11 April 2017. Throughout the Holy Week, the Church has been preparing for the celebration of the Easter Mystery through Scriptural readings in the morning services. The lesson on Tuesday morning was the story of the Ten Virgins. During the reading of the Gospel of St Matthew, chapter 25, ten young girls, who are Sunday School students, stood before the altar holding lanterns. As the priest read, five of the girls extinguished their lanterns, while the others kept theirs lit. The parable calls Christians to live the principles of the Gospel and to shine with their good works in order to be ready for Christ’s second coming.

At the end of the service, His Holiness Aram I received the ten young girls and their parents and gave each a cross, which he had blessed according to the Church’s traditions.