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The Service of the Bridegroom for
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy WeekIntroduction
The Great Fast has ended. What we have anticipated for forty days is with us: the celebration of the saving passion, death and resurrection of Christ. The Fast looked forward to this commemoration which we call the Great and Holy Week. Each day of this week involves us in another aspect of this paschal mystery.
The Great Week began with Lazarus Saturday on which we saw Christ raise Lazarus from the dead, heralding His own resurrection and ours as well. Over and over again this past weekend we sang the troparion of Lazarus with the assurance that He who raised Lazarus will raise us as well:
O Christ God, when you raised Lazarus from the dead before the time of Your passion, You proclaimed the future resurrection of all. We too, like the children, carry before You the symbols of victory and cry out before You, O Conqueror of Death, "Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Such an event put Christ at the center of attention and so the next day, Palm Sunday, we relived the triumphal procession of palms. Christ enters Jerusalem to inaugurate His Kingdom.
Today the mood changes abruptly. The services take on a more somber character as we reflect on how the Kingdom will come: with suffering and judgment. No longer a wandering preacher in the countryside, Christ is in Jerusalem-in the heart of the establishment-and He speaks plain truths which alienate many. in Monday's Gospel reading, He gives us the example of the fig tree (Mt. 21:18-43): what does not bear fruit will be destroyed. The Kingdom is coming and those who are not ready will be left out.
This, the main theme of Great Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, finds expression in many of the hymns sung during these days. it sounds most loudly in the two principal chants of Orthros, the troparion and the exapostilarion, which are sung each day. Based on the Gospel parables of the bridegroom, these chants evoke our response to the coming of the Kingdom:
Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night. Blessed is the servant He shall find awake. But the one he shall find neglectful will not be worthy of Him. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not fall into a deep slumber, lest you be delivered to death and the door of the Kingdom be closed on you. Watch instead and cry out: Holy, holy, holy are You, O our God! By the power of Your cross, have mercy on us.
I see your bridal chamber adorned, O my Savior, but I do not possess the right garment to go in; brighten the robe of my soul, O Giver of life, and save me.
We are called to watchfulness, readiness. This is the Great Week: our minds and hearts must be refocused on what is to happen, for the whole of our faith rests on it. On Wednesday Christ will be betrayed by Judas at the same time as the sinful woman is raised from her transgressions. The hour has come. The Kingdom is at hand.
The Order of the Services
The services on each of these days follow a similar pattern. Vespers on Sunday evening ushers in Great Monday while Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday begin with the Presanctified Liturgy. Connected to these evening services, forming a single vigil or watch night in the spirit of the theme of wakefulness, would be Orthros, the morning service. Thus Orthros would be served in the middle of the night, instead of in the morning as usual. Because we pray this service during the night in expectation of the One who is to come, Orthros on these days is popularly called "the Bridegroom Service."
In most parishes this all-night vigil has been drastically curtailed to accommodate the business-as-usual lifestyle of our society. Generally Vespers or the Presanctified Liturgy is not served at all, and the Bridegroom Service becomes the evening prayer of the community. In that the vigil or watch character of these nights is lost, this practice detracts from the original design of the service. Nevertheless, it provides all the faithful with the opportunity to make their own the spirit of anticipation and watchfulness these days are meant to convey.
The Church's call to us to share daily in these prayers is nothing less than the call of Christ who asks us, as He asked Martha, Do you really believe that I am the resurrection, the source of all life for you? If so, come-watch and be ready, lest you be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ.
Making the Sign of the Cross with the censer, the priest says:
Priest: Glory to the holy and life giving Trinity, one in essence and undivided, at all times now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
The priest enters the sanctuary through the southern door and stands at the holy table.
Cantor: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and good will to men (three times with a metany each time).
O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise (twice with a metany each time).
The priest goes into the sanctuary and puts on the epitrachelion. The curtain is opened, the holy doors are closed. Standing before the holy table or holy doors, he begins:
Priest: Blessed is our God at all times, now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
Priest: O heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, the treasury of blessings and the Giver of life: come, O good One, and dwell in us, cleanse us of all stain and save our souls.
Cantor: Holy God! Holy Mighty One! Holy immortal One! Have mercy on us (three times).
The priest incenses in the usual manner.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
All holy trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive us our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities for Your name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
In some churches, Psalms 19 and 20 are sung here.
O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to our country over its enemies, and preserve Your community by the power of Your cross.
