From what time is the evening service and until what time? Liturgy and Communion

The most detailed description: morning prayer in the temple time - for our readers and subscribers.

Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.

What time does the church service start?

“Save, Lord!” Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, we ask you to subscribe to our VKontakte group Prayers for every day. Also add to the YouTube channel Prayers and Icons. “God bless you!”

What is worship

The main task of the church is to revive the church life of the country and increase the spirituality of the population. It is for carrying out such work that churches were created in which church services are held. Every day in churches and cathedrals they conduct:

Believers often ask the question: what time does church service begin? Each parish can set its own time for this event. But in most cases, the following time frames can be taken as a basis:

Vespers - from 9 pm, Vespers and Compline,
morning - from midnight, matins and 1st hour,
daytime - from the 3rd, 6th hour and Divine Liturgy.

From this it follows that 9 services are performed per day.

Types of services

All services, as already mentioned, are divided into 3 types. Much of their implementation is borrowed from Old Testament times.

What is evening service

What time does it start evening service in the church? The beginning of the day is considered not midnight, but 6 pm. Therefore, the first service is evening. The main theme of this service is memories of the events of the Sacred History of the Old Testament: the creation of the world by the Lord, the original sin of our ancestors, the ministry of the prophets and the legislation of Moses. Christians also thank the Lord for the day they have lived.

After Vespers, it is customary to hold Compline. Often these are public prayers for the coming sleep. They recall the descent of Christ into hell and the rescue of the righteous from the power of the devil.

At midnight they serve the Midnight Office. During this service, they are reminded of the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment.

What is called morning

After the evening service, the morning service takes place. The longest service is called the morning service. It is usually held before sunrise. During the ceremony, it is customary to remember the events of Christ’s earthly life. A large number of both repentance and thanksgiving prayers are also read.

It is advisable to check with the church you are visiting about what time the morning service in the church begins. The start time may differ, but not significantly.

Around 7 o'clock in the morning a service is held, which is called the 1st hour. This is a short service. During which they talk about Christ's presence at the court of the high priest.

The 3rd hour is spent around 9 o'clock. During its implementation, they remember the events that took place in the Upper Room of Zion, where the Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles, and the Savior was sentenced to death by the Praetorian Pilate.

At noon the 6th hour is served. This is the time when they talk about the crucifixion of Jesus.

At three o'clock in the afternoon the 9th hour is spent. This period falls on the remembrance of Christ's death on the cross.

How is a church service held?

The main service of the day is the Divine Liturgy. During it, they remember not only worldly life Christ, but also offer to unite with him during the Sacrament of Communion. In terms of time, it must be done between the 6th and 9th hour before noon. It is also called mass.

The Sunday service in the church is mainly held once and is called the Eucharistic. The morning ceremony is held before her. There is no pause between them, one follows the other.

There are certain changes that have occurred in church life. The main adjustments took place in the Charter. Compline in parish churches is held only during Lent, and the Midnight Office is held only once a year before Easter. Very rarely, a service is also held, which is called the 9th hour. The other 6 services are combined into two groups of three.

In the evening, they spend one after another, first the evening, then the morning and the 1st hour. On the eve of holidays and Sundays, all these services are combined into one and served together, which is called the all-night vigil. In parish churches such services last from 2 to 4 hours, and in monasteries – 3-6 hours.

In the morning, the 3rd, 6th hours and the Divine Liturgy take place alternately. If there are a large number of parishioners in the church, then two liturgies may be held: early and late. Both last about an hour.

On those days when the liturgy is prohibited, an image is served. This is the name for a service that includes several chants. But they are not considered to be independent services.

According to church rules, divine services also include:

reading akathists in the temple,
carrying out all rituals and sacraments,
reading morning and evening prayers,
specifying the rules of preparation for Holy Communion.

In addition to holding morning or evening services, as well as hours, special services can be held according to the needs of believers. They are called requirements. This could be: Baptism, Unction, Wedding, Funeral service.

Typically, services are held in churches and only by clergy. Believers take part in them only by reading prayers and singing.

Whether to go to church for services or not is individual solution everyone. Many people say that it is better to go to church on weekdays. Fewer people and the priest will be able to devote more time to the parishioners. But for services on Saturday in church, Sunday or a holiday, the number of people increases and does not provide such an opportunity for privacy.

Answers to questions

In everything related to prayer and pious life, the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles and saints can serve as an example for us. The Gospel says that Christ prayed in solitude for several hours and even throughout the whole night. The Apostle Paul called for prayer without ceasing, that is, all the time. Are there any restrictions on the duration of prayer?

Where can you pray to God?

You can pray to God almost everywhere:

At home they read home prayers (morning, evening, before or after eating food). With the blessing of the priest, morning prayers can be read on the way to work. In the office, you can pray before and after the work day.

During services in the temple, believers together perform public (otherwise known as church) prayer.

To pray in church alone, you need to come outside the service, purchase and light candles. It is not necessary to light them: the ministers will light them before the start of the service. Then you need to venerate the icon of the day or holiday - it lies on the lectern (a special inclined table) in the middle of the temple - as well as to the shrines that may be in the temple: revered icons, relics of saints. After this, you can find a place to read silently (whisper) any prayer that you know by heart, or pray in your own words.

How many times a day should Orthodox Christians pray?

Prayer is time dedicated to God. There should be such a time every day.

in the morning,
In the evening,
before and after meals,
before starting and after completing something (for example, work or study)
in order to first ask God for blessings, and in the end to thank Him.

In addition, it is important to attend the Liturgy in church weekly to perform church prayer and receive Holy Communion. If necessary, in case of special needs or life circumstances, you can pray privately (at home in front of icons or in church between services) to the saints or heavenly powers, so that they will intercede for the person praying before the Lord.

Time for reading Orthodox prayers in church and at home

In ancient monasteries, nine long services were performed per day, and between them the monks alone read psalms or said the Jesus Prayer. Night was considered a particularly fertile time for solitary prayer.

Modern lay people perform morning rituals at home in the morning. prayer rule, in the evening, upon returning home - evening rule. If a person is weak or has little time, then instead of the morning and evening rules, he can read during the day short rule Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

It is advisable to discuss the duration of morning and evening prayers with the priest to whom the parishioner regularly confesses.

On Saturday evenings and on the eve of church holidays, one should attend the all-night vigil in the church, and on Sunday mornings and holidays - the Liturgy.

During Lent They go to church to pray more often: in the first four days they try not to miss evening services- Great Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is celebrated on them. You should also try to attend as many services as possible during Holy Week, which precedes the Easter holiday. During Bright Week, the Liturgy is celebrated daily., and believers strive to visit it in order to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ not only on Sunday, but also on weekdays.

Morning prayer time

Morning prayers are read at home, immediately upon waking. Having woken up, you need to stand in front of the icons and begin to read prayers by heart or according to the prayer book.

Evening prayer time

Evening prayers are read at home at the end of the day or before bed. The evening rule is not recommended to be postponed until later, because the later, the stronger the fatigue and the more difficult it is to concentrate.

Just before going to sleep, already lying in bed, they say: “In Your hands, Lord my God, I commend my spirit, You save me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life.”

Prayer all day long

The Orthodox Church does not set strict times for prayers. We must strive to pray constantly. This, first of all, means constantly remembering God and from time to time, if possible, turning to Him throughout the day with short prayers(for example, the Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner” or a short prayer of gratitude “Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!”).

Continuous Prayer

Can be read short prayers continuously throughout the day, repeating the same prayer many times in a row and counting the number of repetitions using the rosary. This is how the Jesus Prayer is usually read. However, for such a prayer you must take the priest's blessing, And the number of repetitions is strictly regulated.

There are many restrictions on continuous prayer; it cannot be read uncontrolled.

The Monk Ambrose of Optina ordered his spiritual children to read the Jesus Prayer only out loud, because reading to oneself can cause strong emotional sensations and lead to falling into delusion. Prelest means self-deception, even to the point of mental insanity.

How long should prayer be?

Duration prayers are not regulated by rules.

What is most important is the focus on prayer, not the duration or number of prayers.
You need to pray slowly, thinking about every word.
The number of prayers should correspond to the time we can devote to them.

The Lord said, “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13), therefore, if you lack time or are very tired, it is permissible to shorten the prayer rule in order to read it with concentration.

Log in

What time does the liturgy and other services in the church begin?

Liturgy is the main Church service. What time does the liturgy begin and how long does it last? Why is sometimes the liturgy held in the evening or at night? Let's talk.

What time does the liturgy begin and on what days is it served?

