The Service of the Bridegroom was held on Sunday night 13 April 2025 at St George‘s Cathedral with His Eminence Archbishop Sergios, Archimandrite  Doukas and Pater Nikolaos.

We entered into the last part of our preparation for Pascha (Easter) which will culminate at midnight on Saturday 19 April.

Until then we accompany Jesus on his last days as a human being, sharing His mounting fear at what inevitably awaits Him – the betrayal, the torture, the cruel crucifixion and finally death…..
But as we all know this is a story with an awesome and incredible happy ending – His glorious Resurrection!

Immediately one could sense the feeling of imminent pain and sorrow – the happy gold and green vestments and church cloths of just a few hours ago were replaced by somber black and purple- the colours of grief.

When we entered the church the icon stand was swathed in flowers but empty of the Icon of Jesus for Holy Week. It is called the Nymphios Icon ( Bridegroom Icon).

Why do we call it the Service of the Bridegroom?

Tonight’s service plus those continuing through to Holy Tuesday evening are observed and known as the Service of the Bridegroom. The name is derived from the figure of the Bridegroom in the well-known parable of the Ten Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13.

Jesus is considered the Bridegroom of the Church.
Like the Five Wise and Five Foolish Virgins we will hear about on Holy Tuesday, we await the Bridegroom’s arrival and sing, “Behold, the Bridegroom, cometh at midnight. And Blessed is the servant whom He shall findest awake. “

The title of Bridegroom suggests the warmth and closeness of love. And it’s not just a coincidence that the kingdom of God is compared to a bridal feast and a bridal chamber. The Christ of the Passion is, in effect , the divine Bridegroom of the Church with whom we will be united in love.

Tonight was one of the few occasions that the priest uses a hand censer – a beautiful incense holder with a handle and bells that fills the air with fragrant fumes.

Then during the service the lights were switched off and everyone lit tapers and knelt down in reverence while the priest exited the Holy Sanctuary carrying the icon aloft lit up by three candles and he took it around the darkened church in procession before placing it on the stand.

From that moment on we segued into Holy Week bringing our thoughts and hearts into sync with the solemnity and gravitas of the events that would befall Our Lord.

About the Icon for Holy Week

This very soulful and distinctive icon says it all – it’s Christ’s passion in paint.
He is shown stripped of his clothes, beaten and battered, wearing that infamous crown of thorns.

In Christ’s halo are the Greek letters for “I AM”, which remind us that despite this terrible set of circumstances He is our All-Powerful God who freely chose to endure humiliation, pain and death for us.

And so officially we entered Holy and Great Week – a very special time of services, prayers and reflections that will lead us to the pinnacle of our Faith – The Resurrection.

Kali Anastasi.

This translates to “Happy resurrection” and Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians will wish this to each other from now until Easter Sunday.
Essentially it means “have a good celebration” and helps to keep us focused on the end game of Pascha during this sombre and sacred time.

( Text and photos: Pepe Sofianos)