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{{Inprogress[[Image:Bridegroom.jpg|Ixthis888}}thumb|right|Christ the Bridegroom icon]]'''Christ The the Bridegroom''' comes from is the central figure in the [[parable ]] of the ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13). ; [[Christ of the Passion ]] is the diviine divine Bridegroom of the Churchas described in the Book of [[Isaiah]] (chapter 54), as well as the primary image of '''Bridegroom Matins'''. This The title also suggest is suggestive of his divine presence and His watchfullness: watchfulness ("Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night ...". This is also the name for the central icon used in '''The Service of the Bridegroom''' ) during [[Holy Week]]. The ''Bridegroom'' is also known as '''"O Nymphios"''' in Greekand his selfless love for his Bride, the [[Church]].

== Service of the Bridegroom ==The first three evenings of Holy Week, the church chants the [[Orthoros]] in anticipation and are known as the '''Service of the Bridegroom''' or is also the name given to the central icon used in Bridegroom Matins. The Bridegroom icon and service is also commonly known in the Greek tradition as '''the NypmhiosO Nymphios'''.

At == Bridegroom Matins ==Bridegroom Matins is a service specific to the first four evenings of [[Holy Week]] (though it is often omitted on Holy Wednesday in favor of the service of '''Palm Sunday''' evening, the priest carries the [[iconHoly Unction]] ) and commemorates the last days in the earthly life of the Lord. Incorporated into these services is the theme of the first three days of Holy Week; which is the last teachings of Christ the Bridegroom in processionto his disciples. As such, these services incorporate readings and we sings hymns inspiring this theme. The mood of the services is to experience sorrow and to feel Christ''"Hymn s voluntary submission to His passions and highlight the purpose behind the evil that is about to take place against the Lord. The atmosphere is one of mourning (for sins) and is symbolic of the Bridegroom."'' We behold Christ as shame the Christian should feel for the Bridegroom Fall of Adam and Eve, the Churchdepths of hell, bearing the marks lost Paradise and the absence of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God. The vestments of the Priest and the altar clothes are black or deep purple to symbolise and enhance the atmosphere of mourning and remembrance of sins. The main emphasis of the Bridegroom Service is ''s Kingdom[[metanoia]]'' and each service has its own particular theme on repentance and watchfulness. One of its primary features is its [[troparion]]:

Each :Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant He shall find vigilant; but unworthy is he whom he shall find neglectful. Beware therefore, O my soul, lest you be weighed down by sleep, lest you be given over to death and be closed out from the kingdom; but rise up crying out: "Holy! Holy! Holy are You our God; through the intercessions of these Bridegroom Orthros services has a particular themethe Theotokos, have mercy on us. "

On '''Holy Monday'''=== Palm Sunday evening ===During the first service on [[Palm Sunday]] evening, the Blessed Joseph, priest carries the son [[icon]] of Jacob Christ the PatriarchBridegroom into the church. The Bridegroom troparion is sung during this procession, and the icon is commemoratedbrought to the front of the church and remains there until Holy Thursday. Joseph is often seen The icon depicts Christ as a prototype the Bridegroom of the [[Church]], bearing the marks of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brotherssuffering, thrown into yet preparing the way for a pit and sold into slavery by themmarriage feast in his Kingdom. In He is dressed in the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into icon according to the slavery mockery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is The Barren Fig Tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruitRoman guards just prior to his crucifixion. *The fig tree is crowns - a parable symbol of those who have heard God's word, but who fail his marriage to bear the fruit of obedience[[Church]]. Originally the withering *The rope - a symbol of the fig tree bondage to sin, death and corruption which was a testimony against those Jews who rejected Godloosed with Christ's word and His Messiahdeath on the Cross. However, it is also *''The reed'' - a warning to all people, in all times, symbol of the importance of not only hearing the his humility; God's word, but putting it into actionrules his kingdom with humility.

On '''Holy Tuesday''', Sunday evening also includes this kontakion::Jacob lamented the Parable loss of the Ten Virgins is read. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps Joseph, but that noble one was seated in preparation a chariot and honored as a king; for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps by not being enslaved then to go out and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme pleasures of the day is reinforced Egyptian woman, he was glorified by the expostelarion hymn we sing ''"I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment Him that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten beholdeth the vesture hearts of my soul, men and save mebestoweth an incorruptible crown."''

The theme for '''=== Holy Wednesday''' is repentance and forgiveness. We remember Monday evening ===On [[Holy Week|Holy Monday]], the woman, ''Kassiane''Blessed Joseph, who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the theme son of Jacob the wonderful ''"Hymn of Kassiane"'' which Patriarch, is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before ''"it commemorated because he is too late,"'' that we too may be forgiven if we repentseen as a prototype of Christ.