In different churches, the Liturgy takes place with different regularity and begins at different times. Below is the main thing you need to know about the time and duration of the Liturgy in Orthodox churches.

Liturgy takes place in every church

Divine Liturgy- this is a central divine service, since during it the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Communion take place (or rather, the Liturgy itself accompanies these Sacraments). All other services in one way or another precede the Liturgy - although they can take place the night before or even earlier.

Liturgy takes place at least every Sunday

The regularity of services depends on the temple: the place where it is located and the number of parishioners. In other words, it takes place in the temple as often as is actually necessary.

For example, in monasteries, services are held every day: since the meaning of the monastery for its monastic inhabitants is serving God and the Liturgy for them is not a duty, but life.

In some non-monastic churches, Liturgies may also be served daily.

In rural and small city churches, the Liturgy, as a rule, is served at least once a week (on Sunday) and on major Church holidays.

Liturgy is served in the morning

When does the Liturgy begin? The starting time may also vary from temple to temple. But, as a rule, the service begins no earlier than seven in the morning and no later than ten.

For example, at the Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in Moscow, the Liturgy schedule is as follows:

weekdays and Saturday - Liturgy begins at 8 am;
Sunday and big days Church holidays There are two liturgies: an early one at 7 am and a late one at 9 am.

In any case, the in-person schedule of services can always be found on the temple website or on its territory.

Trinity Church. Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in Moscow

During Lent, Liturgies are not served every day.

The difference in the schedule of Lenten services can only be seen in the examples of churches where services are held daily. On Saturday and Sunday, Liturgies are served as always, but on weekdays - only on Wednesday and Friday (the so-called Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts). Moreover, in most churches, weekday Lenten Liturgies take place in the afternoon.

And sometimes Liturgies are served at night

Night liturgies take place on the most important Christian holidays - Easter and Christmas. There are other exceptions. For example, at the same Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, the night Liturgy takes place on the day of the celebration of the icon Holy Mother of God“It is worthy to exist” - in the temple there is this revered icon of the Mother of God, which was brought from Athos.

Icon of the Mother of God “It is Worthy to Eat” at the Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra

How long does the liturgy last in church?

The duration of the liturgy may vary depending on the day or church. This does not mean that the composition of the divine service changes radically. For example, on especially solemn days, part of the prayers, which are sometimes read by the reader, is this time sung by the choir.

In addition, how long the liturgy lasts can be influenced by such seemingly insignificant factors as the speed with which the priest and deacon serve: one leads the services faster, the other slower, one reads the Gospels this way, the other more measuredly. And so on.

But if we speak in general outline, then on major holidays the Liturgy lasts longer than on ordinary ones - sometimes up to two hours.

On Easter night or Christmas Liturgy lasts no longer than usual, but the night service itself turns out to be many hours long - since the Liturgy is preceded by a long All-Night Vigil.

Night service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, photo: patriarchia.ru

What time does morning service start in church?

On the one hand, the answer to this question is most often the same as to the question: “What time does the Liturgy begin,” since in almost all non-monastic churches the only morning service is the Liturgy.

Another thing is that in some churches (where there is only one priest), confession sometimes takes place not during the service, but before it, and therefore those who want to confess or take communion come earlier.

But in monasteries, morning services begin much earlier, since a full daily cycle of services is held there.

For example, before the liturgy in monasteries, the Hours are necessarily read (this is a small service that includes the reading of certain prayers and individual psalms), and on most days a midnight office is also served, which can begin at 6 a.m. or earlier.

In addition, the charter of some monasteries also stipulates, for example, the daily morning reading of akathists, and a prayer rule, which will also take place in the temple. Therefore, in some monasteries, morning services, in fact, stretch for several hours, and the Liturgy, as expected, crowns this cycle.

This does not mean that the laity receiving communion need to be present at all monastic services - they are intended primarily for the inhabitants of the monastery (monks, novices and laborers). The main morning service for the laity is the Liturgy.

What time does the evening service start in church?

As in the case of morning services, the specific start time of the evening service is determined by the charter of the temple or monastery (they can always be found either on the website or on the doors of the temple). As a rule, evening worship begins between 16:00 and 18:00.

The service itself, depending on the day or the foundations of a particular temple, lasts from one and a half hours to three. In monasteries, on special days, evening services can last much longer.

Evening worship is obligatory for those who intend to receive communion the next morning. This is due to the fact that the Church has adopted a daily cycle of services, which begins in the evening, and the morning Liturgy crowns it.

Follow us on Facebook!

Text archive

Our publics

Read and watch us wherever it is convenient for you!

Tip 1: What time does the first morning service in church start?

What time does the first morning service in church start?
How to observe Easter rituals
How to behave in a cathedral in 2017

Tradition of early Christian worship

What time do morning services begin in modern churches?

Tip 2: What time does the first morning service start?

Daily cycle of worship

All Orthodox worship is divided into certain services from the daily circle, departing on set time. Over hundreds of years of the formation and development of Orthodox worship, a charter was developed that determined the order and features of each service.

In Orthodoxy, the liturgical day begins in the evening of the day before the celebrated event. Therefore, Sunday services in the church begin on Saturday evening. Most often, Saturday evening is marked by the departure of Sunday's Great Vespers, Matins and the first hour.

At Sunday Vespers, among other standard hymns, the choir performs certain stichera dedicated to the risen Lord. In some churches, at the end of Sunday Great Vespers, a lithium is celebrated with the blessing of bread, wheat, oil (oil) and wine.

At Sunday morning a special troparion is sung in one of eight voices (tunes); The polyeleos is performed - a special chant “Praise the name of the Lord”, after which the choir sings the Sunday troparions “Cathedral of Angels”. Also at Sunday morning special canons are read: the Sunday canon, honorable cross and the Mother of God (sometimes, depending on the order of connection of the Sunday service with the memory of the venerated saint, the canons may change). At the end of Matins the choir sings a great doxology.

The Saturday evening service ends with the first hour, after which the priest performs the sacrament of confession for those who wish to partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ at the liturgy on Sunday.

On Sunday itself, the service in the Orthodox church begins in the morning. Usually at half past nine. First, the sequences of the third and sixth hours are read, and then follows the main service of Sunday - the Divine Liturgy. The liturgy itself usually begins at nine in the morning. Most often, in Orthodox churches on Sunday, a liturgy is celebrated, compiled by the great Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. This rite is standard, except that the choir performs special Sunday troparia depending on the current voice (there are only eight of them).

Usually on Sundays in churches at the end of the liturgy, a prayer service is held, during which the priest specifically prays for the needs of believers: for health, for healing in illnesses, blessings on travel, etc.

After the end of the prayer service, a memorial service in memory of the deceased and a funeral service can be held in the church. Thus, the Church on Sunday does not forget to pray especially not only for the health of living people, but also for deceased relatives.

Religious services are held in all Orthodox churches, cathedrals and temples. What time such events begin will be discussed in this article.

Church services are divided into several types: morning, evening, all-night vigil, holiday, etc. It goes without saying that the morning service (liturgy) is held in the morning, the evening service in the evening.

Each temple, cathedral and church sets its own hours for the start of services. To obtain accurate data, we recommend that you find out the schedule of a specific religious institution. Below we will look at the time periods within which one or another church service most often begins.

Morning services are divided into early and late. The first ones start no earlier than 6:00 and no later than 8:00. Late ones can start between 9 and 11 am.
Evening services start at 16:00-18:00.
All-night services start the same way as the evening ones.
Holiday Services have their own schedule, so you need to find out about their start in the temple/cathedral/church.

Church services for Christian holidays in 2017

Church services held on Christian holidays require special consideration. We will list a few events below.

The Christmas service takes place from 6 to 7 January every year. In most religious institutions it begins on January 6 at 17:00, an all-night vigil is held at midnight, and the morning Christmas service begins at 9:00.
The Epiphany service (January 19, 2017) is held on January 18 at 23:00. Some churches hold services at 5-6 p.m. The all-night vigil is most often combined with the morning service, although in some establishments a separate liguria in honor of the holiday begins at 9:00.
The service dedicated to the Presentation of the Lord (February 15, 2017) begins at 7-8 am. The second (evening) service is held at 16-17:00.
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7, 2017), 3 services are held: all-night vigil on April 6 (from 23:00), liguria (at 7:00-9:00), and supper (at 16-18:00).
The service for Easter (April 16, 2017) begins on April 15 at 23:00, goes into matins (1-2 a.m.), then into Liguria (7:00-9:00).
On the day of the Holy Trinity (June 4, 2017) the service is as follows: Liguria begins at 7-9 am, and usually lasts longer than usual. After it, the Great Supper is served (in each temple and church differently).

