Christ the Bridegroom

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[[Image: |Christ the Bridegroom of the Church]] Christ The Bridegroom comes from the central figure in the parable of the ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13); Christ is the divine Bridegroom of the Church. This title is suggestive of His divine presence and watchfulness (‘’’"Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night ..."’’’) during Holy Week.

The Bridegroom is also the name given to the central icon used in The Service of the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom icon and service has been more commonly known as "O Nymphios" but over the last decade, this title has caused much confusion to the ever-growing English speaking christian population.

Service of the Bridegroom

The Service of the Bridegroom is an Orthros type service specific to the first three evenings of Holy Week. These three services are chanted in anticipation of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection (“Marriage” to the “Church”) – the passage from death to life. Each of these services has its own particular theme.

Palm Sunday evening

At the service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God's Kingdom.

The Bridegroom icon

The icon depicts Jesus dressed according to the mockery of the Roman guards just prior to his crucifixion.

  • The crowns - The crown of thorns are a symbol of His marriage to the church.

The Hymn of the Bridegroom

“Behold, the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching; and again unworthy is he ...”

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Holy Monday evening

On Holy Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a prototype of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is The Barren Fig Tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action.

Holy Tuesday evening

On 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 we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing "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."

We also remember Kassiane, who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love for Christ is the theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too may be forgiven if we repent.

(Kassiane came from an aristocratic family of Byzantium during the 9th century. She played a great role in the restoration of the Holy Icons and dedicated her life to the composition of sacred poetry.)

The Hymn of Kassiane

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