August 16, 7533
The custom of lighting lamps began a very long time ago, in the earliest centuries of Christianity. Christians, being persecuted for confessing their faith, gathered secretly at night to pray. At first, candles were lit simply to illuminate the place of prayer. But very soon, they came to be lit not only for light, but…
The Cherubic Hymn is an important part of the Divine Liturgy. It is sung by both choirs of cantors as they descend to the center of the church. The rest of the faithful stand with bowed heads. It is forbidden to move about the church during the singing of the Cherubic Hymn. The text of…
How should names be written on slips submitted to the church, and how should names be mentioned in private prayer for the living and the departed? In church, names of non-Old Believers are entered into a separate list for the litany, but should their names also be mentioned separately in private prayer? At every liturgy,…
Vespers depicts the beginning of human history, the first days of the Fall — the evening (the end) of the creation of the world, which for man after the Fall was replaced by a dark night, deprived of the vision of the bright Face of God. Morning Office depicts the joyful and radiant morning —…
The Midnight Office (Полуно́щница) is one of the services in the daily liturgical cycle, dedicated to the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ and the Last Judgment. It is performed at midnight or at any hour of the night before morning, and only once per day. Depending on the day, it may be a daily, Saturday, Sunday,…
One of the daily services that every Christian should strive to observe is Pavechernitsa, or Compline. The name Pavechernitsa (also known as Povecherie in Slavonic usage) derives from the phrase “after supper” — that is, the time following the evening meal. According to the typikon (liturgical rule), this service is performed after Vespers. The order of Pavechernitsa began to take shape in the…
God, be merciful unto me, a sinner. (Bow) O Lord, who created me, have mercy on me. (Bow) I have sinned without number, O Lord, have mercy on me, and forgive me, a sinner. (Bow) It is worthy, for in truth to bless thee, O God-bearer, ever blessed and most unblemished, and the mother of our God. More…
The All-Night Vigil consists of three parts: Vespers, Matins, and the First Hour. Vespers is the first service of the daily church cycle. The cycle begins with Vespers because in ancient times the day was considered to begin in the evening: “And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5). Vespers may…
Commemorating the departed is an important aspect of a Christian’s prayer life. Each day during prayer, we recite the Creed, where we profess our hope in the resurrection of the dead and life in the world to come. Our faith in the resurrection of the dead is based on Christ’s actions: He not only died…
It is permitted to give alms to the poor on behalf of non-Orthodox — this brings them some consolation, for God is pleased when we help one another.— St. John Chrysostom Church burial and commemoration are performed only for those who have died in the faith of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and in…