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Glory be to God forever

Holy Tuesday

The Parables of Judgment

Service length: ~3 hours morning, ~3 hours evening

Overview

Holy Tuesday is devoted to the great parables of judgment that Christ taught in the Temple during His final days. The readings center on the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats - three parables that call the faithful to watchfulness, stewardship, and active love. The Pascha services continue their established rhythm of hours and readings. Beginning in the evening of Holy Tuesday, a new phrase is quietly added to the 'Thok te tigom' doxology - the first subtle shift in the week's liturgical texture as it begins building toward the intensity of Thursday and Friday.

What happens today

Open any service to see what to expect.

What is the theme of Holy Tuesday's readings?

Holy Tuesday centers on the great parables of judgment Christ taught in the Temple courts during His final days. Three parables dominate: the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), calling us to watchfulness and readiness; the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), calling us to faithful stewardship of all God has entrusted to us; and the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46), revealing that Christ identifies Himself with the poor, the hungry, the stranger, and the imprisoned. The readings carry urgency - the Bridegroom is coming, and the question is whether we are ready.

Why do the parables about judgment appear now in Holy Week?

Christ taught these parables in the Temple just days before His arrest - the Gospels place them specifically in this final stretch of His public ministry. The Church reads them during Holy Week to help us understand what is truly at stake. The Cross is not simply a historical event to commemorate; it is the moment that determines the eternal weight of every human choice. Hearing these parables during Holy Week connects the urgency Christ placed in them with the urgency of this week.

Hymns you will hear

Golgotha

Hymn of the Passion - Sung at the Hour Services
Verse 1

Coptic

Ϫⲟⲗⲅⲟⲑⲁ ⲙ̀ⲙⲉⲧϩⲉⲃⲣⲉⲟⲥ: Ⲡⲓⲕ̀ⲣⲁⲛⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̀ⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲓⲛ: ⲡⲓⲙⲁⲉ̀ⲧⲁⲩⲁϣⲕ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛ̀ϧⲏⲧϥ: ⲁⲕⲫⲱⲣϣ ⲛ̀ⲛⲉⲕϫⲓϫ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ: ⲁϥⲓ̀ϣⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲕ ⲛ̀ⲕⲉⲥⲟⲛⲓ ⲥ̀ⲛⲁⲩ: ⲥⲁⲧⲉⲕⲟⲩⲓ̀ⲛⲁⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲥⲁⲧⲉⲕϫⲁⲧϭⲏ: ⲛ̀ⲑⲟⲕ ⲉⲕⲭⲏ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲟⲩⲙⲏϯ ⲱ̀ Ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ ⲛ̀ⲁ̀ⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ.

العربية

الجلجلة بالعبرانية والأقرانيون باليونانية، الموضع الذي صُلبت فيه يا رب. بسطت يديك وصلبوا معك لصين عن يمينك وعن يسارك وأنت كائن في الوسط أيها المخلص الصالح.

English

Golgotha in Hebrew, Kranion in Greek, the place where You were crucified, O Lord. You stretched out Your hands, and crucified two thieves with You; one on Your right side, the other on Your left, and You, O good Savior, in the midst.

Transliteration

Ghol-ghotha emmet-hevr-eos, Pi-kranion emmet-oueinin, pi-ma et-av-ashk Epchois en-khetf, ak-forch en-nek-jij evol, af-ishi nemak en-ke-soni snav, sa-tek-ouinam nem sa-tek-jatchi, enthok ek-khi khen tou-miti, o Pi-soter en-aghathos.

Verse 2

Coptic

Ⲁϥⲱϣ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲟⲛⲓ ⲉⲧⲥⲁⲟⲩⲓ̀ ⲛⲁⲙ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲥ: ϫⲉ ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲡⲁⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⲱ̀ Ⲡⲁϭⲟⲓⲥ: ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲡⲁⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⲱ̀ Ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ: ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲡⲁⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⲱ̀ Ⲡⲁⲟⲩⲣⲟ: ⲁⲕϣⲁⲛⲓ̀ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ.

العربية

فصرخ اللص اليمين قائلاً: 'اذكرني يا ربي، اذكرني يا مخلصي، اذكرني يا ملكي، إذا جئت في ملكوتك.'

English

The right-hand thief cried out saying: 'Remember me, O my Lord; remember me, O my Savior; remember me, O my King, when You come into Your Kingdom.'

Transliteration

af-osh evol enje pi-soni etsaovi nam ej-jo emmos, je ari-pa-mevi o pa-chois, ari-pa-mevi o pa-soter, ari-pa-mevi o pa-ouro, ak-shani khen tek-met-ouro.

Verse 3

Coptic

Ⲁϥⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱ̀ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲥ̀ⲙⲏ ⲙ̀ⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙⲣⲁⲩϣ: ϫⲉ ⲙ̀ⲫⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲕ ⲉ̀ϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲏⲓ: ⲛ̀ϩ̀ⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧⲁⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ.

العربية

آجابه الرب بصوت وديع: 'انك اليوم تكون معي في ملكوتي.'

English

The Lord answered him in a gentle voice saying: 'This day you will be with Me in My Kingdom.'

