The Bridegroom comes!

Sunday (Monday) Bridegroom Matins

"Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find awake. But he whom he shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Behold, therefore, my soul. beware lest thou fallest into deep slumber, and the door of the kingdom be closed against thee, and thou be delivered to death. But be thou wakeful, crying, Holy, Holy, Holy are Thou O God. Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us."

- Troparion of Bridegroom Matins

Sunday night began the first service of Holy Week. The bright colors and the palms which had decorated the Church that morning are now taken down and replaced with black. The joyfullness of the morning has turned to sorrow.

During this service, the icon of Christ called "The Bridegroom" is brought out and placed in the middle of the church, while the choir chants the hymn above.

There are a few things we remember today. 

1.) The Story of Joseph: This is the same Joseph who we often think of as Joseph with the "coat of many colors." He was the 11th son of Jacob (also known as Israel). Joseph's brothers were extremely jealous of him because their father seemed to love Joseph best of all. One day Joseph's brothers took him and sold him to a band of slavers who then sold him into slavery in Egypt. There he worked for a high ranking official, who's wife wrongly accused Joseph and so her was thrown into prison. While in prison he began to interpret the dreams of some of the prisoners. Word of his abilities spread so far that when the Pharaoh himself was troubled with a dream, he asked Joseph to interpret. The Pharaoh then made Joseph his right hand man, governor of Egypt in charge of the people's care.

Why Joseph? Well, Joseph's story is taken as one of the earliest symbol's of Christ's suffering and resurrection. Joseph was mistreated by his brothers, enslaved and imprisoned, but in the end he rose to one of highest offices in Egypt and was able to help the Egyptians, and his own family, through a tough famine. Jesus will be mistreated, denied, and finally crucified, but in the end he will rise again and save all mankind.

2.) The Story of the Fig Tree: When Jesus was walking with his disciples he found that he was hungry and so he stopped beside a fig tree to get some of its fruit, but he found that the tree was bare--it had no fruit! Immediately the fig tree shriveled up and died. This tree was a symbol of those who, though they might appear outwardly to have faith, but they do not show the necessary fruits of virtue and righteousness, so they die. It is a reminder to all of us.

The journey continues. . . . .