=== The Hymn Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, the Lord was rejected, betrayed by his own, and sold into the slavery of Kassiane ==={{stub}}death and like Joseph forgave and spared his brothers during the famine when they came to him, so too, [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] offers himself as a sacrifice and forgives all those who come to him in faith.

== The Bridegroom icon ==Gospel reading for the day is of the Barren Fig Tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The icon depicts Jesus dressed according fig tree is representative of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the mockery fruits of faith. Originally the withering of the Roman guards just prior to fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and his crucifixionMessiah.*The crowns - The crown It is also a warning to all people, in all times, of thorns are a symbol the importance of His marriage to not only hearing the churchGod's word, but putting it into action.

Monday evening also includes this kontakion::Being mindful of the hour of the end, O my soul, and fearing because of the cutting down of the fig tree, labor diligently with the talent that was given thee, O hapless one, and be watchful and cry: Let us not remain outside the bridal chamber of Christ. ===Holy Tuesday evening === On [[Holy Week|Holy Tuesday]], the Parable of the Ten Virgins is read. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that Christians must always be prepared to receive the Lord when he comes again. The Hymn theme of the Bridegroom ==day is reinforced by the exaposteilarion hymn:Behold: I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me. Holy Tuesday's Bridegroom cometh Matins also includes commemoration of [[Kassiani the Hymnographer|Kassiani]] ([[September 7]]), also known by the names of ''Kasia'', ''Kasiani'' or ''Ikessia'', was a great [[hymnographer]] from the 9th century. According to the Synaxaristi not many details of her life have been recorded but she has remained in ecclesiastical history for her great hymns. His Eminence Metropolitan Sophronios Eustratiadis of Leontopoleos <ref> Σωφρόνιος Ευστρατιάδης (Μητροπολίτης Λεοντοπόλεως) </ref> writes that Kassiani was "an orphaned girl from the Byzantine era, beautiful and wise, a saintly ascetic and respectful virgin". <ref> «ορφανή κόρη του Βυζαντίου εκ των ευπατρίδων, ωραία και σοφή, οσία ασκήτρια και ευσεβέστατη παρθένος» περ. «Εκκλ. Φάρος Αλεξανδρείας», τ.ΛΑ' (1932) σελ. 92 </ref> Kassiani is also linked to the middle Emperor Theophilos (9th century) and his search for a bride. Theophilos was angered with a reply by Kassiani to a question of his, and he impulsively chose St. Theodora, who was standing next to Kassiani, to be his elected bride. Kassiani also played a great role in the restoration of the nightHoly Icons.  Heartbroken by Theophilos, one of those poems was the beautiful hymn of Kassiani, which in the Byzantine tradition is such a major feature that the service held on Holy Tuesday evening is often referred to simply as the ''Hymn of Kassiani''. Theophilos searched for Kassiani and blessed found her at a convent and the two never saw each other again. Her repentance and love for Christ is the theme of the wonderful Hymn of Kassiani which is chanted on this night, reminding all that they may be forgiven if they repent. The text of the hymn, based on the account of the sinful woman who is introduced by the Evangelist St Luke in his Gospel (7:36-50). Kassiani contrasts the repentance of the sinful woman with Eve's fall (Gen. 3:8-11)::The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, received the dignity of a [[myrrh-bearer]], for with lamentation she brought fragrant myrrh to You before Your burial. And she cried: Woe is me, for love of sin and stings of lustful passion envelop me as the night, dark and moonless. As You cause the clouds to drop down the waters of the sea, accept the fountain of my tears. As by Your indescribable condescension You bowed down the heavens, so incline to the groaning of my heart. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hair of my head, those same feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise when she hid herself in fear. Who can count the multitude of my sins? Who can measure the depths of Your judgments, O Saviour of my soul? Do not turn away from me, Your servant whom He shall find watching, for You have immeasurable mercy. Tuesday evening also includes this kontakion::I have transgressed far more than the harlot, O Good One, yet have never brought you showers of tears; and again unworthy is he but entreating in silence, I fall before you, as I kiss your immaculate feet with love, that as Master you may grant me forgiveness of offences, as I cry out, O Saviour: deliver me from the filth of my works. == See also ==*[[Holy Week]]*[[Kassiani the Hymnographer]]*[[Jesus Christ]] == External links ==*[http://www.svots.edu/news/recent/schmemann-holy-week-monday-wednesday/ Holy Week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday] - from ''Holy Week: A Liturgical Explanation for the Days of Holy Week'' (St Vladimir's Seminary Press), by Very Rev.[[Alexander Schmemann]]  [[Category:Liturgics]]