O Christ our God who chose by Your free volition to be elevated upon the holy cross, grant Your mercies to Your new people who are called by Your name, in Your power gladden the hearts of our civil authorities so that Your true alliance may be f or them a weapon of peace and a standard of victory.
O dread Champion who cannot be put to confusion, despise not our petitions. O Good one, all-lauded Theotokos, establish the way of those who hold the Orthodox Faith; save our civil authorities and bestow upon them victory from heaven; for You gave birth to God, O only blessed one.
Lord, have mercy (twelve times).
The priest, standing before the closed holy doors, says:
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God in Your great mercy: we pray You hear us and have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy (three times).
Again we pray for our civil authorities and the armed forces.
All: Lord, have mercy (three times).
Priest: For You are a merciful God, and You love mankind, and we render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All Amen.
Cantor: Give the blessing, Father, in the name of the Lord.
With the recitation of the Hexapsalm, the priest, standing at the holy table, recites the first six Prayers of Light in a low voice (page 54).
Psalm 3
O Lord, why do so many taunt me?
many are those who rise up against me;
Many are those who say of my soul:
"There is no salvation for him in his God!"
But You, O Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory: You raised my head.
Loudly did I cry out to the Lord
and from His holy mountain He listened to me.
As for me, I lay down and slept.
I rose again for the Lord will be my help.
I will not fear ten thousand people arrayed against me all around:
arise, O Lord, save me, my God!
You have stricken all who fought me without cause,
You have shattered the sinners' teeth.
This deliverance is the Lord's.
Upon Your people be Your blessing!
As for me, I lay down and slept.
I rose again for the Lord will be my help.
Psalm 37
O Lord, in Your anger rebuke me not; chastise me not in Your wrath!
Your arrows have bored into me
and upon me You have firmly laid Your hand.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your wrath,
There is no peace in my bones because of my sins.
Because my iniquities have overwhelmed me,
They have weighed upon me like a weighty load.
My sores have become stench and festering because of my folly;
A stooping and exhausted wreck
I stumbled mourning all the day.
My loins were burning with fever,
and there was no soundness in my flesh.
I was crushed and deeply afflicted,
I roared with the groaning of my heart.
O Lord, all my longing stood before You,
and my groaning was not hushed away from You.
My heart came to grief, my strength deserted me, and even the light of my eyes failed me.
My friends and companions came and fought me,
while my closest kinsmen stood afar from my presence;
And those who sought my life used violence while those who wished my loss spoke lies, plotting deception all the day.
d I come before You in Your holy place to see the power and the glory that are Yours.
Since Your love is more delightful than life itself
My mouth will declare Your praise.
So shall I bless You as long as I live and lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be filled as with marrow and fat, and with joyful lips my mouth shall sing praise.
While lying on my couch I remembered You,
I thought of You throughout the early watches.
You became for me the Helping One:
in the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul followed You close by
and Your right hand held me up.
But as for those who sought my life in vain, may they sink into the abyss of the earth
-And be delivered to the trenchant sword: the portion of jackals they shall be!
But the king shall rejoice in God
and all who swear by Him shall glory, for the liar's mouth is stopped.
I thought of You throughout the early watches.
You became for me the Helping One:
in the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul followed You close by
and Your right hand held me up.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit".
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God! (three times without metanies).
Lord, have mercy! (three times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
At this point the priest leaves the sanctuary through the northern door. Standing with a lighted candle before the icon of the Lord, he continues the Prayers of Light.
Psalm 87
O Lord, God of my salvation,
day and night I cried out before You.
Let my prayer reach up to You,
Lend Your ear to my request.
For my soul was flooded with troubles
and my life came close to Hades.
I was reckoned with those who sink in the abyss, I was like a man beyond help, left for dead,
Like the slain that lie in the tomb, those You remember no more: they are cut away from Your hand.
They have cast me down to the bottom of the pit into darkness and the shadow of death,
Your anger was a burden upon me,
You poured Your billows over me,
You took my friends away from me, You made me distasteful to them.
I was closed in and could not escape,
my eyes were dim with distress.
I cried out to You, O Lord, all the day, I stretched out my hands to You.
But do You work wonders for the dead?
Do the dead ever rise to sing Your praise?
Does anyone sing Your love in the grave
or Your faithfulness in the midst of perdition?
Are Your marvels ever known in the darkness or Your justice in the land of oblivion?
