Redeeming the Time: The Daily Cycle of Services - PowerPoint Presentation

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Redeeming the Time:The Daily Cycle of ServicesSlide2

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are

evil.” (

Eph 5:15-16)The Church attempts to give purpose or meaning to every aspect of human existenceChronos vs KairosWhat I Intend to Cover Tonight (both the what and the why):Basic structure of the daily cycleDetails of each service within the daily cycleVespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Matins, 1st, 3rd, and 6th Hours, Liturgy, 9th Hour

OverviewSlide3

“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’;

and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Gen 1:3-5)God defines “a day” Evening begins the day, followed by morningJews followed this custom (e.g., Sabbath begins at sunset Friday evening)Christians note significance in light ending the day“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” (Is 9:2; Mt 4:16)

Structure of the Daily CycleSlide4

Liturgical cycle of the church begins in the eveningAt Vespers we begin the hymns for what, in modern times, is the next calendar daye.g., Saturday evening hymns for the Resurrection

The daily cycle and commemorations continue through all the services, including the 9

th Hour, and then “reset” again at VespersStructure of the Daily CycleSlide5

hespera (Greek) or vesper

(Latin) simply means “evening”

Service offered at the setting of the sunNote: in ancient monastic tradition the time of the service is movable based upon the setting of the sun (i.e. seasonal changes)Inaugurates the beginning of a new daySaint celebrated at Vespers would be on the next calendar day of our civil calendarHistorical connection to the ceremonial lighting of the seven lamps in the Old TestamentHence the seven prayers of the priest during Ps 103May serve Great Vespers or Daily VespersVespersSlide6

Structure of the service follows the biblical narrative (creation - fall - redemption)Psalm 104 (“creation Psalm”/3rd

account of creation)

Psalm 141 (fallen humanity crying to the Lord), followed by Pss 142, 130, and 117Hymns of the Resurrection on Saturday eveningHymns of saints combined with them on SaturdayHymns of daily commemoration/saints on other days“O Gladsome Light”St Basil the Great (d. 379) called this “an ancient hymn of the Church”Old Testament ReadingsUsed to be at the Divine Liturgy, but moved hereVespersSlide7

Prayer at the Bowing of HeadsProtection for the approaching night/from evil imaginations“…the fearful Judge, who yet loves mankind…”

St Simeon’s Prayer

Luke 2:29-32Tonsuring of Readers or Taper-BearersDismissal Hymn(s)Primary hymn(s) of the dayVespersSlide8

apodipnon (Greek: “after dinner”) or

completorium

(Latin: prayers at completion of the day)Word first used (to our knowledge) in St Benedict’s RuleMay be served as Great or Little ComplineServices are quite different, but each focus on asking forgiveness for sins committed during the day, for peaceful/undisturbed sleep, and spiritual peaceComplineSlide9

Little Compline structureMost days of the year Little Compline is servedPsalms 51, 70, 143

The Little Doxology (“Glory to God in the highest”)

The Nicene CreedTroparia (varies by tradition)Prayer of the Hours (“O Thou Who at all times…”)Prayers to the Mother of God and Christ for rest and protectionPrayer to Guardian Angel (in some traditions)If served with a priest, a litany of intercessory prayersComplineSlide10

Great Compline structurePrimarily served during Great LentIn parish tradition, primarily on Mondays

May be served during other fasting

seasonsPsalms 4, 6, 13, 25, 31, 91 (the funeral Psalm)“God is with us” (selections from Isaiah) by choirAntiphonal intercessory prayers by choirVarious tropariaPrayer of St Basil before bedPsalms 51 and 102Prayer of Manasseh, King of JudahPsalms 70 and 143Little DoxologyComplineSlide11

Great Compline structure“O Lord of hosts” (w/selections from Psalms) by choirEssentially conclude with the ending of Little Compline

Prayers to the Mother of God and Christ for rest and protection

ComplineSlide12

Essentially part of the Hours servicesInspired by Ps 119:62: “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You…”

Also inspired by Mt 25’s parable of the wise and foolish virgins

Sometimes prayed as a separate, midnight service, but more often combined with Matins in modern-day monastic practiceFour different structures to the service; one each for weekdays, Saturday, Sunday, and Great and Holy SaturdayMidnight OfficeSlide13

WeekdaysReading of Psalm 119, the longest in the BibleHymn: “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight…” (used at Bridegroom Matins during Holy Week as well)

Saturday

Psalms 65-70 replace Psalm 119, which is read at Matins insteadSundayPslam 119 is replaced by a Canon to the TrinityService is shortened (or even omitted in Russian practice)Midnight OfficeSlide14

Great and Holy SaturdayUsually the only time parishes serve Midnight OfficeLast service of the Lenten