The service time for each holiday is based on average indicators. The exact schedule must be found in the church itself.

Note: Christian holidays are divided into 2 types: movable and immovable twelve holidays. To the non-transitional Christian holidays include:

Christmas (January 7);
Epiphany (January 19);
Presentation of the Lord (February 15);
Annunciation (April 7);
Transfiguration of the Lord (August 19);
Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 28);
Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 21);
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 27);
Entry into the Temple of the Virgin Mary (December 4).

Moving church holidays:

Palm Sunday: celebrated a week before Easter. In 2017 it is celebrated on April 9, in 2018 – on April 1.
Easter: main holiday Christian.
What time does the church service start? Features of Orthodox services
Ascension of the Lord: celebrated 40 days after Easter. In 2017 it is celebrated on May 25, in 2018 – on May 17.
Pentecost (Holy Trinity Day)– held on the 50th day after Easter. In 2017 it is celebrated on June 4, in 2018 – on May 27.

Duration of all church services different from each other. This depends on the type of service, the speed of its performance (both by the priest and the choir), the number of confessors and communicants, the presence and duration of the sermon, etc. For example, the morning service lasts approximately 1.5-2 hours, the evening service - 2-2.5 hours.

If you are late for work, no one will judge you. If you do not want to confess and receive communion, the duration of the event will be somewhat shorter. Remember that you should visit religious institutions in modest attire; women should avoid revealing clothes and bright makeup.

Video

What time does morning prayer start in church?

The book, in an accessible language, reveals the spiritual meaning of Orthodox worship, gives initial concepts of how the temple is structured, how to make the sign of the cross, what a priestly blessing means, what a candle, prosphora, antidor, and artos symbolize. The book will help people taking their first steps in the temple feel like they are in the house of the Heavenly Father

First steps in the temple

About the need to visit the temple of God

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to earth for our salvation, founded the Church, where he is invisibly present to this day, giving us everything we need for eternal life, where “the Heavenly Powers serve invisibly,” as it is said in the Orthodox chant. “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verse 20), He said to His disciples, the apostles, and to all of us who believe in Him. Therefore, those who rarely visit the temple of God lose a lot. Parents who do not care about their children attending church sin even more. Remember the words of the Savior: “Let the little children come and do not hinder them from coming to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19, verse 14).

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verse 4), the Savior tells us. Spiritual food is just as necessary for the human soul as bodily food is for maintaining bodily strength. And where will a Christian hear the word of God, if not in the temple, where the Lord Himself invisibly instructs those gathered in His name? Whose doctrine is preached in the church? The teaching of the prophets and apostles, who spoke at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the teaching of the Savior Himself, Who is true Wisdom, true Life, true Path, true Light, enlightening every person coming into the world.

Church - Heaven on earth; The worship performed in it is an angelic work. According to the teachings of the Church, when visiting the temple of God, Christians receive a blessing that contributes to success in all their good endeavors. “When you hear the ringing of a church bell calling everyone to prayer, and your conscience tells you: let’s go to the house of the Lord, then, if you can, put everything aside and hurry to the Church of God,” advises St. Theophan the Recluse. “Know that the Guardian Angel your call to the shelter of the house of God; it is he, the inhabitant of heaven, who reminds you of earthly Heaven, in order to sanctify your soul there with the grace of Christ, in order to sweeten your heart with heavenly consolation, and - who knows - maybe he is calling there for another reason? to take you away from temptation, which you cannot avoid if you stay at home, or to shelter you under the canopy of the temple of God from great danger...”

What does a Christian learn in church? Heavenly wisdom, which was brought to earth by the Son of God - Jesus Christ! Here he learns the details of the Savior’s life, becomes acquainted with the lives and teachings of the saints of God, and takes part in church prayer. And the congregational prayer of believers is great power!

The prayer of one righteous person can do a lot - there are many examples of this in history, but the fervent prayer of those gathered in the house of God brings even greater fruit. When the apostles were expecting the coming of the Holy Spirit according to the promise of Christ, they remained with Mother of God in the Upper Room of Zion in unanimous prayer. Gathering in the temple of God, we expect the Holy Spirit to descend on us. This is what happens... unless we put up obstacles ourselves.

For example, a lack of openness of heart prevents parishioners from uniting in temple prayer. In our time, this often happens because believers do not behave in the temple of God in the way required by the holiness and greatness of the place. How is the temple structured and how should one behave in it?

About the structure of the temple

The Temple of God differs in appearance from other buildings. Very often the temple of God has the shape of a cross at its base, for by the Cross the Savior delivered us from the power of the devil. Often it is arranged in the form of a ship, symbolizing that the Church, like a ship, like Noah’s Ark, leads us across the sea of life to a quiet harbor in the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes at the base there is a circle - a sign of eternity or an octagonal star, symbolizing that the Church, like a guiding star, shines in this world.

The temple building is usually topped with a dome representing the sky. The dome is crowned by a head on which a cross is placed - to the glory of the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ. Often, not one, but several chapters are placed on the temple: two chapters mean two natures (Divine and human) in Jesus Christ, three chapters - the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, five chapters - Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists, seven chapters - the seven sacraments and seven Ecumenical Councils, nine chapters - nine ranks of angels, thirteen chapters - Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles, sometimes they build and more chapters

Above the entrance to the temple, and sometimes next to the temple, a bell tower or belfry is built, that is, a tower on which bells hang, used to call believers to prayer and to announce the most important parts of the service performed in the temple.

According to its internal structure, an Orthodox church is divided into three parts: the altar, the middle church and the vestibule. The altar symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven. All the believers stand in the middle part. In the first centuries of Christianity, the catechumens stood in the narthex, who were just preparing for the sacrament of Baptism. Nowadays, people who have sinned grievously are sometimes sent to stand in the vestibule for correction.

First steps in the Orthodox Church: twelve facts you need to know.

Also in the narthex you can buy candles, submit notes for remembrance, order a prayer service and memorial service, etc. In front of the entrance to the narthex there is an elevated area called the porch.

Christian churches are built with the altar facing east - in the direction where the sun rises: the Lord Jesus Christ, from Whom the invisible Divine light shone for us, we call the “Sun of Truth”, who came “from the heights of the East”.

Each temple is dedicated to God, bearing a name in memory of one or another sacred event or saint of God. If there are several altars in it, then each of them is consecrated in memory of a special holiday or saint. Then all the altars, except the main one, are called chapels.

Home » Liturgical life » How a liturgical service is composed

HOW A SERVICE IS COMPOSED

Every time we come to the service, we hear prayers sung by the choir, read by readers and proclaimed by the priest. Have we ever wondered where they get these prayers from? And what you need to know to make them sound right moment? What kind of books does the choir director open for the choir in the choir?

The divine services of the Orthodox Church are performed according to liturgical books. The church charter does not allow the performance of divine services in memory, without books (Service Book, “Teaching News”). The Apostle Paul writes about church prayer: “In the church... let everything happen in order and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40).

Each service has its own name, its own rank (order), time and symbolism.

To compose each of the church services, you need to know well the Charter of worship, compiled over two millennia by the fathers of the church. During this time, many books were written containing texts for church services, for example, Octoechos, Menaea, Book of Hours, Service Book and others. The director or regent must be able to find in all these books the prayers assigned for each specific moment of each service.

The difficulty is that texts for the same service are contained not in one, but in several books at once. For example, the texts of the prayers for the rite of Vespers and the rite of Matins (together making up the all-night vigil on Saturday evening) must be searched immediately in the Octoechos, and in the Menaion, and in the Book of Hours, and in other books.

The reason is that in the Church, several holidays are simultaneously remembered every day, depending on several different calendars.

One calendar, as we are accustomed to, follows by months and dates, from year to year. According to this calendar, all the days of remembrance of saints and almost all twelfth holidays (Christmas, Annunciation and others) are celebrated. The texts of these holidays are printed in the book of Menaion. In total there are 12 volumes in the Menaion, according to the number of months.

The second calendar calculates the distance of days from Easter, which every year, as is known, falls on different days. And every year it turns out that after Easter, all the other holidays of this calendar are shifted. That is, Ascension, Trinity, the days of Great Lent and Holy Week, and some other holidays fall on different numbers. The texts of these holidays are found in the Lenten Triodion (for Great Lent), in the Colored Triodion (for the days of Easter) and in Octoechos.

