Great Feast
Ascension
Ascension of the Lord — Thursday, May 21, 2026 in 2026.
Forty days after Pascha, Christ ascends into heaven from the Mount of Olives. The Paschal greeting is used for the last time on the eve of the feast.
When is Ascension in 2026?
In 2026 the feast falls on Thursday, May 21, 2026. It is a moveable feast, counted from the date of Pascha, so it falls on a different date each year.
| Year | Date | Fasting that day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, May 21, 2026 | No Fast |
| 2027 | Thursday, June 10, 2027 | No Fast |
| 2028 | Thursday, May 25, 2028 | No Fast |
| 2029 | Thursday, May 17, 2029 | No Fast |
Fasting on Ascension
A Great Feast falling on a Thursday: fish, wine and oil are permitted.
Fasting practice varies between jurisdictions, parishes and households — see the Orthodox fasting rules for the full picture and speak with your priest about your own rule.
See this feast in the calendar
Open the day itself for the saints, feast and fasting rule in full, browse May 2026, or see the whole of 2026.