Holy Tuesday of Holy Week: a biblical description of the day, prayers

Holy Week has begun for the Orthodox. On April 15, her second day will come — Great Tuesday, on which believers remember the Lord's sermons delivered by him in and outside the Jerusalem temple. Among them are the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the talents. On this day, the church calls for the vigilance of the spirit and works of mercy. For more information about Holy Tuesday, what believers remember on this day, church services, and what prayers to read, see the Izvestia article.

Holy Tuesday of Holy Week: What happened to Jesus Christ

Every day of Holy Week is dedicated to certain events of the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. On Tuesday, believers remember the Savior's last sermon, as well as his parting words.

Thus, the first important event of that day was Jesus' chastisement of the Pharisees and scribes in Jerusalem. They were respectable people, but Christ accused them of hypocrisy and dishonesty in their sermons. Then the high priests began to plan how to execute the Savior by trickery, and asked provocative questions. They asked him if the inhabitants of Judea should pay taxes to the king. According to the Pharisees, an affirmative answer from Christ would lead to a loss of trust on the part of believers, and a negative answer would lead to accusations of inciting a riot and subsequent execution. Jesus replied, "Give what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God" (the expression means "to each according to his merits." — Ed.).

I also remember the parable of the ten virgins. She refers a person to the wedding custom of that time. According to legend, ten maidens who were bridesmaids were waiting for the groom. Five of them (the reasonable ones) had stored enough oil for the lamps in advance, and the rest (the unreasonable ones) were left practically without it by the arrival of the groom, which is why they had to leave to buy it. When they returned, they could not get to the wedding feast, because the doors had already been closed. Here it is important to pay attention to symbolism, where by oil we mean virtues, and by the wedding feast — the second coming of the Savior, the role of which is played by the groom. The parable itself calls believers to spiritual vigilance. It is not known when the second coming of the Savior will take place, but we need to be prepared for this event.

The last parable that comes to mind on this day is about talents. It tells the story of a ruler who distributed one silver talent (monetary unit) to his three servants. Two of them used their money well and increased their property, while the third buried it and did nothing. When the governor returned, he asked how they had handled the coin and praised the first two. He punished the second one. The essence of the parable is that everyone will answer for their actions at the Last Judgment.

Where does the Gospel tell about the events of Great Tuesday

All the events of the day are described in the Gospel of Matthew. For example, Jesus' chastisement of the Pharisees and scribes in Jerusalem is described in chapter 24, verses 36-51. The parable of the Ten Virgins is found in chapter 25, verses 1-13. The talents are mentioned in the same chapter in verses 14-30.

Holy Tuesday Church service: what time is it, how is it going

Depending on the temple and the church, the worship services of the day may vary slightly. On Tuesday, at 08:00, confession and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be held in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and at 17:00, the Matins of Holy Week. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will begin in the Kazan Cathedral of St. Petersburg at 09:00, and the evening service will begin at 18:00.

In general, the scheme of services is the same as on Monday. The texts of the day are dedicated to the sermons and parables of the Savior. At the same time, the main theme is precisely the chastisement of the Pharisees and scribes.

What prayers to read on Holy Week Tuesday, April 15th

On Holy Tuesday, the following prayers can be read at home:

— Troparion, voice 8. Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find watching; but unworthy of the bride whom he shall find despondent. Beware, my soul, do not be burdened with sleep, that you may not be put to death, and shut yourself up outside the kingdom, but arise, calling: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God.;

Kontakion, voice 2. O soul, having thought of the end, and having feared the cutting of the fig tree, do diligently the talent given to you, wretched one, awake and calling: let us not remain outside the palace of Christ.

The Penitential Canon on Holy Tuesday of Holy Week

With the beginning of Great Lent, Orthodox Christians begin to read the penitential canon of St. Andrew of Crete in churches. Great Tuesday is no exception. The text of the canon contains 250 short prayer hymns covering events from the fall of Adam and Eve to the earthly life of Jesus Christ. Reading the canon helps believers prepare for the passion of Christ and become more aware of their sinfulness and the need for repentance.