Special mention needs to be made about the book of Octoechos. The title of the book comes from the Greek word Ὀκτώηχος, that is, “eight-voice.” The Octoechos is divided into 8 chapters, each chapter containing services for the entire week. (A week is a church week, where the first day is Sunday and the last day is Saturday.) All days in the week have their own dedication. Sunday is called in memory of the Resurrection of Christ. On Monday the angelic forces are remembered, on Tuesday - St. John the Baptist, on Wednesday - the Most Holy Theotokos, on Thursday - the apostles and St. Nicholas, on Friday and Wednesday - the suffering of Christ on the cross, on Saturday - all the saints and departed Orthodox Christians. During one week, all hymns are sung in the 1st tone, in the next week in the 2nd, then in the 3rd, etc. When all 8 voices are sung, start again from the 1st voice. This order is followed throughout the year. The hymns of Octoechos also belong to the Easter calendar system, since the counting of the voices begins each time anew from Easter.

It is possible to combine the holidays of both calendars thanks to the special, anciently established order of performing services in the temple. Every day, every day, the church appoints at the same set time, special rites that are repeated day after day. They are called, in order: Vespers, Matins and Hours, and some others. When we come to church, we participate in these services. All of them consist of their own, constant and unchanging prayers from the Book of Hours. Their words are probably familiar to everyone, for example, “Quiet Light,” “Vouchsafe, O Lord,” “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

There is no way to do without the Book of Hours at any service. But this book alone will not be enough. After all, during the service you still need to pray to the saint whose memory is on this day, and honor the event scheduled in the Easter calendar.

Morning prayer in church

Therefore, at certain, specially appointed moments of all daily services, the texts of the holidays are necessarily added to the original daily texts. The added prayers make up about half of the service.

So, to compose a service, you need to take prayers from the Book of Hours and add to them certain rules texts from Octoechos and Menaion. All of them are intended for singing and reading by the choir (the so-called choir of church singers and readers).

The main thing in the Church and in church services is conciliarity, joint prayer. Therefore, the divine service can be performed in its entirety by the participation of the people and the priest. He leads the service and says the prayers assigned to him, some out loud and some silently (the so-called secret prayers). All of them are printed separately in the book Service Book.

The main church service - the Divine Liturgy - is separated from the rest of the daily services and is not counted among them. But the method of compiling this service is similar - to the constant, unchanging chants that form the basis of the Liturgy (they are printed in the book of Irmologii), prayers dedicated to the holidays of this day are added from the Octoechos and Menaion.

The material was prepared by the regent of our temple Olga Belyakova

9.1. What is worship? The divine service of the Orthodox Church is serving God through readings of prayers, chants, sermons and sacred rites performed according to the Charter of the Church. 9.2. Why are services held? Worship, as the external side of religion, serves as a means for Christians to express their religious inner faith and reverent feelings for God, a means of mysterious communication with God. 9.3. What is the purpose of worship? The purpose of the divine service established by the Orthodox Church is to give Christians best way expressions of petitions, thanksgivings and praises addressed to the Lord; teach and educate believers in the truths Orthodox faith and the rules of Christian piety; to introduce believers into mysterious communion with the Lord and impart to them the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit.

9.4. What do Orthodox services mean by their names?

(common cause, public service) is the main service during which Communion (Communion) of believers takes place. The remaining eight services are preparatory prayers for the Liturgy.

Vespers- a service performed at the end of the day, in the evening.

Compline– service after supper (dinner) .

Midnight Office – a service intended to take place at midnight.

Matins – a service performed in the morning, before sunrise.

Clock services – remembrance of the events (by the hour) of Good Friday (the suffering and death of the Savior), His Resurrection and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

On the eve of major holidays and Sundays, an evening service is performed, which is called the all-night vigil, because among the ancient Christians it lasted all night. The word "vigil" means "to be awake." The All-Night Vigil consists of Vespers, Matins and the first hour. In modern churches, the all-night vigil is most often celebrated in the evening before Sundays and holidays.

9.5. What services are performed in the Church daily?

– In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, the Orthodox Church performs evening, morning and afternoon services in churches every day. In turn, each of these three services is composed of three parts:

Evening service - from the ninth hour, Vespers, Compline.

Morning- from Midnight Office, Matins, first hour.

Daytime- from the third hour, sixth hour, Divine Liturgy.

Thus, nine services are formed from the evening, morning and afternoon church services.

Due to the weakness of modern Christians, such statutory services are performed only in some monasteries (for example, in the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam Monastery). In most parish churches, services are held only in the morning and evening, with some reductions.

9.6. What is depicted in the Liturgy?

– In the Liturgy, under the external rites, the whole earthly life The Lord Jesus Christ: His birth, teaching, works, suffering, death, burial, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven.

9.7. What is called mass?

– People call the Liturgy mass. The name “mass” comes from the custom of ancient Christians, after the end of the Liturgy, to consume the remains of the brought bread and wine at a common meal (or public lunch), which took place in one of the parts of the church.

9.8. What is called a lunch lady?

– Sequence of figurative (obednitsa) – this is the name of a short service that is performed instead of the Liturgy, when the Liturgy is not supposed to be served (for example, during Lent) or when it is impossible to serve it (there is no priest, antimension, prosphora). The Obednik serves as some image or likeness of the Liturgy, its composition is similar to the Liturgy of the Catechumens and its main parts correspond to the parts of the Liturgy, with the exception of the celebration of the Sacraments. There is no communion during mass.

9.9. Where can I find out about the schedule of services in the temple?

– The schedule of services is usually posted on the doors of the temple.

9.10. Why is there not censing of the church at every service?

– The presence of the temple and its worshipers occurs at every service. The liturgical censing can be full, when it covers the entire church, and small, when the altar, iconostasis and the people standing in the pulpit are censed.

9.11. Why is there censing in the temple?

– Incense lifts the mind to the throne of God, where it is sent with the prayers of believers. In all centuries and among all peoples, the burning of incense was considered the best, purest material sacrifice to God, and of all types of material sacrifice accepted in natural religions, Christian Church kept only this one and a few more (oil, wine, bread). AND appearance nothing is more reminiscent of the gracious breath of the Holy Spirit than the smoke of incense. Filled with such high symbolism, incense greatly contributes to the prayerful mood of believers and with its purely bodily effect on a person. Incense has an elevating, stimulating effect on the mood. For this purpose, the charter, for example, before the Easter vigil prescribes not just incense, but an extraordinary filling of the temple with the smell from the placed vessels with incense.

9.12. Why do priests serve in vestments? different colors?

– The groups are assigned a certain color of clergy vestments. Each of the seven colors of liturgical vestments corresponds to the spiritual significance of the event in honor of which the service is being performed. There are no developed dogmatic institutions in this area, but the Church has an unwritten tradition that assigns a certain symbolism to the various colors used in worship.

9.13. What do the different colors of priestly vestments represent?

On holidays dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as on the days of remembrance of His special anointed ones (prophets, apostles and saints) the color of the royal vestment is gold.

In golden robes They serve on Sundays - the days of the Lord, the King of Glory.

On holidays in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos and angelic powers, as well as on the days of remembrance of holy virgins and virgins robe color blue or white, symbolizing special purity and innocence.

Purple adopted on the Feasts of the Holy Cross. It combines red (symbolizing the color of the blood of Christ and the Resurrection) and blue, reminiscent of how the Cross opened the way to heaven.

Dark red color - the color of blood. Services in red vestments are held in honor of the holy martyrs who shed their blood for the faith of Christ.

In green vestments The day of the Holy Trinity, the day of the Holy Spirit and the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) is celebrated, since green- a symbol of life. Divine services in honor of the saints are also performed in green vestments: the monastic feat revives a person by union with Christ, renews his entire nature and leads to eternal life.

In black robes usually serve in weekdays. Black color is a symbol of renunciation of worldly vanity, crying and repentance.

White as a symbol of Divine uncreated light, it was adopted on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ, Epiphany (Baptism), Ascension and Transfiguration of the Lord. Easter Matins also begins in white vestments - as a sign of the Divine light shining from the Tomb of the Risen Savior. White vestments are also used for Baptisms and burials.

From Easter to the Feast of the Ascension, all services are performed in red vestments, symbolizing the inexpressible fiery love of God for the human race, the victory of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

9.14. What do candlesticks with two or three candles mean?

- These are dikiriy and trikiriy. Dikiriy is a candlestick with two candles, symbolizing the two natures in Jesus Christ: Divine and human. Trikirium - a candlestick with three candles, symbolizing faith in the Holy Trinity.

