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The week leading up to Easter or Holy Resurrection is called Holy Week (in Armenian Avak Shabat). During this period, the Armenian Apostolic Church marks the most important events of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly life – his entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), his last supper, betrayal, crucifixion, entombment and his triumphant resurrection.

Today, the Armenian Church marks Holy Tuesday commemorating “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” (Mt 25:1-13). This parable from the Gospel tells the story about the five foolish and the five wise virgins. The message exhorts us to be vigilant and prepared for the Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Qahana.am reports.

On Holy Tuesday, during the evening service, ten young girls approach the holy altar of the church. Five of the girls have burning candles or oil lamps in their hands, symbolizing the wise maidens, and the other five have extinguished candles or unlit lamps in their hands, symbolizing the foolish maidens.