Yet I, O Lord, cried out to You,
and to You my prayer rose at dawn.
Why, O Lord, do You reject my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
I am wretched and troubled since my youth,
I was raised high, then humbled and distressed.
Your plagues have swept over me and Your terrors left me shaken:
They surround me like waters all the day, they close in upon me all together.
You have taken from me friend and companion and my acquaintances, so wretched am I.
O Lord, God of my salvation,
day and night I cried out before You.
Let my prayer reach up to You, lend Your ear to my request.
Psalm 102
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
May all that-is in me bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
and forget not all the gifts from Him
Who pardons all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Who ransoms your life from corruption and crowns you with love and mercies,
Who fills your longing with what is good and your youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
The Lord brings out deeds of kindness and vindication for all the oppressed.
He has made known His ways to Moses and His will to Israel's children.
The Lord is the One of compassion and pity, long-sufferance and manifold love:
His contention is not forever nor shall His anger always last.
He deals not with us as our sins demand nor does He repay our evil deeds,
For as high as the heavens stand over the earth,
so high has the Lord extended His love for those who fear Him.
As far as the East stands away from the West, so far has He put our sins from us.
As kind as a father is towards his children,
so kind is the Lord for those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows well how we were formed: remember, we are only dust!
A man! his days resemble grass:
as a flower of the field, so shall he bloom,
But let a breath pass over him and he is gone, and never shall he know his place again.
But the love of the Lord is from all eternity and to all eternity for those who fear Him,
And His justice is upon the children of children of those who keep His covenant and remember His laws to obey them.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven: over all things His kingship is supreme.
Bless the Lord, all you His angels,
you strong and mighty ones who obey His word on hearing the sound of His decrees!
Bless the Lord, all you His powers,
His attendants who obey His will!
Bless the Lord, all you His works in every place of His dominion!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
in every place of His dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 142
O Lord, listen to my prayer;
in Your truth give heed to my request and in Your justice hear me,
And enter not into judgment with Your servant since of all the living none is just before You.
The enemy has pursued my soul,
he has crushed my life into the ground;
He has forced me to dwell in. darkness like those long dead.
My spirit was overwhelmed with grief and within me my heart was troubled.
Remembering the days of old,
I meditated on all Your deeds,
I thought of the works of Your hands.
I stretched out my hands to You;
like a parched land my soul longed for You.
Listen to me without delay, O Lord: my spirit has failed me;
Turn not Your face away from me
nor let me sink in the pit like the others.
Grant that I may hear Your love at dawn for I have placed my hope in You.
O Lord, let me know which way I shall go for I have lifted up my soul to You.
Deliver me, O Lord from my enemies:it is to You that I have fled.
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;
may Your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
For the sake of Your name, O Lord,
You will keep me alive;
In Your saving bounty,
You will deliver my soul from oppression,
And in Your loving kindness,
You will destroy my enemies
And bring to naught all those who grieve my soul, for I am Your servant.
O Lord, in Your justice hear me
and enter not into judgment with Your servant (twice).
May Your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
The priest enters the sanctuary through the southern door or remains standing before the Holy Doors. The curtain is closed.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God (reverence).
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God (reverence).
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to You, O God (reverence) O our Hope, glory to You.
The priest, standing at the Holy Table or before the closed Holy Doors, says:
Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For peace from on high and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For peace in the whole world, the well being of the holy Churches of God and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For this holy place and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord have mercy.
For our bishop N., the reverend priests, the deacons in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For our civil authorities and the armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For this city, for every city and country place and the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord have mercy.
For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For the travelers by sea, air and land, for the sick, the suffering, for the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and need, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us O God by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Remembering our all holy, spotless, most highly blessed and glorious Lady the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another time and our whole life to Christ God.
The Troparion is sung three times, with a different ending
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For all glory, honor and worship are Your due, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
The priest returns to his place in choir.
(Tone 8) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
-From night until dawn, my spirit longs for You,
O God, for Your commandments are a light upon the earth (Isaiah 26:9).All: Alleluia (three times).
-Learn righteousness, you who dwell on earth (Isaiah 26:10).
All: Alleluia (three times).
Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night. Blessed is the servant He
All: Alleluia (three times)
Endings for Holy Monday
Endings for Holy Tuesday
Endings for Holy Wednesday
In some churches there is the custom of carrying a Christ, the Bridegroom, on Sunday evening during the Troparion.
