The Friend of the Bridegroom: On the Orthodox Veneration of the Forerunner

by Sergius Bulgakov, Boris Jakim (Translator)

The Friend of the Bridegroom offers a compelling theological interpretation of John the Baptist as seen through the eyes of Eastern Orthodoxy. Written by Sergius Bulgakov, the greatest Russian theologian of modern times, this book sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist, commonly referred to in Orthodoxy as the "Forerunner of the Lord." Bulgakov traces the Baptist's life from beginning to end - his birth, his preaching of repentance, his baptism of the Lord, his agony, his death, and his veneration in the context of Eastern Orthodoxy. In addition to its use of the Gospel narratives, Bulgakov's profound portrait of the Baptist is colored by sacred tradition as it is embodied in patristic literature, in liturgy, and in iconography. Yet this is not a work of arcane scholarship intended just for academic readers. Typical of all of Bulgakov's books, The Friend of the Bridegroom is steeped in devotional language and holy awe. In the words of translator Boris Jakim, it is "a work of prayer" that will stir the souls of Christians everywhere.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Philosophy

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2003

About the author

Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov (/bʊlˈɡɑːkəf/;[1] Russian: Серге́й Никола́евич Булга́ков; 28 July [O.S. 16 July] 1871 – 13 July 1944) was a Russian Orthodox Christian theologian, philosopher, and economist.

Reviews

[Scriptor Ignotus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forerunner of the Lord, you are the human angel of the God-Man. Sent forth to prepare His way, you anticipated the mortal life and spiritual advent of God in the world, just as our noetic guardians do in the life of every soul. Desert Angel, it was your ascesis to keep nothing of your own, making Christ alone, with Whom your being was intertwined from the womb, the iris of your self-determination. Sharing a single life with the Lord, mastering the passions (remaining subject only to our shared ancestral fault), presenting the Churchly Bride unblemished to the Bridegroom; prophet of repentance, baptist, apostle, and martyr; seer of the Old and New Testaments, first initiate of the Trinitarian mystery, to whom it was given to behold the Lord at once in His timeless aspect—“Behold, the Lamb of God!”—worthily do we call you earthly angel and heavenly man; worthily does the Lord call you the greatest born of women.

Friend of the Bridegroom, it is by the power of your intercession that we put off the flesh, as you did, and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ; and we war with the old man according to your maxim, “He must increase; but I must decrease.” Bringer of Brides, you guard every betrothed soul on its journey to the wedding feast, slaying the unruly suitors—the passions—who would take her by force. Even your enemies, who sought to prey upon you by means of a vindictive sensuality, only made manifest the liberation you accomplished: of mind from body, spirit from flesh, intellect from desire. You had severed your own head from your body even before the vengeful women plotted your demise! And your bodiless head lives on, as in the icons of the seraphim.

Baptizer of Christ, only the Mother of God stands closer to the Throne—for she is the Throne. The world is enfolded by your angelic wings. Uniter of angelic and human nature, while remaining a man you are the highest of angels, as Lucifer was made to be. World-Angel, brighter than the morning star, pray to God for us!

[John Chaffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was FANTASTIC.

[Lukas Stock · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read with some magnificent high points. Seeing Bulgakov work through his sophiology is fascinating.