Apostles und Mary at Christ’s Ascension

The bundled pillar on the south-east corner of the cloister consists of two different diagonally divided blocks, similar to that on the north-east corner with the representation of the washing of the disciples’ feet and the payment of the 30 pieces of silver, where a narrative connection between individual scenes exists. The representation of the Ascension of Christ, however, is divided between all the viewing sides of the corner pillar. Here the eleven disciples and Mary are present at Christ’s Ascension: the scene in which the last event of the earthly life of the Saviour is represented.
It is the moment in which Christ’s ascent into heaven is represented (intuerentur in caelum euntem illum, “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went [...]” Acts 1:10). The still uncrowned Mary stands with her hands raised in the gesture of the orant at the centre between the apostles, who all look upwards.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Ascension of Christ took place 40 days after his death (Acts 1:3), so at the same interval of time as that between the Birth and Presentation of Christ in the Temple; the same period of time that also elapsed during his days in the wilderness, during which he withstood the temptations of the devil.

Apostle Virgin Mary ascension Christ