Richard McBride
30-04-2002, 11:21 PM
FINALLY!
After being prepared with much fasting and soul searching, we arrive at the weekend feasts of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday (wherein the Lord foreshadowed his own resurrection by raising Lazarus, dead for four days, thus showing for everyone who had eyes to see, His greatest miracle; and wherein the Lord entered in triumph amongst those who would soon put Him to death).
AT LAST!
We arrive at the Orthros of the Bridegroom -- sung on Palm Sunday Evening by anticipation.
This is the first of the great processions with which we are blessed during Holy Week. All of our new world electric lights are put out, the nave being lit (as is proper) by the last rays of the setting sun and by candles, while the priest(s) carries the Icon of the Lord around and into the midst of the people, who kneel and weep (knowing what is to come -- the old people reaching out to touch the garments of the presbyters, thereby instructing the young in true reverence). The priest is proceeded by hand held candles, but not by a Cross, because He has not yet been nailed to the Tree.
Nothing in this world may be likened unto it! And indeed, we are no longer in this world, but carried by Christ and His angels, we are transported into the first steps of his Passion, wherein even we unworthy sinners begin to share in a small amount of the sorrow which He Himself will carry by end of this Week.
Filled with the devastating presence of the Holy Spirit, it is to be wondered how anything else may compare. Yet, before long, after the Icon of the Lord has been set upon the Solea and after the Gospel is read, we arrive at the Exposteilarion (chanted in the Third Tone: first time by all the presbyters and deacons, then twice by cantors and choir):
I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O Saviour,
and I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein;
O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me.
What greater blessing may Orthodox expect, than by simply hearing this beautiful tone, we be carried up thusly into the arms of our Saviour.
Then, on Holy Monday evening, wherein the Holy Tuesday morning Orthros is sung by anticipation, we are blessed with that most powerful Gospel of the second Bridegroom Service, wherein will be read words to strike fear in the hearts of unbelievers:
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
Repeated, over and over. Take heed, oh my heart, filled as it is with dead works!
This evening, Holy Tuesday, we arrive at the last of the three Bridegroom Services:
Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and again unworthy is he whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down with sleep, lest thou be shut out from the Kingdom. Wherefore, rouse thyself and cry: Holy, Holy art thou, our God, through the power of the thy Cross save us.
Then the final phrase of three, from the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (at each phrase we prostrate ourselves in sorrowful recognition of our sins):
O Lord and King, grant that I may know my sins and my faults, and not judge my brother; for thou art blessed for ever. Amen.
After being prepared with much fasting and soul searching, we arrive at the weekend feasts of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday (wherein the Lord foreshadowed his own resurrection by raising Lazarus, dead for four days, thus showing for everyone who had eyes to see, His greatest miracle; and wherein the Lord entered in triumph amongst those who would soon put Him to death).
AT LAST!
We arrive at the Orthros of the Bridegroom -- sung on Palm Sunday Evening by anticipation.
This is the first of the great processions with which we are blessed during Holy Week. All of our new world electric lights are put out, the nave being lit (as is proper) by the last rays of the setting sun and by candles, while the priest(s) carries the Icon of the Lord around and into the midst of the people, who kneel and weep (knowing what is to come -- the old people reaching out to touch the garments of the presbyters, thereby instructing the young in true reverence). The priest is proceeded by hand held candles, but not by a Cross, because He has not yet been nailed to the Tree.
Nothing in this world may be likened unto it! And indeed, we are no longer in this world, but carried by Christ and His angels, we are transported into the first steps of his Passion, wherein even we unworthy sinners begin to share in a small amount of the sorrow which He Himself will carry by end of this Week.
Filled with the devastating presence of the Holy Spirit, it is to be wondered how anything else may compare. Yet, before long, after the Icon of the Lord has been set upon the Solea and after the Gospel is read, we arrive at the Exposteilarion (chanted in the Third Tone: first time by all the presbyters and deacons, then twice by cantors and choir):
I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O Saviour,
and I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein;
O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul and save me.
What greater blessing may Orthodox expect, than by simply hearing this beautiful tone, we be carried up thusly into the arms of our Saviour.
Then, on Holy Monday evening, wherein the Holy Tuesday morning Orthros is sung by anticipation, we are blessed with that most powerful Gospel of the second Bridegroom Service, wherein will be read words to strike fear in the hearts of unbelievers:
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
Repeated, over and over. Take heed, oh my heart, filled as it is with dead works!
This evening, Holy Tuesday, we arrive at the last of the three Bridegroom Services:
Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and again unworthy is he whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be borne down with sleep, lest thou be shut out from the Kingdom. Wherefore, rouse thyself and cry: Holy, Holy art thou, our God, through the power of the thy Cross save us.
Then the final phrase of three, from the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (at each phrase we prostrate ourselves in sorrowful recognition of our sins):
O Lord and King, grant that I may know my sins and my faults, and not judge my brother; for thou art blessed for ever. Amen.