"Behold the Bridegroom Cometh in the Midst of the Night..."

(The divine service is Matins [Morning Prayers] of Great and Holy Monday and chanted

by anticipation on Palm Sunday evening.)

Monday of Great and Holy Week (is chanted by anticipation, now Palm Sunday Evening) commemorates the blessed and noble Joseph and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. The withering of the fig tree was a miracle of special symbolism since the tree had leaves, but not fruit. It is symbolic of the many people who claim ethical and religious identity, but who in reality have empty lives that yield no fruit. This was also the case with some of the Pharisees of that period. Jesus cursed the tree: "May no fruit ever come from you again" (St. Matthew 21:19). The reference to the story of the virtuous Joseph of the Old Testament (Genesis 37-41) is made only for contrast since the life of Joseph was a model of propriety and sincere observance of ethical principles.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE LIFE-GIVING TREE

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (St. Matthew 16:24).

"Μεθ' ημών ο Θεός... ("God is with us...")

There is nothing that anyone can say that is more reassuring and comforting to one who is experiencing this most profound human grief than to be reminded that truly God is with us at all times and in all places.

As your priest, I am here to tell you we shall overcome. We are God's children who He loves. Wherever we are and wherever we go, God is there. There is no place where God is not.

In the year 33 A.D., on the 14th day of the month Nissan, on Friday about noon at a rocky place as Golgotha outside of the City of Jerusalem, Jesus Christ was crucified by nailing of His Hands on the horizontal bar of a cross and His Feet on the vertical one. The verdict of such a sentence was pronounced by Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator of the vicinity, but the moral culprit was a mob of Jewish people whose high priest, Annas, but still a very influential person.

Feasts and Fasts are significant religious events and observations that awaken the spirit and faith of man. The center of all festivals and celebrations of the Christian Church is the Christian Pascha. Its heritage is recorded in the Old Testament as the main observation of the Jewish religion; its Christian incidents occupy the Golden Pages of history; its meaning is the cornerstone of the Holy Scripture and becomes the main objective of faith, devotion, and inspiration for the Christian. The Christian Pascha is the treasure of the Church which has adopted it as the great ineffable monument.

Prayer of Parents for their Children And for Relatives and Friends

O God, our heavenly Father, Who loves mankind, and are most Merciful and compassionate, have mercy upon Thy servants (Names of those whom you wish to remember) for whom I humbly pray Thee, and commend to Thy glorious care and protection. Be Thou, O God, their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Thy Truth, and draw them nearer to Thee, that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Thy love and fear; doing Thy will in all things. Give them grace that they may be temperate, industrious, diligent, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength, to resist all temptations and corruption of this life; and direct them in the way of salvation, for the merits of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the intercessions of His Holy Mother and Thy blessed Saints. Amen.