Blessed Palm Sunday, brothers and sisters!
This morning, we celebrated the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem. Yet already by evening, the joyful mood began to give way to a more solemn tone, as we look ahead to Christ’s Passion. Holy Week has now begun.
In the tradition of the Orthodox Church, we serve the Bridegroom Orthros (Matins) on the evenings of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Holy Wednesday. Although Orthros (the “early dawn” or “daybreak”) is typically a morning service, during Holy Week it is offered by anticipation on the preceding evening. Thus, the service on Palm Sunday evening is the Bridegroom Orthros of Holy Monday.
The structure of the service remains the same throughout these days. Central to it is the procession and veneration of the Icon of Christ the Bridegroom (hence the name of service) accompanied by the singing of the special Troparion “Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNOBURxq8M
This icon depicts our Lord in the purple robe placed on Him in mockery before His crucifixion, with a crown of thorns on His head. The title “Bridegroom” refers to the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), and reminds us of Christ’s selfless love for His Bride – the Church. Out of love, He willingly goes to His suffering and death, to save us.
Each day’s Bridegroom Orthros includes a different Gospel reading, reflecting the unfolding events of Holy Week. Alongside the Gospel, the stichera (hymns) of the Praises and Aposticha also change, developing the theological and spiritual message of the day.
In the Bridegroom Orthros of Holy Monday, the Gospel is Matthew 21:18–43, which tells of Christ cursing the barren fig tree, which is a symbol of the unrepentant soul. The fruits the Lord seeks are spiritual virtues and the active love we show to others. Without these, we cannot enter the bridal chamber of our Lord: “Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people bearing its fruits”(Matthew 21:43).
In the Bridegroom Orthros of Holy Monday, the Gospel reading is Matthew 21:18-43. It speaks of how Christ has cursed the fig tree which did not bear fruit. The tree not bearing fruit is the image of an unrepentant sinner. The fruits are virtues, both spiritual and also virtues actions of the faithful direct towards others, the greatest among which is love. If we do not bear such fruits in our lives, we cannot enter the bridal chamber of our Lord and God Jesus Christ: “Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and be given to a nation producing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43).
As Holy Week begins, the stichera of the Praises (Ainoi) in the Bridegroom Orthros calls us to seek the heavenly Jerusalem, not this world:
When the Lord was coming to His voluntary Passion, He said to His Apostles in the way: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written concerning Him. Come, therefore, with minds purified, let us also go in the way with Him, and let us be crucified with Him, and die for Him to the pleasures of this life, that we may also live with Him, and may hear Him crying: No longer do I go to the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and unto My God and your God; and I will raise you up together unto the Jerusalem on high, in the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Let us do so!
As there are no services in our community during Holy Week, you can attend services at the Romanian Orthodox Church in Belfast, served by Fr Toma. If you are able to, it is a great blessing to be in church this week. The services are beautiful, full of emotion, and rich in theological and spiritual meaning.
You can find the full schedule of their Holy Week services here: https://ocni.org.uk/events/
You may also follow the live broadcasts from our Cathedral of St George in London: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeOrthodoxAntiochianOfLondon/
Schedule of services at the Cathedral: https://stgeorgeantioch.org/services/
Have a blessed Holy Week!
Yours in Christ,
Fr Dmitry
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