Author: PhD. Eirini Artemi (Israel Institute of Biblical Languages, Jerusalem)
Keywords: Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Week, liturgical worship, hymns, Psalms
Abstract:
On these two days of the Holy Week, there is a reference of some texts of the Old Testament, as psalms, which are used in the Matins of each day before the Holy Liturgy, but there are some other references of the Old Testament as the story of noble Joseph. On Holy and Great Monday, we commemorate the blessed Joseph, because Joseph is regarded as an image of Christ from former times. The story of Joseph reveals and prefigures the Mystery of God’s providence. Joseph was the innocent, chaste and righteous man. His whole life bears witness to the power of God’s love and promise. The lesson to be learned from Joseph’s life, as it bears upon the ultimate redemption wrought by the death and resurrection of Christ, is summed up in the words he addressed to his brothers who had previously betrayed him: “Fear not … As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones. Thus, he reassured them and comforted them” (Genesis 50:19-21). On the Holy Tuesday, there is the repetition of the same nine psalms that exist in the matins of Holy Monday and there are some texts which express the hostile attitude of the Jewish council against Christ. Here, the hymns don’t express a hostile attitude against all the Jews who heard the teaching of Christ. Generally, the scholar of the common worship of the Orthodox Eastern Church is impressed by the multitude of the Old Testament references, hints, and images in all the sequences and hymns of the Orthodox services including the services of the Holy Week. The unity of the two Testaments is emphasized far beyond. Biblical phrases and ideas are overwhelming in the Orthodox services.
(English translation by Damian Anfile)
Pages: 176-192