Ιδού, ο Νυμφίος 'Ερχεται - Behold the Bridegroom Cometh - Megali Deftera- Holy Monday

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, Κυριακή των Βαΐων, and the church celebrated the glorious and brilliant feast of the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (John 12:1-18). Zechariah had prophesied the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem, saying:  

“Rejoice greatly ... O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King comes unto Thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass”, Zech. 9:9. 

The contemporary Jews associated this prophecy with the expected Messiah. This action of Christ testifies to His nature as Messiah, but with the definite declaration that His Kingdom was not of this world. The main road leading to Jerusalem was covered with palm trees.

The multitudes, with palm branches in their hands, spread their cloaks on the road as a show of respect, crying out 

“Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”  

A custom of distributing branches of palms to the people in the Church prevails to this day.

During the remainder of Holy Week, the Church advances its liturgical life by about twelve hours, celebrating morning services the night before, and evening services in the morning.

On Palm Sunday evening, the Church celebrates the Orthros (Matins) of Holy Monday, in the first of four “Bridegroom Services.” Christ is called the “Bridegroom” because in His Passion, He gives His life for His Bride, the people of God, the Church, just as a husband will sacrifice everything for his wife and family. From Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday, some parishes celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the morning.  

This very ancient Divine Liturgy is a Vespers Service, with the Holy Communion given from the sanctified gifts from the Liturgy on the previous Sunday. This Liturgy is very solemn, and spiritual, reflecting the grandeur and simplicity of the early Church. 

In the Orthros of Holy Monday, the Church remembers the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. 

 In the Orthros of Holy Tuesday, celebrated this Holy Monday evening, the Church remembers the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), who were waiting for the arrival of the Bridegroom at a wedding feast.

Ιδού, ο νυμφίος έρχεται
εν τω μέσω της νυκτός
και  μακάριος ο δούλος
ο ευρήσει γρηγορούνται,
ανάξιος δε πάλιν,
ον  ευρήσει ραθυμούντα
βλέπε ούν, ψυχή μου,
μη τω ύπνω κατενεχθής
ίνα  μη τω θανάτω παραδοθής,
και της βασιλείας έξω κλεισθής
αλλά  ανάνηψον κράζουσα
άγιος, άγιος, άγιος ει ο θεός ημών,
διά της  θεοτόκου ελέησον ημάς.

Megali Pempti - Holy Thursday - Σήμερον Kρεμάται επί Ξύλου...Today He is Crucified...

HOLY THURSDAY-MEGALI PEMPTI-TA DODEKA EVAGGELIA

In the morning, the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated. At this Divine Liturgy, the Church commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist by the Lord at His Last Supper with His disciples.

Here, Christ presented bread and wine as His body and blood, which form the core of the new covenant between God and His people, the Church.

In the evening, in the Orthros of Holy Friday, the Church recalls the Passion of the Lord, from His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, His agony and arrest at Gethmane, His trial by Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities, His beatings and mocking, and crucifixion and death on the Cross. This service is long, with twelve readings from the Gospels recounting the events, but its content is dramatic and exceptionally moving, culminating with the Hymn of the Crucifixion... Σήμερον κρεμάται επι Ξύλου.

After the reading of the fifth Gospel comes the procession with the icon of the Crucified Christ around the church, while the priest chants the compelling hymn Simeron Krematai epi Ksylou...Today the Lord is crucified...

 This is the traditional version by Evangelos Hardavellas, Protopsaltis or Lead Chanter...

and that sung by singer Manolis Mitsias, who incidentally is a priest's son and spends a large part of his free time as a psalti or chanter.

Global Greeks: To Vangelis Papathanassiou - Xronia Polla kai Kala!

A post to wish Happy Birthday to one of our most acclaimed Global Greeks, Academy Award winning composer Vangelis Papathanassiou.

As it is Holy Week we thought we would share with you one of his lesser known works - an arrangement from Rapsodies  - a marvellous collection of Orthodox hymns resulting from the unique collaboration of Vangelis with Irene Papas - two of our most famous Global Greeks!!

The haunting Ton Nymfona sou Vlepo - one of the most beautiful hymns of our Orthodox Holy Week, sung by Irene Papas, arranged by Vangelis Papathanassiou.

Xronia Polla kai Kala Vangeli! We thank you for the magnificent  music you given us! Na ziseis!