The priest from his place in the choir, says the little Synapte
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God,' by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Remembering our all holy, spotless, most highly blessed and glorious Lady the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
The priest enters the sanctuary through the southern door and puts on the phelonion. The Holy Doors are opened.
On Tuesday the service continues on page 35.
On Wednesday the service continues on page 44.
First Kathisma (Tone 1)
Cantor: Today the venerable passion shines forth upon the world as the light of salvation; for Christ, out of goodness, hastens to His sufferings. He who holds all things in the hollow of His hand, consents to be hung upon the tree in order to save mankind.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Second Kathisma (Tone 1)
Cantor: O invisible judge, how are you seen in the flesh? How did You come to be slain by lawless men, condemning our own condemnation by Your passion? Therefore, with one accord, O Word, we ascribe praise, majesty and glory to Your power.
Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Third Kathisma (Tone 8)
Cantor: This present day brings to light the first fruits of the Lord's passion. Come then, O feast lovers, and let us welcome this day with songs, for the Creator comes to accept the cross, the trial and the beatings; He is judged by Pilate,. He is struck on the face by a servant and endures all this in order to save mankind. Therefore, let us cry out to Him, O Christ God, Lover of mankind, grant forgiveness of sins to those who with faith worship Your blameless passion.
The priest, incensing the front of the Holy Table, says:
Priest: Let us ask the Lord, our God, to make us worthy of hearing the Holy Gospel.
All: Lord, have mercy (three times).
Priest: Wisdom! Stand. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace to all!
All: And to your spirit.
The priest, standing in the center of the Holy Doors and facing west, says:
Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to N.
All: Glory to You O Lord, Glory to You.
Monday: Matthew 21:18-43
Tuesday: Matthew 22:15-23:39
Wednesday: John 12:17-50
The Holy Doors and curtain are closed, since the Holy Gospel is not kissed. The priest removes the phelonion.
Psalm 50
Cantor: O God have mercy on me in the greatness of Your love;
In the abundance of Your tender mercies wipe out my offense.
Wash me thoroughly from malice and cleanse me from sin,
For I am well aware of my malice and my sin is before me always.
It is You alone I have offended,
I have done what is evil in Your sight.
Wherefore You are just in Your deeds and triumphant in Your judgment.
Behold I was born in iniquities
and in sins my mother conceived me.
But You are the lover of truth:
You have shown me the depths and secrets of
Your wisdom.
Wash me with hyssop and I shall be pure, cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear sounds of joy and feasting:
the bones that were afflicted shall rejoice.
Turn Your face away from my offenses
and wipe off all my sins.
A spotless heart create in me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit in my breast.
Cast me not afar from Your face,
take not Your blessed Spirit out of me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and let Your guiding Spirit dwell in me.
I will teach Your ways to the sinners and the wicked shall return to You.
Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, my saving God, and my tongue will joyfully sing Your justice.
O Lord, You shall open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
Had You desired sacrifice, I would have offered it,
But you will not be satisfied with whole-burnt offerings.
Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit:
a crushed and humbled heart God will not spurn.
In Your kindness, O Lord, be bountiful to Sion; may the walls of Jerusalem be restored.
Then will You delight in just oblation, in sacrifice and whole-burnt offerings.
Then shall they offer calves upon Your altar.
During the first ode, the priest incenses in the usual manner.
On Tuesday the service continues on page xx.
On Wednesday the service continues on page 45.
Canon of the Three Odes by Kosmas, the Monk
First Ode (Tone 2)
Hirmos
Let us praise the Lord who by His divine com
dried up the stormy sea w rt no-one could wo
JU 14 13v
and through, it led the peo- pie of Is-m-el on foot
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for in glory has he been glorified.
Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
Cantor: Ineffable is the condescension of the Word of God, for Christ is Himself both God and man; yet He did not consider being God a thing to be grasped and this He showed to His disciples by taking the form of a servant: for in glory has He been glorified.
All: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to Holy Spirit. Now and always and for ever and ever, Amen.
Cantor: I, the Fashioner, rich in divinity, came to serve Adam in his poverty and willingly assumed his form; although immune to pain because of My divinity, I offered Myself as a ransom for him.
The priest from his place in choir, says the Little Synapte.
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Remembering our all holy, spotless, most highly blessed And glorious Lady the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For You are our God and we render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
All: Amen.