9.15. Why is there sometimes a cross decorated with flowers on the lectern in the center of the temple instead of an icon?

– This happens during the Week of the Cross during Great Lent. The cross is taken out and placed on a lectern in the center of the temple, so that, with a reminder of the suffering and death of the Lord, to inspire and strengthen those who are fasting to continue the feat of fasting.

On the holidays of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord and the Origin (Demolition) of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the Cross is also brought to the center of the temple.

9.16. Why does the deacon stand with his back to the worshipers in the church?

– He stands facing the altar, in which is the Throne of God and the Lord Himself is invisibly present. The deacon, as it were, leads the worshippers and, on their behalf, pronounces prayer requests to God.

9.17. Who are the catechumens who are called to leave the temple during worship?

– These are people who are not baptized, but who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. They cannot participate in church Sacraments, therefore, before the start of the most important church Sacrament - Communion - they are called upon to leave the temple.

9.18. What date does Maslenitsa start from?

– Maslenitsa is the last week before the start of Lent. It ends with Forgiveness Sunday.

9.19. Until what time is the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian read?

– The prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read until Wednesday of Holy Week.

9.20. When is the Shroud taken away?

– The Shroud is taken to the altar before the start Easter service on Saturday evening.

9.21. When can you venerate the Shroud?

– You can venerate the Shroud from the middle of Good Friday until the start of the Easter service.

9.22. Does Communion happen in Good Friday?

- No. Since the Liturgy is not served on Good Friday, because on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself.

9.23. Does Communion happen on Holy Saturday or Easter?

– On Holy Saturday and Easter, the Liturgy is served, therefore, there is Communion of the faithful.

9.24. Until what hour does the Easter service last?

– In different churches the end time of the Easter service is different, but most often it happens from 3 to 6 o’clock in the morning.

9.25. Why aren’t the Royal Doors open throughout the entire service on Easter Week during the Liturgy?

– Some priests are awarded the right to serve the Liturgy with the Royal Doors open.

9.26. On what days does the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great take place?

– The Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated only 10 times a year: on the eve of the holidays of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany of the Lord (or on the days of these holidays if they fall on Sunday or Monday), January 1/14 - on the day of remembrance of St. Basil the Great, on five Sundays Lent (Palm Sunday excluded), in Maundy Thursday and on Holy Saturday of Holy Week. The Liturgy of Basil the Great differs from the Liturgy of John Chrysostom in some prayers, their longer duration and longer choir singing, which is why it is served a little longer.

9.27. Why don’t they translate the service into Russian to make it more understandable?

– The Slavic language is a blessed, spiritualized language that the holy church people Cyril and Methodius created specifically for worship. People have become unaccustomed to the Church Slavonic language, and some simply do not want to understand it. But if you go to Church regularly, and not just occasionally, then the grace of God will touch the heart, and all the words of this pure, spirit-bearing language will become understandable. The Church Slavonic language, due to its imagery, precision in the expression of thought, artistic brightness and beauty, is much more suitable for communication with God than the modern crippled spoken Russian language.

But the main reason for the incomprehensibility is not the Church Slavonic language, it is very close to Russian - to fully perceive it, you need to learn only a few dozen words. The fact is that even if the entire service were translated into Russian, people would still not understand anything about it. The fact that people do not perceive worship is a language problem to the least extent; in the first place is ignorance of the Bible. Most of the chants are highly poetic renditions of biblical stories; Without knowing the source, it is impossible to understand them, no matter what language they are sung in. So who wants to understand Orthodox worship, he must, first of all, begin by reading and studying the Holy Scriptures, and it is quite accessible in Russian.

9.28. Why do the lights and candles sometimes go out in the church during services?

– At Matins, during the reading of the Six Psalms, candles in churches are extinguished, except for a few. The Six Psalms is the cry of a repentant sinner before Christ the Savior who came to earth. The lack of illumination, on the one hand, helps to think about what is being read, on the other, it reminds us of the gloom of the sinful state depicted by the psalms, and of the fact that external light does not suit a sinner. By arranging this reading in this way, the Church wants to incite believers to deepen themselves so that, having entered into themselves, they enter into a conversation with the merciful Lord, who does not want the death of a sinner (Ezek. 33:11), about the most necessary matter - the salvation of the soul through bringing it into line with Him. , Savior, relationships broken by sin. The reading of the first half of the Six Psalms expresses the sorrow of a soul that has moved away from God and is seeking Him. Reading the second half of the Six Psalms reveals the state of a repentant soul reconciled with God.

9.29. What psalms are included in the Six Psalms and why these particular ones?

– The first part of Matins opens with a system of psalms known as six psalms. The sixth psalm includes: Psalm 3 “Lord, who has multiplied all this,” Psalm 37 “Lord, let me not be angry,” Psalm 62 “O God, my God, I come to You in the morning,” Psalm 87 “O Lord God of my salvation,” Psalm 102 “Bless my soul the Lord,” Psalm 142 “Lord, hear my prayer.” The psalms were chosen, probably not without intention, from different places in the Psalter evenly; this is how they represent it all. The psalms were chosen to be of the same content and tone that prevails in the Psalter; namely, they all depict the persecution of the righteous by enemies and his firm hope in God, only growing from increasing persecution and in the end reaching jubilant peace in God (Psalm 103). All these psalms are inscribed with the name of David, excluding 87, which is the “sons of Korah,” and were sung by him, of course, during persecution by Saul (maybe Psalm 62) or Absalom (Psalms 3; 142), reflecting the spiritual growth of the singer in these disasters. Of the many psalms of similar content, these are chosen here because in some places they refer to night and morning (Ps. 3:6: “I fell asleep and arose, I arose”; Ps. 37:7: “I walked lamenting all day long”) ”, v. 14: “I have taught the flattering all day”; I cried out to You in the days and in the night,” v. 10: “All day long I lifted up my hands to You,” v. 13, 14: “Thy wonders will be known in the dark... and I have cried out to You, O Lord, and morning prayer mine will precede Thee"; Ps. 102:15: "His days are like a field of flowers"; Ps. 142:8: "I hear Thy mercy upon me in the morning"). Psalms of repentance alternate with thanksgiving.

Six Psalms listen in mp3 format

9.30. What is "polyeleos"?

- Polyeleos is the name given to the most solemn part of Matins - a divine service that takes place in the morning or evening; Polyeleos is served only at festive matins. This is determined by the liturgical regulations. On the eve of Sunday or a holiday, Matins is part of the all-night vigil and is served in the evening.

Polyeleos begins after reading the kathisma (Psalter) with the singing of verses of praise from the psalms: 134 - “Praise the name of the Lord” and 135 - “Confess the Lord” and ends with the reading of the Gospel. In ancient times, when the first words of this hymn “Praise the name of the Lord” were heard after the kathismas, numerous lamps (unction lamps) were lit in the temple. Therefore, this part of the all-night vigil is called “many oils” or, in Greek, polyeleos (“poly” - many, “oil” - oil). The Royal Doors open, and the priest, preceded by a deacon holding a lighted candle, burns incense to the altar and the entire altar, iconostasis, choir, worshipers and the entire temple. The open Royal Doors symbolize the open Holy Sepulcher, from where the kingdom of eternal life shines. After reading the Gospel, everyone present at the service approaches the icon of the holiday and venerates it. In memory of the fraternal meal of ancient Christians, which was accompanied by anointing with fragrant oil, the priest draws the sign of the cross on the forehead of everyone approaching the icon. This custom is called anointing. Anointing with oil serves as an external sign of participation in the grace and spiritual joy of the holiday, participation in the Church. Anointing with consecrated oil on polyeleos is not a sacrament; it is a rite that only symbolizes the invocation of God's mercy and blessing.

9.31. What is "lithium"?

– Litiya translated from Greek means fervent prayer. The current charter recognizes four types of litia, which, according to the degree of solemnity, can be arranged in the following order: a) “lithia outside the monastery,” set for some twelfth holidays and on Bright Week before the Liturgy; b) lithium at Great Vespers, connected with the vigil; c) litia at the end of the festive and Sunday matins; d) lithium for the repose after weekday Vespers and Matins. In terms of the content of the prayers and the rite, these types of litia are very different from each other, but what they have in common is the departure from the temple. In the first type (of those listed), this outflow is complete, and in the others it is incomplete. But here and here it is performed in order to express the prayer not only in words, but also in movement, to change its place to revive prayerful attention; The further purpose of the lithium is to express - by removing from the temple - our unworthiness to pray in it: we pray, standing before the gates of the holy temple, as if before the gates of heaven, like Adam, the tax collector, to the prodigal son. Hence the somewhat repentant and mournful nature of lithium prayers. Finally, in litia, the Church emerges from its blessed environment into the outside world or into the vestibule, as a part of the temple in contact with this world, open to everyone not accepted into the Church or excluded from it, for the purpose of a prayer mission in this world. Hence the nationwide and universal character (for the whole world) of lithium prayers.

