother's Day (May 11). We especially enjoy the felicity of this congruence when we realize that we are celebrating the birthday of the Church who is our mother, and when we remember that the Lord's mother was present with the apostles on the day of Pentecost. In popular devotion, May is often called the month of Mary. The last day of May is celebrated as the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousins Elizabeth and Zechariah when Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist.