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 begins the first service of Holy Week. The bright colors and the palms which had decorated the Church this morning are now taken down and replaced with black. The joyfullness of the morning has now 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.
On each of the first days of Holy Week, the Church remembers some events and stories from the Bible that relate to what is happening to Jesus and the things that he taught us.
On Holy Monday we remember the story of Joseph (the one with the coat of many colors) and the Parable of the Fig Tree.
We'll talk more about them tomorrow.
The journey continues. . . . .
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