9.32. What is the Procession of the Cross and when does it happen?

– A procession of the cross is a solemn procession of clergy and lay believers with icons, banners and other shrines. Processions of the Cross are held on annual special days established for them: on the Holy Resurrection of Christ - the Easter Procession of the Cross; on the feast of Epiphany for the great consecration of water in memory of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan, as well as in honor of shrines and great church or state events. There are also extraordinary religious processions established by the Church on especially important occasions.

9.33. Where did the Processions of the Cross come from?

– Just like holy icons, religious processions got their origins from the Old Testament. The ancient righteous often performed solemn and popular processions with singing, trumpeting and rejoicing. Stories about this are set out in the sacred books of the Old Testament: Exodus, Numbers, the books of Kings, Psalms and others.

The first prototypes of the religious processions were: the journey of the sons of Israel from Egypt to the promised land; the procession of all Israel following the ark of God, from which the miraculous division of the Jordan River occurred (Joshua 3:14-17); the solemn seven-fold circumambulation of the ark around the walls of Jericho, during which the miraculous fall of the impregnable walls of Jericho took place from the voice of the sacred trumpets and the proclamations of the entire people (Joshua 6:5-19); as well as the solemn nationwide transfer of the ark of the Lord by kings David and Solomon (2 Kings 6:1-18; 3 Kings 8:1-21).

9.34. What does the Easter Procession mean?

– The Holy Resurrection of Christ is celebrated with special solemnity. Begins Easter service back on Holy Saturday, late in the evening. At Matins, after the Midnight Office, the Easter Procession of the Cross takes place - worshipers, led by the clergy, leave the temple to make a solemn procession around the temple. Like the myrrh-bearing women who met the risen Christ the Savior outside Jerusalem, Christians meet the news of the coming of the Holy Resurrection of Christ outside the walls of the temple - they seem to be marching towards the risen Savior.

The Easter procession takes place with candles, banners, censers and the icon of the Resurrection of Christ under the continuous ringing of bells. Before entering the temple, the solemn Easter procession stops at the door and enters the temple only after the jubilant message has been sounded three times: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and giving life to those in the tombs!” The procession of the cross enters the temple, just as the myrrh-bearing women came to Jerusalem with joyful news to the disciples of Christ about the risen Lord.

9.35. How many times does the Easter Procession happen?

– The first Easter religious procession takes place on Easter night. Then, during the week (Bright Week), every day after the end of the Liturgy, the Easter Procession of the Cross is held, and before the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, the same Processions of the Cross are held every Sunday.

9.36. What does the Procession with the Shroud on Holy Week mean?

– This mournful and deplorable procession of the Cross takes place in remembrance of the burial of Jesus Christ, when His secret disciples Joseph and Nicodemus, accompanied by the Mother of God and the myrrh-bearing women, carried in their arms the deceased Jesus Christ on the cross. They walked from Mount Golgotha to Joseph's vineyard, where there was a burial cave in which, according to Jewish custom, they laid the body of Christ. In remembrance of this sacred event - the burial of Jesus Christ - a Procession of the Cross is held with the Shroud, which represents the body of the deceased Jesus Christ, as it was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb.

The Apostle says to the believers: "Remember my bonds"(Col. 4:18). If the Apostle commands Christians to remember his sufferings in chains, then how much more strongly should they remember the sufferings of Christ. During the suffering and death on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, modern Christians did not live and did not share sorrow with the apostles, therefore in the days of Holy Week they remember their sorrows and lamentations about the Redeemer.

Anyone called a Christian who celebrates the sorrowful moments of the Savior’s suffering and death cannot help but be a participant in the heavenly joy of His Resurrection, for, in the words of the Apostle: “We are joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.”(Rom.8:17).

9.37. On what emergency occasions are religious processions held?

– Extraordinary religious processions are carried out with the permission of the diocesan church authorities on occasions that are especially vital for the parish, the diocese or the entire Orthodox people - during an invasion of foreigners, during the attack of a destructive disease, during famine, drought or other disasters.

9.38. What do the banners with which religious processions take place mean?

– The first prototype of banners was after global flood. God, appearing to Noah during his sacrifice, showed a rainbow in the clouds and called it "a sign of an everlasting covenant" between God and people (Gen.9:13-16). Just as a rainbow in the sky reminds people of God’s covenant, so on banners the image of the Savior serves as a constant reminder of the deliverance of the human race at the Last Judgment from the spiritual fiery flood.

The second prototype of the banners was during Israel's exit from Egypt during the passage through the Red Sea. Then the Lord appeared in a pillar of cloud and covered all the army of Pharaoh with darkness from this cloud, and destroyed it in the sea, but saved Israel. So on the banners the image of the Savior is visible as a cloud that appeared from heaven to defeat the enemy - the spiritual Pharaoh - the devil with all his army. The Lord always wins and drives away the power of the enemy.

The third type of banners was the same cloud that covered the tabernacle and overshadowed Israel during the journey to the Promised Land. All Israel looked at the sacred cloud cover and with spiritual eyes understood in it the presence of God Himself.

Another prototype of the banner is the copper serpent, which was erected by Moses at the command of God in the desert. When looking at it, the Jews received healing from God, since the copper serpent represented the Cross of Christ (John 3:14,15). So, while carrying banners during the procession of the Cross, believers raise their bodily eyes to the images of the Savior, the Mother of God and the saints; with spiritual eyes they ascend to their prototypes existing in heaven and receive spiritual and physical healing from the sinful remorse of spiritual serpents - demons who tempt all people.

A practical guide to parish counseling. St. Petersburg 2009.

Attending a church service is one of the most important events for every Christian. It is aimed at introducing an adult or a child into the life of the temple, which implies communication with God, the study of religious dogmas, the search for unity with God and eternal salvation.

Church routine

The church is not just a place for prayer, it is believed that Christ dwells there. Everyone who comes to the temple must adhere to special rules of behavior (women cover their heads with a scarf, men take off their headdress, before entering, after leaving the threshold of the temple, you need to signify yourself sign of the cross etc.) and it is advisable to know the work schedule of the church. This will make it possible to avoid awkward situations and waste of time.

Almost all churches have the same daily routine. At 7-8 o'clock in the morning the priest begins the morning service, it lasts several hours. At the end of it, the clergyman conducts various sacraments at the request of the laity - weddings, baptisms, prayer services, memorial services, etc. The evening service begins at approximately 17.00, it ends at least 2 hours later. After this comes the hour of confessions and conversations with parishioners. But sometimes, if the priest went to church services (communion, unction of the sick, funeral with a trip to the cemetery), it may not be carried out.

When does the Palm Sunday service begin?

Divine services can be daily (they are held for believers according to a special schedule - morning, afternoon, evening, midnight office, liturgy, etc.) or festive, organized in honor of religious holidays. Church service does not imply passive listening to prayers, but active participation through thinking, turning to God and performing ritual actions. During the ceremony, prayers, psalms from the Bible are read, and church songs are sung.

Divine services are needed to bring a person closer to God, to grow in grace, as the priests say. They are carried out according to a special schedule, and on religious holidays it is special, as well as in honor of the celebration of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. It is also called Palm Sunday (since Jesus was greeted with green branches of a date palm, our prototype is the green willow, as one of the first trees awakening from winter sleep).

The festive liturgy begins around 7 a.m., in some churches it is repeated at 10-11 a.m., much depends on the daily routine of a particular parish. It is best to check the time with the priest, write it down, and always be guided by this, but there should not be large discrepancies. But the All-Night Vigil service the day before begins at 5-6 pm and continues until 5-6 am. The willow, which is traditionally carried by parishioners, may be blessed after the evening service on Saturday, but more often it is done at the end of the Sunday morning liturgy (depending on the parish).

What time do church services start on Easter?

Easter is the most significant holiday in Christianity, glorifying the resurrection of Christ. On the eve of Saturday, at about 20.00 in the evening (pre-Easter evening service), the priest begins the service by reading the Acts of the Holy Apostles. At approximately 23.00-00.00, the bells ring, calling the parishioners, and he proceeds to the night service (midnight office or all-night vigil). At approximately 12 o'clock at night the priest performs the first religious procession around the temple. At the end of the service, the pasques begin to be blessed. At 7-8 am there is a morning service, and at about 15.00 - an evening service. In the church service in honor of Easter, no reading is used, all services are only singing, bows are cancelled.

