Christ the Bridegroom Explained

At the request of CeeCee, here is an explanation of some of the features of the icon of Christ the Bridegroom. Here is a photo of the icon I have:

First, some explanations of the words on the icon. IC XC is a Christogram (monogram of Christ's name) from the Greek "ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ" ("Jesus Christ"). The medieval Greek sigma looks like a C.

Next is the Greek for Bridegroom, transliterated "O Nymphios".

On the halo one sees three arms of the cross, with the letters omicron, omega, nu. This is Greek for "Who is," from the Revelation of St. John, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord God, who is [ὁ ὢν], and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (1:8). It is a representation of His divinity. (source)

The scene depicted in the icon is from the Passion. "And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews" (Matthew 27:28-29). 

Most icons of the Bridegroom depict Him in a scarlet cloak. The icon I have depicts Him in a purple cloak. Interestingly, the Evangelists differ on the color of the cloak also. In Matthew, the robe is scarlet. In Mark and John, it is purple. In Luke, it is merely "gorgeous" or "elegant," though the Latin Vulgate has veste alba, which is translated "white garment" in the Douay-Rheims.

As for the visual symbolism of the icon, which I find most interesting, I liked what I read on the blog A Reader's Guide to Orthodox Icons:

The crown is a symbol of Christian marriage in the Orthodox Church, and the ropes binding Christ’s hand are a near-universal symbol of marriage. The reed used as a mock-scepter is a symbol of humility, of a person that does all possible to bend in service to others.

In stark contrast to the fearsome images of Christ the King presented at the beginning of Lent, we are now presented with our suffering Bridegroom. Why does He suffer? Because of human sin. The betrayal of Judas, the hatred of the Jews, the cowardice of Pilate, the cruelty of the Romans: this is why Christ appears as He does. What form of humanity is not represented by those who mocked Jesus? 

Yet still He stands before us. While we are still as unfaithful as harlots, Christ is betrothed to us. This is Divine Love, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us . Such perfect, divine, love casts out all fear; and so instead of the stern Judge of the Apocalypse to spur us to repentance, we “behold the man”: the Bridegroom Who burns with such love for us that He suffers death on the Cross.