Today our Orthodox Church observes Holy Monday, the beginning of Holy and Great Easter Week, culminating with Pascha, or Easter Sunday, in six days.
The holy Passion of our Savior begins today, presenting Joseph the all-comely as a prefiguring of Christ.
Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob, and his first son by Rachel; because he was so beloved of his father, his own brethren came to envy him and cast him into a pit. Later they sold him to foreigners for 30 pieces of silver – who later sold him again in Egypt.
Because of his virtue, his master gave him much authority in governing his house; because he was fair of countenance, his master’s wife sought to draw him into sin; because of his chastity, he refused, and through her slanders was cast into prison. Finally, he was led forth again with great glory and was honored as a king. He became lord over all Egypt and a provider of wheat for all the people. Through all this, he typifies, in himself, the betrayal, Passion, death and glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Along with the commemoration of Patriarch Joseph is the narration concerning the fig tree, which on this day was cursed and subsequently dried up because of its unfruitfulness.
This metaphor portrays the Jewish synagogue at the time, which had not produced the fruit demanded of it, in other words, obedience to God and faith in Him.