Church service means serving God through reading prayers, hymns, sermons, and sacred rites, according to the charter of the church. They are held for spiritual connection with God and expression of one’s faith. Liturgies in honor of holidays are held everywhere at approximately same time, although hours may vary slightly between parishes.

Perhaps all people want to be happy and joyful, get rid of laziness and sadness, and protect their loved ones from adversity. All this can be achieved by participating in the life of the Orthodox Church. Faith in the heart alone is not enough for Orthodox Christians - one must regularly attend Divine Services and participate in the Sacraments of Repentance and the Eucharist. And then, no matter what external conditions life - in any situation a person will be able to maintain a joyful and calm state of mind. And you can begin the path to such a worldview by attending Divine services.

Daily services, schedule

The daily cycle of services of the Orthodox Church consists of nine services.

In ancient times, in monastic and hermit life, they were performed each separately, strictly according to time. But over time, they were combined into evening, morning and afternoon services to make it more convenient for believers to attend services. Just as in the Bible the Lord began the creation of the world in the evening, also approximately from the time the sun set over the horizon, the day begins in the Orthodox Church.

Evening service:

Ninth hour (3 p.m.)
Vespers
Compline

Morning worship:

Midnight Office (midnight)
Matins
First hour (7 am)

Afternoon service:

Third hour (9 am)
Sixth hour (12 days)
Liturgy

Scheme of the daily cycle of Orthodox worship

According to the Byzantine calculation of time, a day consists of 12 day and 12 night hours, which are grouped into 8 watches, also day and night. Since in summer the night hours are shorter than the day hours, and in winter - vice versa, the schedule shown in the diagram is correct only during the period of the spring and autumn equinox.

The daily cycle of worship - its meaning and content

The ninth hour is a memory of the most important event- Death on the Cross of the Savior.
Vespers is gratitude to the Lord for almost the past day.

At Compline, believers ask God for forgiveness of sins, protection from the devil’s wiles, and the granting of peace to soul and body during sleep.
The Midnight Office is the believers' remembrance of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The symbolism of the service calls on everyone to always be prepared for the onset of the Last Judgment.
Matins is gratitude to the Lord for the past night and prayer for the coming one.
The first hour is prayers for the day that has already begun.
The third hour is a remembrance of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.
The sixth hour is a memory of the Savior’s crucifixion.

Liturgy is the most important service, a remembrance of the entire period of Jesus Christ’s stay on earth. It is at the Liturgy that Communion is celebrated - the Sacrament established at the Last Supper by Jesus Christ himself.

Annual weekly and daily cycle of worship

The order of services of the Orthodox Church throughout the year is called the annual circle of worship. All days, without exception, are dedicated to the memory of one of the Saints, fasts or holidays.
Among all the holidays, the greatest is Holy Easter.

There are also 12 great (twelfth) holidays in honor of the Savior and the Mother of God, as well as celebrations in honor of saints and angels. The great are always accompanied special service— All-night vigil.
Holidays can be fixed or moving (calculated from the day of Easter).
Weekly circle - the order of church services during the week. All days are dedicated to particularly revered saints or biblical events.
Resurrection - a memory of the Resurrection of the Savior.
Monday is dedicated to angels.
Tuesday is a remembrance of John the Baptist and other prophets.
Wednesday and Friday are fast days; they remember the Savior's Passion on the Cross.
Wednesday is also dedicated to the Mother of God.
Thursday is the day of remembrance of the apostles and saints.
On Saturday, the apostles are also remembered, as well as martyrs, forefathers, prophets, the righteous, the saints and all the saints. All deceased Orthodox Christians are also commemorated.
The daily circle is nine consecutive Divine Services. This includes Vespers and Matins, Compline and Midnight Office, the hours (first, third, sixth, ninth), as well as the Liturgy.

Is the Liturgy included in the daily cycle of worship?

The Divine Liturgy ends the daily cycle of worship.

Church service Liturgy, brief essence with explanations

The main thing that happens at the Liturgy is the transformation of ordinary bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, as well as the Eucharist - the Communion of the faithful.
The service begins with the preparation of the items necessary for the Sacrament of Communion, then preparation for the Sacrament and Communion itself take place. Conventionally, the Divine Liturgy consists of three parts:

1. Proskomedia. It requires five prosphoras (this is special bread for the liturgy). They symbolize the five loaves with which Jesus fed 5 thousand people. Symbolic particles are taken out of each, and the priest asks the Lord to bless them.

Also, wine mixed with water is poured into the cup as a symbol of the fact that blood and water poured out from the wounds of Jesus Christ.

2. Liturgy of the Catechumens. Baptized believers, as well as only those undergoing the process of preparation for this rite, can pray on it. First, the deacon asks for a blessing at the beginning of the service. Then, after the priest glorifies the Holy Trinity, he pronounces the Great Litany. This hour ends with the phrase of mass with the phrase “Catechism, go forth.”
3. The Liturgy of the Faithful is served only for baptized Orthodox Christians. The gifts are transferred to the throne from the altar and consecrated. There is Communion of the faithful, thanksgiving for the Eucharist and dismissal.

What is liturgy in simple words?

This is the most important divine service in the Orthodox Church, at which God is glorified and believers who partake of Communion are united with Jesus Christ.

Liturgy with video explanations

Types of Liturgy in Orthodoxy

There are three types of Divine Liturgy:

1. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. On it, believers partake of the Holy Gifts, consecrated earlier. This mass is celebrated during part of the days of Great Lent. On it, believers partake of the Holy Gifts, consecrated earlier, at other types of Liturgies.

2. Liturgy of Basil the Great. This type of mass is celebrated on some Lenten days, on the eve or on the days of the Nativity of Christ, as well as Epiphany. It is also served on the day of remembrance of St. Basil the Great.
3. Liturgy of John Chrysostom. It takes place on all other days of the year.

When is the Liturgy celebrated?

The second name of the Liturgy is mass. This service bears this name because it must be performed before lunch, before noon, between the sixth and ninth hour. Sometimes the liturgy drags on until lunchtime - for example, during fasting and holidays, when a huge number of people begin to receive Communion.

How long does the Liturgy last?

On average, the Liturgy lasts up to 4 hours, but can be limited to two hours. The duration increases if, for example, many parishioners confess and receive communion, if the rite of introducing babies and mothers into the church after childbirth is performed, if the service is minimally shortened (usually in monastic churches it lasts much longer than in ordinary churches). Much depends on the choir and directly on the regent, on the chosen chants. The length of the sermon is also important. As a rule, on holidays, Sundays and Lenten days, the service lasts longer.

Schedule of Liturgies in the temple

Being late for the liturgy is a sin. Therefore, in order to arrive on time, parishioners should familiarize themselves with the schedule of liturgies. It is usually published on the notice board and/or on the temple website. In churches with a small amount for parishioners, the Liturgy is often served only on Sundays and holidays, as well as daily during Holy Week before Easter. In large churches, in cathedrals with a large number of parishioners and in monasteries, the Liturgy is served daily. On holidays and Sundays in such churches (especially if several churches are located on one site) there are 2-4 Liturgies.
An example of a schedule of liturgies in a monastery:
6.30 Liturgy in the Holy Protection Church.
8.00 Liturgy in the Church of St. Nicholas.
9.30 Liturgy in the Holy Protection Church.

Liturgy on Parents' Saturday

Parents' Saturdays are days of special commemoration of deceased Orthodox Christians. They differ primarily in funeral services - lithiums, memorial services, parastases. The main prayers for deceased Christians are offered on the Friday before. However, according to the read troparions, canons and stichera of the liturgy parent's Saturdays are also different. These days, most parishioners try to submit notes and light candles for repose, pray for deceased relatives and all previously deceased Orthodox Christians.

Liturgy during the days of Great Lent

On Lenten days, mass often lasts much longer than in other periods, because a huge number of believers want to confess and receive communion. Special sermons, extraordinary services on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week - all this encourages many even unchurched people to attend church.

What does it mean to order the Liturgy?

In the Orthodox Church, some services can be ordered everywhere - for example, a memorial service for the deceased or a funeral litany. In some churches today you can “order a liturgy.” It is served separately from the general one specifically for the person who ordered it and, for example, his relatives and is often associated with the commemoration of the deceased. Sometimes the phrase “Custom liturgy” means a special requirement. For each name indicated in the note, a particle is taken from the Holy Bread (prosphora), which at the end of the Liturgy is placed into a chalice with the Blood of Christ; They are also commemorated during the special litany.

