Holy Tuesday today and the second day of Holy Week is dedicated to the mention of the holy Gospel that refers to Jesus' most severe denunciation against the religious leaders of Israel, the scribes and the Pharisees. On Holy Tuesday we also have the well-known parable of the Ten Virgins (bridesmaids) while on the afternoon of Holy Tuesday, one of the most popular matins of religious hymnology, the Troparion of Kassiani, is sung in the church.
Alina Loi
According to the Christian calendar, it was established to call the Tuesday of Holy Week or the Week of the Passion of Jesus Christ called Holy Tuesday.
During the Holy Tuesday Service, the reading from the Gospel of Matthew continues, where the Second Coming and the Day of Judgment are mentioned.
On the afternoon of Holy Tuesday, one of the most popular matins of religious hymnology, the Troparion of Kassiani, is sung in the church:
"Lord, the woman who has fallen into many sins, who has taken up the rank of a myrrh-bearer, who is sour, brings thy myrrh, before the burial. saying, "There is a night for me, an ostrich of debauchery, a gloomy and moonshining hero of sin." Receive me the fountains of tears, the clouds of the sea that carry me to the sighs of the heart, the bed of heaven that empties your absence. I will kiss your immaculate feet, and I will remove them again from the bosom of my head in the paradise of Eve in the evening, Thou hast hidden the multitude of my sins, and the abyss of thy judgments, O my Saviour? Do not be fooled by thy servant, who has innumerable mercy."
From the beginning of Holy Week, the church decided to sing the next day's matins so that as many believers as possible could participate in the services. This is also the reason why Holy Week officially begins one day before, as the Matins of Holy Monday are sung on the evening of Palm Sunday and similarly happens with the rest of the days.
On Holy Tuesday we also have the well-known parable of the Ten Virgins (bridesmaids), who were waiting for the groom. As the Gospel says, the ten were wise and had enough oil for the lamps they would use during their wait, while the other five were "fools" and brought only their lamps with them, which resulted in them being excluded from the feast. Judgment Day.
At the same time, during Holy Tuesday we also remember the Parable of the Talents, according to which the master (God) entrusted His property (gifts) to His servants, giving some more and others less. Some cultivated them and increased them, but one was lazy and buried the only talent given to him, resulting in the master eventually taking it from him and giving it to the other who worked harder and increased his wealth. This parable refers to the gifts that God gives us and reminds us that we must work hard to cultivate them.
In the evening, the troparion of Kassiani is sung.
The customs of Holy Tuesday
In some areas of Greece, cookies and tsourekia are made on Holy Tuesday. Fasting continues, while for many it is the last day they eat oil.
In Ierissos, Halkidiki, they have the custom "Of the black young threshing floor". After the memorial prayer and the celebration of the celebration, the elders begin the dance. Slowly all the inhabitants are caught and often the dance is four hundred meters long.
They sing and dance all the Easter songs and end with the "Chancellor" dance, which is the representation of the massacre of 400 Ierissiotes by the Turks, during the revolution of 1821. During the celebration, he shares coffee boiled in a large cauldron "zografitikos", buns and eggs.
