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- Great Monday — the beginning of Holy Week: a biblical description of the day, prayers
Great Monday — the beginning of Holy Week: a biblical description of the day, prayers
Great Monday is the first day of Holy Week, when the Orthodox Church remembers the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. This is a time of deep spiritual concentration, prayer, and repentance. On this day, believers remember the tragic fate of the Old Testament Patriarch Joseph, as well as the evangelical miracle of the fig tree. Izvestia tells us more about which evangelical events Holy Monday is dedicated to and which prayers to read on this day.
Holy Monday of Holy Week: what happened to Jesus Christ
Holy Monday opens Holy Week— the last week of Great Lent, dedicated to the memory of the sufferings, death and burial of Jesus Christ. These events take place shortly after the Lord's solemn Entry into Jerusalem.
According to church tradition, on Monday morning, Jesus and his disciples set off from Bethany to Jerusalem. On the way, he saw a green fig tree. Approaching it in the hope of finding fruits, he found only leaves: the tree turned out to be barren in the harvest season. Then Christ cursed her, saying, "May there be no fruit from you forever." After these words, the tree instantly withered in front of the witnesses.
This event has become a symbol of spiritual infertility. A fig tree is an image of a person who outwardly appears pious, is covered with "foliage" of religious rituals, rituals and traditions, but in his heart does not have true faith and does not bear spiritual fruits — love, mercy, repentance. The curse of the fig tree is not anger, but an image of spiritual judgment on a soul that has lost touch with God. This is a warning that faith cannot be real without inner repentance and righteous deeds. That is why Great Monday is considered a day of exposure of hypocrisy and spiritual awakening.
Where is Holy Monday described in the Gospel
Holy Monday is described in the context of the events preceding Holy Week. The curse of the barren fig tree is found in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 21:18-22) and Mark (Mark 11:12-14, 20-24).
Along with this event, Great Monday also commemorates the fate of righteous Joseph, the son of Jacob, whose story is told in Genesis (chapter 37). According to the Scriptures, the brothers, envious of him, sold Joseph into Egyptian slavery for 20 pieces of silver, and his father was told that wild animals had torn him to pieces.
Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to the house of Potiphar, the chief of the Pharaoh's bodyguards. There he proved himself to be an intelligent, honest and hardworking man. But a new test befell him: Potiphar's wife, fascinated by the youth's beauty, tried to seduce him. Having been refused, she slandered Joseph, and he was thrown into prison.
Even in prison, Joseph did not become embittered and did not turn away from God. He earned the respect of the guards, interpreted dreams to other prisoners, and then to the Pharaoh himself. The Egyptian ruler was amazed by Joseph's wisdom, especially his prediction of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Thanks to this, Joseph became governor of Egypt and was given control of all economic affairs.
This betrayal became the prototype of the passion of Christ, who was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver by one of his closest disciples, Judas. Just as Joseph, having passed through humiliation, became the savior of Egypt, so Christ, having passed through suffering and death, brought salvation to all mankind.
Great Monday Evening Service: what time does it start, how does the service go?
On Holy Monday, the evening service, or Vespers, usually begins at 16:00-18:00, but the time may vary depending on the temple and the region. The exact schedule can be found on the websites of the parishes or directly in the church.
The evening service begins with the prayer "Blessed be our God" and the troparion "Holy God," which is repeated three times. Then the clergy read psalms and parodies from the book of Genesis (Genesis 1:1-3:20 or 1:1-3:24) and the Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs 1:2-9), which emphasize the themes of repentance and spiritual transformation. After that, the reading of the Gospel of Matthew begins (Matthew 20:17-28), which describes Jesus' prediction of his passion.
The final part of the service includes hymns, poetry readings, and prayers that emphasize themes of repentance and reflection on spirituality. Prayers for the forgiveness of sins and the healing of mental illnesses are also read. Vespers ends with the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian with prostrations, which is traditional for Great Lent and calls believers to spiritual renewal.
What prayers to read on Holy Week Monday, April 14th
On Holy Monday, it is important for believers to find time to read prayers. The Church recommends reading the Gospel passages dedicated to this day (Matthew 21:18-43, Mark 11:12-26, Luke 19:45-48), as well as morning and evening prayers from the prayer book.
Special attention is paid to penitential prayers — the akathist to the Passion of Christ and the canon to the penitent Lord Jesus Christ. You can also read Psalm 50, asking God to purify your heart, and Psalm 90 for protection and comfort in trials.
Throughout Lent, including Holy Week Monday, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read. Its text reads as follows:
"Lord and Master of my life! Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, love and idle talk. But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love. To her, Lord King, grant me to see my transgressions and not to condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen to that."
It is important to conclude each sentence of the prayer text with a bow to the ground. If it is not possible to visit the temple on Holy Monday, you can follow the service through online broadcasts or just pray. The main thing on this day is to sincerely and thoughtfully turn to God, devoting time to repentance and prayer.
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