On the first three days of Holy Week, the first troparion of the Byzantine service of Orthros (the equivalent of Roman Matins and Lauds) is this very beautiful text, which has given its name to the service, Bridegroom Matins. This English version is sung with the same music as the traditional Church Slavonic version, an edifying example of how to celebrate a rite in the vernacular without destroying its musical patrimony. Before the tropar, a threefold Alleluia is sung with four verses of Isaiah 26.
“Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, oh my soul, do not be weighed down sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself, crying, Holy, Holy, Holy are Thou, o our God. * Through the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”
Matins are often anticipated to the evening of the day before, so that the first of the Bridegroom Matins, that of Holy Monday, is celebrated on the evening of Palm Sunday, the second, that of Holy Tuesday, on the evening of Holy Monday, and the third, that of Holy Wednesday, on the evening of Holy Tuesday. The troparion is sung three times, with the two parts of the doxology between them. According to a Greek Holy Week book which I have, the final words “through the Mother of God, have mercy on us!” as given above are only sung the third time. On Holy Monday, the first two times end with the words “by the protection of the Bodiless Ones”, on Holy Tuesday, “by the prayers of the Forerunner”, and on Holy Wednesday, “by the power of the Cross.” However, in the Slavic usage, the end is always “through the Mother of God...”“Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching; and again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, oh my soul, do not be weighed down sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself, crying, Holy, Holy, Holy are Thou, o our God. * Through the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”
A similar melody, sung in Ukrainian by seminarians of the Basilian Order at their chapel outside of L’viv.
Another very beautiful version, in Arabic.
The original Greek text, sung by monks of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt Athos.
