Holy Week: Bridegroom Services
Categories: orthodox-life, feast-days
Date: 02 April 2007 09:03:48
Holy Week has begun: we draw ever-nearer to the Feast of Feasts, Pascha (Easter).
On the first three days of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church has a modified service of Matins known as the Bridegroom Services, named from the bridegroom, who is Jesus Christ, in the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Each of the three services has a particular commemoration:
- Holy Monday: Joseph from the OT (Joseph is portrayed in Orthodoxy as a prototype, or image, of Christ, with his sufferings and subsequent glory) and the cursing of the figtree (encouraging us to look at our bearing of spiritual fruits)
- Holy Tuesday: the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents: showing the importance of watchfulness and a desire to seek, and follow, the will and commandments of God
- Holy Wednesday: contrasting the actions of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' head and Judas' betrayal
With me away Palm Sunday and Holy Monday (I'm attending the Turramurra Passion tonight) evenings, I still can, thanks be to God, participate in the services through the wonderful Services of Holy Week book produced by two hard-working members of our parish: and it has been a joy to pray them. Such rich hymnography, beautiful psalms and prayers, and challenging Bible readings and hymns.
Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight; and blessed is he, whom He shall find watching; but unworthy is he whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, not to be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and shut out from the kingdom. But rouse yourself crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy are You our God, by the power of Your Cross have mercy on us."
Hymn from Wednesday's service (held on Tuesday evening): the "...by the power" ending changes daily to invoke the help of the saints, the Mother of God, St John the Forerunner and the angelic hostsI see your Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Saviour, and I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein; O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul, and save me.