| As we enter the solemn days of Holy Week, even though we are not together in physical person, we are one in our hearts and souls, together, witnessing the wonder-working events of our salvation and calling to mind everyday the Holy Victim whose life was given that we be saved – together, as one, joined with Him n His “Via Dolorosa” – His walk of sorrow. That walk of sorrow would end in the brilliance of the Resurrection. I offer this brief summary of the first days of the Holy and Great Week, that you may take to your hearts the wonder of the salvific Mysteries that won our redemption.
These are days when we ought to live “meaningfully” as individuals and families. These are days for entering into silent prayer and contemplation. These are days that eclipse the anxiety and turbulence of the world beset with disease. The King of Palm Sunday now becomes the Victim who takes all our fear to Humself!
The first thing that must be said about these holy services, and most of the other holy services of Holy and Great Week, is that they are sung “in anticipation.” Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening holy service, therefore, is actually the holy service of the next morning, while the morning services Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday are actually the holy services of the coming evening.
Understanding this, we turn to the Holy Services of Holy and Great Monday (celebrated Palm Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening). The holy services of these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios services. At the first holy service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the holy icon of Christ the Bridegroom (Nypmphios), 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.
Each of these Bridegroom Orthros (Matins) holy services has a particular theme. On Holy and Great Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a type 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 holy Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig, 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 fruit of obedience and repentance. 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 God’s Word, but putting it into action.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Holy and Great Thursday. 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 chant: “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.” The theme of Holy and Great Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness.
We remember the sinful woman who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love for Christ is the theme of the inspiring and wonderful “Hymn of Kassiane” (a hymn written by the nun Kassiane who was inspired by the sinful woman of the Gospel lesson which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before “it is too late,” that we may be forgiven if we truly repent of our sins.
The scriptural foundation of the first days of Holy and Great Week rests on repentance and emptying. Firstly, our souls’ eyes are focused on sorrow for sin, genuine change of heart (metanoia), and the palpable joy of forgiveness. These are powerful spiritual gifts, which, if lived every day in a fervent way, can yield for our world-weary souls great comfort and solace. These spiritual wonders speak to us of a New Kingdom, a fresh start, and the hope of reborn life in the face of our troubles, our strife, our aching world.
Secondly, the Church sounds a “Christic” note as well – kenosis (emptying). Letting go of our old ways of living, surrendering our egos in their voracious quest for self-satisfaction, and replacing it all with “that mind which was in Christ Jesus.” He is the Divine Emptyer, the One who let go, the One who “did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at.” (Phillipians). At the heart of God is “letting go.” So it is with us as well. We are called to let go, to loosen our powerful grasp on the things of this world in the hope of achieving a place in the Kingdom yet to come.
As we begin this solemn week, let us be mindful that the Lord calls us to make with Him His walk. He takes our hand and leads us where often we would sooner not go. He holds us close so that nothing will distract or dissuade us from making that fateful walk with the Divine Victim. In this walk is our hope!! In the steps towards the Holy Cross is history’s sole guarantee that sickness and death will never win, that Christ holds us tightly in the face of our fears. May all fear and anxiety be chased away from your hearts this day and every day! Tomorrow’s reflection will speak to us of Holy Unction and the wonder of God’s healing. May God continue to bless and protect you!
Faithfully in the Lord,
Fr. Dimitrios |
