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Praying the Lenten Sixth Hour
Glory to Jesus Christ!
As we embark on the journey of the Great Fast (Lent), let us take the Lord’s words to forgive one another to heart and also pray more!
The services of the liturgical day are usually contained in a bound collection called the Book of Hours or the Horologion (Greek) or Chasoslav (Slovanic). The daily cycle of prayer follows this pattern:
- Vespers (sunset)
- Compline (after-dinner) – also known as Apodeipnon
- Midnight Office (12:00am) – also known as Mesonyktikon
- Orthros (sunrise) – also known as Matins
- First Hour (6:00am)
- Third Hour (9:00am)
- Sixth Hour (12:00pm)
- Ninth Hour (3:00pm)
During the weekdays of the Great Fast, Isaiah is read at the Sixth Hour, and Genesis and Proverbs are read at Vespers (or Presanctified Liturgy, which is a unique and beautiful service that makes full use of the church’s cantors. The basic structure is that it contains the daily vespers, special prayers, and Holy Communion. There are also several Bible reads, most of which come from the Old Testament.).