HOLY WEEK 2026 - (LIVE FROM NUNNERY "SAINT LYDIA"): THE HYMN OF KASSIANI

Today is Holy Tuesday in the Orthodox Church. The theme of the day is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Once a year, during the Bridegroom Orthros service in the evening, the Hymn of Kassiani is sung. The hymn is based on the Gospel reading for Holy Wednesday (Matthew 26:6-16) regarding the woman who anointed Jesus. In some traditions, the hymn is also being sung during Orthros on Holy Wednesday morning, but the primary performance time is late Tuesday evening. The hymn is considered one of the most demanding and anticipated pieces of Byzantine chant in the Orthodox Church. Patristix has more. 

July 2, 2024 Patristix: Kassia the Hymnographer (Kassiani).

April 7, 2026 Kabarnos: ΤΟ ΤΡΟΠΑΡΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΣΣΙΑΝΗΣ. (The Tropario of Kassiani). 

👉  Enjoy the livestream directly from Nunnery "Saint Lydia" in Thessaloniki. 



4ETV Live stream.

External reading

Greek Reporter: Hymn of Kassiane Reverberates Across Greece on Holy Tuesday (link)

🔸 Holy Tuesday - The Parable of the Ten Virgins 🪔🔸

Great and Holy Tuesday calls us to remember the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), reminding us to be ever vigilant, watchful and prepared to receive Christ the Bridegroom on the Day of Judgement. In this parable,… pic.twitter.com/OWLuZEa2Tx

— Orthodox Christian (@orthodox_33ad) April 7, 2026

And since we've already touched on tomorrow, Holy Wednesday which is themed by the woman who anointed Jesus as described in Matthew 26:6-16, here's an episode of the Lord of Spirits on Holy Unction: Father Stephen and Father Andrew look at the relationship between sin, healing, and oil.

Feb 24, 2023 Ancient Faith: Lord of Spirits - Unctuous [Ep. 61].

- More on Holy Week, Kassiani, Nikodimos Kabarnos, Patristix, The Lord of Spirits -