Today the Orthodox Church observes Holy Tuesday, the second day of the Holy and Great Easter Week, culminating with Pascha, as Easter Sunday is called in Greek, in five days.
The Orthodox liturgy for Holy Tuesday revolves around the Biblical parable of the 10 virgins, which in the Gospels has Christ “coming to His Passion.”
The Holy Passion, as Easter Week is known in Greece, began yesterday, Holy Monday.
This parable, according to the Orthodox Church, teaches the faithful that accomplishment of chastity should not make them careless in other matters, especially in charity, where-with the “lamp of virginity is made radiant”.
The parable of the 10 virgins, as related in the day’s liturgy, also reminds the faithful not to be remiss about the end of one’s life; that they should be prepared for it at every moment.
