The third register on folio CCCXXV r depicts the Ascension of Christ (Mark 16:

19; Luke 24: 50-53, Acts of the Apostles 1: 9-12).11 After Christ led the Apostles as far

as Bethany, He lifted His hands and blessed them, moments before Christ was carried up

into heaven. According to Reau the Ascension is the last appearance of Christ after his

Resurrection. If the belief that Christ ascended to heaven the same day of Easter is to be

admitted universally, the Ascension will sometimes be combined with the Resurrection.

Still, since there is a strong desire to prove the miracles of the appearance of Christ, there

seemed to be a necessity for a second Exaltation of Christ that would take place on a later

date from the Resurrection. And from this belief that transformed into dogma, the

Ascension was represented separately from the Resurrection.112 Luke's interpretation

was the main source of inspiration for the iconography of the theme to which the Acts of

the Apostles contributed in two additional details: a cloud received Christ out of the sight

of the Apostles, and while they looked toward heaven as Christ went up, two men stood

by them in white apparel and announced the Second Coming of Christ.113

 The third register of folio CCCXXV r depicts the moment before Christ is lifted

towards the heavens and is received by the Hand of the Father.114 On the right, Christ


"1 Reau, L., L 'Iconoguraphie de l'Art Chretiene, 1957, p. 583, according to Reau, the only
account of the episode of the Ascension of Christ is narrated in the Gospel of Luke. Reau
believes that the laconic account of St. Mark (Dominus a~ssumptus est in coelum) is not
authentic to that Gospel, and has been added after its compilation.

112 Reau, L., L 'Iconoguraphie de l'Art Chretiene, 1957, pp. 582-583.

113 Reau, L., L 'Iconoguraphie de l'Art Chretiene, 1957, p. 583.

114 Rodriguez Velasco, M., "Iconografia del Nuevo Testamento en la Biblia de Avila,"
1999, p. 364, emphasizes the fact that this formula is used five times in the historiated
and author initials of the Italian section of the Bible ofAvila. Regardless, this
iconography is very traditional and it does not imply that the artist copied the
iconography from the Italian section.