Transliteration

af-er-oo naf enje Epchois khen ou-esmi emmet-rem-rash, je emfoou ek-e-shopi nemii, enhri khen ta-met-ouro.

Verse 4

Coptic

Ⲁⲩⲓ̀ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲛⲓⲇⲓⲕⲉⲟⲥ Ⲓⲱⲥⲏⲫ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲛⲓⲕⲟⲇⲏⲙⲟⲥ: ⲁⲩϭⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧ̀ⲥⲁⲣⲍ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ: ⲁⲩⲧ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲥⲟϫⲉⲛ ⲉ̀ϩ̀ⲣⲏⲓ ⲉ̀ϫⲱϥ: ⲁⲩⲕⲟⲥϥ ⲁⲩⲭⲁϥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙ̀ϩⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϩⲱⲥ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲥ: ϫⲉ ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲟ̀ Ⲑⲉⲟⲥ: ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲥ: ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲟⲥ Ⲁ̀ⲑⲁⲛⲁⲧⲟⲥ: ⲟ̀ ⲥ̀ⲧⲁⲩⲣⲱⲑⲓⲥ ⲇⲓ ⲏ̀ⲙⲁⲥ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ ⲏ̀ⲙⲁⲥ.

العربية

أتيا الصديقان يوسف ونيقوديموس وأخذا جسد المسيح وجعلا عليه طيباً وكفناه ووضعاه في قبر وسبحاه قائلين: 'قدوس الله، قدوس القوي، قدوس الذي لا يموت، الذي صُلب عنا إرحمنا.'

English

The righteous Joseph and Nicodemus came and took away the body of Christ, wrapped it in linen cloths with spices, and put it in a sepulcher, praising Him saying: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.'

Transliteration

avi enje ni-dikaios Iosif nem Nikodiimos, av-chi en-t-sarj ente Pi-Khristos, av-t en-ou-sojen ehri ejof, av-kosf av-khaf khen ou-emhav, ev-hos erof ev-jo emmos, je Agios o Theos, Agios Iskhyros, Agios Athanatos, o stavrotis di imas eleison imas.

Why does the response start to sound different tonight?

Beginning at the 11th Hour on Holy Tuesday evening, a new phrase is added to the "Thok te tigom" doxology: "pa-Shois Esos Piekh-restos pasoteer en-aghathos" - "O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior." This is the first of two expansions that will accumulate across the week. The hymn begins to name Christ directly and personally, shifting from a general doxology toward an intimate address. As the week intensifies and the Cross draws nearer, the prayer becomes more personal.

Are new phrases being added throughout the week?

Yes. The Pascha doxology grows across the week in a deliberate pattern. From Tuesday evening, Christ is addressed as "my good Savior." Beginning on the Eve of Great Friday, a further phrase is added: "The Lord is my strength, my praise, and has become my holy salvation" - a line drawn from Exodus 15:2, the Song of Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea. By Friday, the doxology has grown to encompass general praise, personal address to Christ, and the great song of deliverance. The week's liturgy builds like a symphony.

What is changing in the tone of the week?

As Tuesday gives way to Wednesday, the readings begin to shift from parables and public teachings toward the final events before the arrest. There is a gathering darkness in the narrative. The Passover approaches. The chief priests are plotting. Judas is beginning to waver. The Church holds all of this in the readings without rushing to the end. The slow accumulation of hours - "Thine is the power" repeated against an increasingly dark backdrop - is what gives Holy Week its distinctive emotional weight.

Hymns you will hear

Thok Te Ti-Gom (First Addition)

From the 11th Hour of Tuesday - 'My Good Savior' is added
Verse 1

Coptic

Ⲑⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ ϯϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲙⲁϩⲓ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ: Ⲉⲙⲙⲁⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲡⲉⲛⲟⲩⲣⲟ.

العربية

لك القوة والمجد والبركة والعزة إلى الآبد آمين. عمانوئيل إلهنا وملكنا.

English

Thine is the power, the glory, the blessing, and the majesty, forever Amen. Emmanuel our God and our King.

Transliteration

Thok te ti-gom, nem pi-o-oo nem pi-esmo, nem pi-amahee sha eneh amen, Emmano-eel pen-nouti pen-ouro.

Verse 2

Coptic

Ⲑⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ ϯϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲙⲁϩⲓ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ: Ⲡⲁⲟ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲧⲏⲣ ⲛ̀ⲁ̀ⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ.

العربية

لك القوة والمجد والبركة والعزة إلى الآبد آمين. ياربي يسوع المسيح مخلصي الصالح.

English

Thine is the power, the glory, the blessing, and the majesty, forever Amen. O my Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior.

Transliteration

Thok te ti-gom, nem pi-o-oo nem pi-esmo, nem pi-amahee sha eneh amen, pa-Shois Esos Pikhrestos, pasoteer en-aghathos.

Verse 3

Coptic

Ⲑⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ ϯϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲁ̀ⲙⲁϩⲓ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.

العربية

لك القوة والمجد والبركة والعزة إلى الآبد آمين.

English

Thine is the power, the glory, the blessing, and the majesty, forever Amen.

Transliteration

Thok te ti-gom, nem pi-o-oo nem pi-esmo, nem pi-amahee sha eneh amen.

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