Psalm 45 (44):16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Another source suggests that ‘shall follow.’ A different source indicates ‘shall ascend.’ ‘They shall be brought with gladness and joy; they shall enter into the King’s antechamber’ (Psalms 44:16). Can you envision the splendid attire, the golden vestment that symbolizes purity? This attire represents the Church. Observe how the prophet articulates this with great precision. The stunning hue of purity did not emerge immediately at the inception of the Church; instead, it developed over time. The prophet remarks on this transformation as he states that she forgot her people and her father’s house, adorning herself with inner beauty and radiating goodness.

The Church itself serves as the Temple of the King, and it is through the Church that one enters this sacred space. What constitutes this Temple? Is it not the faithful who serve as its living stones? (1 Pet. 2:4) They are brought into the Temple of the King. Outside this holy place, there are virgins and nuns among the heretics; while they may be virtuous, their state remains unfulfilled if they are not welcomed into the Temple of the King. This Temple is singular; it remains intact, united, and undivided. The bond that holds these living stones together is love.

The virgins will be ushered in with joy and gladness, entering into the presence of the King. It is not those who have maintained their purity through obligation or those who have pursued a righteous life out of sorrow or necessity, but rather those who rejoice in their virtue with true joy that will be welcomed. These individuals will be led not to an ordinary space, but rather into the temple of the King. The sacred vessels, untouched by worldly hands, will be welcomed into the most holy place, granted the privilege of access to the sanctuary, which shall not be defiled by the presence of the impure.

Their neighbors and companions include widows and those who abstain from marriage; all are joyously brought into the temple and the altar of the King, entering the temple as priestesses of God and approaching the altar as brides of the King and Bridegroom. This temple was revealed to John in the Revelation; it is the temple that the prophet yearned for. He expressed a singular desire to the Lord: one thing have I asked of the Lord; that I will seek; to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Additionally, he proclaimed his love for the beauty of the Lord's house and the place where His glory resides; elsewhere he declared that he would journey to the place of the marvelous habitation, even to the house of God with the sounds of joy and praise.

Not everyone attains the full measure of perfection, so the prophet refers to some as brides, representing those who exemplify perfect virtue, while others are labeled as virgins, signifying those who preserve their faith in purity. However, it is noted that even the virgins will accompany the queen and together enter the sanctuary of the King. This distinction was revealed by the Lord in the holy Gospel when He stated, ‘there are many dwellings’ with My Father (John 14:2). Similarly, the blessed Paul articulates, ‘Forasmuch as by man is death, and by man is the resurrection of the dead: as by Adam all die, even so by Christ shall all be made alive: each one in his own order’ (1 Cor. 15:21-23).

They will come with joy and delight. The Apostle Paul mentions that married women will experience sorrow related to their physical bodies, as they will be burdened by the concerns of husbands, children, servants, the home, and various worldly matters (1 Cor. 7:28). In contrast, virgins and older women are liberated from these distractions and focus solely on their spiritual bridegroom, Christ; thus, they are spiritually uplifted and victorious, as noted by Chrysostom. Basil states that virginity is not entered into out of coercion, sorrow, or mere necessity, but rather by those who embrace this pure life with joy and enthusiasm. Such individuals will be welcomed to the King, finding not an empty place but a temple fit for royalty.

The Prophet frequently described the grace and adornment of the bride, and to prevent her from believing that her worth lies solely in these outward qualities, he cautions against such a worldly perspective. He declares that all beauty belongs to the daughter of the king must be internal, emphasizing that she should prioritize inner virtues over mere physical attractiveness or external finery. These virtues include humility, wisdom, and purity. The Apostle Peter similarly encourages Christian women, stating, "Let them be not the outward weaving of vines, or the encrustation of gold, or the dressing of vestments, but the hidden man of the heart, in the unction of a meek and silent spirit" (1 Pet. 3:3-4).