Communion at the Liturgy

Communion is the culmination of the Liturgy, its main action is the partaking of the Holy Mysteries by believers. Participants in this Sacrament merge with God, receive healing from physical and spiritual illnesses, strength for self-improvement, and struggle with their own shortcomings and passions. Of all the numerous church services, communion occurs only at the Divine Liturgy, which greatly enhances its significance.

Christians prepare for Communion at the Liturgy by fasting, reading special prayers and participating in the Sacrament of Confession. As for small children, they receive communion without any special preparation; As it increases, it is possible to introduce a minimum measure of fasting.

Confession at the Liturgy

Confession, unlike Communion, can occur not only during the liturgy, but also before it, and during the evening service. Since repentance cleanses the soul and prepares it to receive the Holy Gifts, confession at the liturgy is often chosen by those parishioners who are afraid of sinning in the time period before Communion.

To confess at the Liturgy, before this service, believers carefully analyze their behavior in the past, and then mentally or in writing make a list of their sins. The priest reads a prayer of repentance over the confessors, and then the Sacrament itself begins. During Confession, Orthodox Christians take turns approaching the lectern (a special table) and tell the priest their sins, after which the priest reads a prayer of absolution over each one. Some penitents may not be allowed to receive Communion. The rest of the parishioners receive the blessing to receive communion.

Festive Liturgy, briefly with explanations

The liturgy on the holiday is distinguished by a special selection of prayers and chants. For example, the Liturgy on the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas is distinguished by the remembrance of this saint and the reading of special prayers addressed to him.

What time does the Liturgy begin?

The Liturgy is always served in the morning until noon, but it is different in all churches and cathedrals. Most often it starts at 8.00 or 9.00, but it can also start at other times (for example, at 5.30 or 9.30). Before informing parishioners, each church has a Schedule of Services, most often updated weekly.

What time does church service start on Sunday?

The Liturgy is always served in the morning until noon, but in all churches and cathedrals at different times. Most often it starts at 8.00 or 9.00, but sometimes at other times (for example, 5.30 or 9.30). To inform parishioners, each church has a Schedule of Services, most often updated weekly.

One or more services may be served on Sunday. In all churches on this day, at least one Liturgy is served in the morning, more often - two, early and late. In addition to this, there may be Vespers, Matins and the Hours, and in monastery churches there may be Compline and the Midnight Office. The sacraments of Marriage and Baptism, for example, are also among the services. They are often scheduled for a time after the liturgy.

To find out the start time of services, you need to look at the schedule of services in the church, ask the priest, or visit the church website.

What time does church service start today, on weekdays?

In many churches, evening and morning services are held on weekdays. Their start time is indicated in the Schedule of Services, most often posted on the notice board near the temple. You can find out about the start time of baptisms, weddings and other services (private services) directly from the priest.

What time does church service start on holidays?

As a rule, the largest number of parishioners attend church on holidays. There are often more services these days than usual. The start time of services in each church is different, and it is best to find out the schedule directly on the spot.

What time does church service start on Saturday?

It is on Saturday evening that the church serves Sunday Matins with anointing of oil. This ritual of depicting a cross on the forehead of believers symbolizes the outpouring of God's mercy on the anointed one. Therefore, such services are especially crowded, often parents bring small children. This service usually starts in the evening, for example, at 17.00, 18.00 or another time established in the temple. The Saturday Liturgy is served in the morning until noon, usually at the same time as on weekdays.

How long does the church service last?

The service can last for several hours or several tens of minutes - it all depends on the type of service. For example, the Liturgy can last from early morning until almost lunch, and the Memorial Service after it can be relatively short.

What time does the evening service start in church?

Evening services in parish churches usually consist of Vespers, as well as Matins and the first hour. Sometimes this includes, for example, Akathists. Usually the evening service starts at 17.00, 17.30 or 18.00, but it can also be at other times.

What time does church service end?

The daily cycle of services in some monasteries can be called continuous. But in many small churches there may be only a few services a day: in the morning - Divine Liturgy, later - Vespers and Matins. The liturgy ends approximately before noon - for example, at 10 or 12 o'clock. Evening worship most often ends at approximately 19-20 hours.

Does the church have a day off?

In large churches, services take place daily. In small towns and villages, it is not difficult to find churches that do not have services on weekdays. However, these days you can easily turn to a priest, say, with a request to help prepare for Baptism or to give advice in a difficult life situation. Most likely, despite the absence of a service, the priest will make an appointment for the questioner to meet in the temple. Services (weddings, funeral services, etc.) in such churches can also be scheduled on a weekday. So we can say with confidence that the church has no days off.

On what days can the church be closed?

One of the conditions necessary for the celebration of the liturgy is the presence of parishioners. So if only the priest and choir members attend church on a weekday, the Liturgy in such churches is not daily. Both Matins and Vespers may not be served, so the church on weekdays, for example, in a small village may be closed. However, on Saturday evenings, as well as on Sunday mornings, services are held in all churches.

Church Schedule

If services are performed in all 12 months of the year, weekly and daily - is it really possible? Orthodox Christian obliged to attend everything without exception? Of course this is not true. The Bible mentions that the main thing is to attend Sunday services, that is, those held on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Also great value has attendance at services on Orthodox holidays, during Holy Week in Lent— it is advisable not to skip them without special reasons.

It is important to regularly sincerely confess and receive communion, and then, as a Christian becomes a member of the Church, he will have a desire to attend services more and more often. After all, an Orthodox Christian, who tries to live according to the Commandments of God, devotes special attention prayer and participating in the Sacraments, in church he feels special Divine Grace. It is she who calls on millions of believers to rush to church at every opportunity and pray without fatigue, with joy, during long services. So scheduling church attendance is a very individual, personal matter.

Of course, from the first days in the Orthodox Church, a believer will not be able to understand the features of numerous services, will not understand and will not remember all the subtleties. However, if a person makes an effort and does not retreat on the path of churching, following the path of life under the guidance of a confessor, over time the complex and confusing at first glance church life will become more and more understandable, and the Lord Himself will support and strengthen along the path.

Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.

What time does the church service start?

What is worship

Types of services

What is evening service

What is called morning

How is a church service held?

Answers to questions

Where can you pray to God?

How many times a day should Orthodox Christians pray?

Time for reading Orthodox prayers in church and at home

Morning prayer time

Evening prayer time

Prayer all day long

Continuous Prayer

How long should prayer be?

Log in

What time does the liturgy and other services in the church begin?

What time does the liturgy begin and on what days is it served?

Liturgy takes place in every church

Liturgy takes place at least every Sunday

Liturgy is served in the morning

During Lent, Liturgies are not served every day.

And sometimes Liturgies are served at night

How long does the liturgy last in church?

What time does morning service start in church?

What time does the evening service start in church?

Popular Topics

Most Popular

Follow us on Facebook!

Text archive

Our publics

Tip 1: What time does the first morning service in church start?

Tradition of early Christian worship

What time do morning services begin in modern churches?

Tip 2: What time does the first morning service start?

Daily cycle of worship

Church services for Christian holidays in 2017

Moving church holidays:

What time does the church service start? Features of Orthodox services

Video

What time does morning prayer start in church?

First steps in the temple

About the need to visit the temple of God

About the structure of the temple

First steps in the Orthodox Church: twelve facts you need to know.

Morning prayer in church

Church routine

When does the Palm Sunday service begin?

What time do church services start on Easter?

Scheme of the daily cycle of Orthodox worship

The daily cycle of worship - its meaning and content

Annual weekly and daily cycle of worship

Is the Liturgy included in the daily cycle of worship?

Church service Liturgy, brief essence with explanations

What is liturgy in simple words?

Liturgy with video explanations

Types of Liturgy in Orthodoxy

When is the Liturgy celebrated?

How long does the Liturgy last?

Schedule of Liturgies in the temple

Liturgy on Parents' Saturday

Liturgy during the days of Great Lent

What does it mean to order the Liturgy?

Communion at the Liturgy

Confession at the Liturgy

Festive Liturgy, briefly with explanations

What time does the Liturgy begin?

What time does church service start on Sunday?

What time does church service start today, on weekdays?

What time does church service start on holidays?

What time does church service start on Saturday?

How long does the church service last?

What time does the evening service start in church?

What time does church service end?

Does the church have a day off?

On what days can the church be closed?

Church Schedule

Related articles

Read also