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Bridegroom Orthros

Bridegroom Orthros is a special Holy Week service in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It helps prepare our hearts for the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although Orthros means morning prayer, these services are usually celebrated in the evening as anticipated Matins for the next day.

This can sometimes be a little confusing for first-time visitors. Our first Bridegroom Service is served on Palm Sunday evening, but it is actually the Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Monday. The pattern continues through the next three evenings:

  • Palm Sunday evening at 6:30pm — Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Monday
  • Holy Monday evening at 6:30pm — Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Tuesday
  • Holy Tuesday evening at 6:30pm — Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Wednesday
  • Holy Wednesday evening at 5:00pm — Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Thursday

After the ending of the Bridgroom Orthos on Wednesday evening, the important service  of Holy Unction, flows directly afterwards, that service begins at 6:30pm. The Sacrament of Holy Unction is a healing sacrament of the Eastern Orthodox Church in which the faithful are anointed with blessed oil and prayed over for the healing of soul and body and for the forgiveness of sins. Rooted in Scripture and the life of the Church, Holy Unction asks for God’s mercy, strength, and restoration. It reminds us that Christ is the true Physician, caring for us in our weakness and offering His grace and compassion to all who come to Him in faith.

The name Bridegroom comes from the biblical image of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride. This does not mean it is a wedding service. Rather, it is a spiritual image that reminds us that Christ comes to His people in love, and that we are called to be awake, faithful, and ready to receive Him. One of the best-known hymns begins, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight,” calling believers to spiritual watchfulness.

Bridegroom Orthros is a quiet, solemn, and beautiful service focused on watchfulness, repentance, prayer, and preparation for meeting Christ as the Church walks with Him through the events of Holy Week. A visitor will notice solemn hymns, chanting, Gospel readings, and often the icon of Christ the Bridegroom, which shows Christ in humility and suffering during His Passion.

To follow along with the first Bridegroom Service on Palm Sunday evening for Holy Monday, please use this service text: Holy Monday Bridegroom Bilingual Service PDF.