Angels at the Ascension

Also known as: The Angels at Christ's Ascension, The Two Men in White Apparel, The Angelic Witnesses of the Ascension, The Ascension Proclamation, Men of Galilee

The two heavenly messengers who appeared to the Apostles immediately after Christ’s Ascension from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9–11). As the disciples gazed upward, where a cloud had received the Lord from their sight, “two men stood by them in white apparel” — universally understood as angels — and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go.” Unlike the angels at Bethlehem or the empty tomb, these angels announce no new event but interpret one already witnessed: they do not cause the Ascension or accompany Christ into heaven, but remain with the Apostles to explain His heavenly enthronement and proclaim the certainty of His return. Scripture names neither of them, and the Church keeps that silence. The two angels of the Ascension are the deliberate pair of the two angels at the empty tomb (HH-0036) — heaven’s witnesses at both the victory over death and the exaltation of human nature.