Triodion

(service book for Great Lent and Holy Week)After Ps 51, chanting of the Canon of Great and Holy Saturday (“the harrowing of Hades”)After the dismissal, all lights in the church are extinguished until the Paschal candle is brought outMidnight OfficeSlide15

orthros (Greek: “early dawn/daybreak”) or matutinum

(Latin: “of the morning”)

Service offered at the rising of the sunNote: in ancient monastic tradition the time of the service is movable based upon the rising of the sun (i.e. seasonal changes)Sunrise coincides with the Doxology: “Glory to Thee who has shone us the light…”May serve Daily or Festal MatinsIn Russian tradition, Festal Matins is served as part of the Vigil service on Saturday evening instead of being served on Sunday morningMatinsSlide16

We will look closely at the structure of Festal/Sunday MatinsPsalms 19 & 20 (the “Royal Psalms”)Usually omitted, with only the “Royal

Troparia

”Apolytikion, Kontakion, & Theotokion of the Cross“Glory to the Holy, Consubstantial…”Six Psalms (Pss. 3, 38, 63, 88, 103, 143)These recall the Final JudgmentDuring the Psalms the priest reads 12 prayers“God is the Lord…” and daily tropariaPortions of Ps 118

MatinsSlide17

Kathisma (readings from the Psalter)In Greek, literally means “seat”; so named because sitting allowed during these readings

On Sundays:

Evlogetaria “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes…”Selections from Ps 119Hypakoe, Anavathmoi, ProkeimenonPreparation for the Gospel“Hearken,” “Hymns of Ascent,” “that which precedes”Matins GospelSundays: Eothinon (pertaining to the dawn; 11 resurrection stories)Feasts: the reading pertains to the feast itself

MatinsSlide18

Psalm 51 (preceded by “In that we have beheld the Resurrection…” on Sundays)Great Intercessory Prayer (“O God save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance…”)The seasonal Canon

The

Magnificat of Luke 1:46-55 (or seasonal replacement)The exapostilaria (“being sent out”) of the Gospel or feastThe Praises (Pss. 148-150) w/hymns & doxastikon (“Glory hymn”)The Great or Small DoxologyMatinsSlide19

Special Forms of MatinsLenten: penitential hymns; Alleluia replaces “God is the Lord”; biblical canon/odes; prayer of St EphraimGreat and Holy Friday: Twelve Passion Gospels

Great and Holy Saturday: Lamentations

Paschal: unique to Pascha and Bright Week; all penitential aspects replaced with hymns of the ResurrectionMatinsSlide20

Correspond to the Jewish hours of prayerActs 3:1: “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”

Acts 10:9: “

Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.”Basically the same structure at each serviceThree Psalms open the service (5, 90, 101; 17, 25, 51; 54, 55, 91; 84, 85, 86)Troparia/Theotokia/Kontakia of the dayThe “Prayer of the Hours”: “O Thou who at all times”Final prayer of the Hour1st: Christ as the “True Light”; 3rd: Christ as Teacher6

th

: Suffering of Christ; 9

th

: Christ Hanging on the Tree

1

st

, 3

rd

, 6

th

, and 9

th

HoursSlide21

Four primary liturgies in use todaySt John Chrysostom: most Sundays/feasts/weekdaySt Basil the Great: Sundays of Lent/some feasts

St Gregory the Great/Pre-Sanctified

St James the Brother of God: October 23 in some placesOpening BlessingDialogue between clergy/people addressed to GodGreat LitanyMany of the deacons’ parts are calls to worship to which the people respondDivine LiturgySlide22

AntiphonsSo named because of antiphonal singingAddition to the ancient liturgy proper

Russian tradition: taken from

TypikaGreek tradition: taken from other servicesBoth have 2nd conclude with hymn from the 6th century ascribed to Emperor JustinianLittle EntranceOriginationSignificance today“O come let us worship…” Divine LiturgySlide23

Troparia/KontakiaTrisagion/Anti-Trisagion

“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal”

“As many as have been baptized…” (Gal 3:27)“Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship…”Scripture ReadingsEpistleGospelSermonCherubic Hymn“We who mystically represent the cherubim…”Holy Saturday: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence…”Divine LiturgySlide24

Great EntranceOriginationSignificance todayNicene Creed

Anaphora

See presentation from 1/7/2015Lord’s Prayer & Bowing of Heads“Holy Things are for the Holy”Important responseCommunion Hymns/Prayers/ReceptionThanksgiving & DismissalDivine LiturgySlide25

The services are literally filled with ScriptureMany Psalms

Several extended passages from both OT and NT

Specific, designated readings for day/seasonWith all of these services, Orthodoxy attempts to penetrate every aspect of our beingEvery time/season/hour is given a spiritual considerationWe hope to add meaning and significance to our day/week/month/year

Conclusions