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 the best way to express petitions, thanksgivings and praises addressed to the Lord; teach and educate believers in the truths Orthodox faith and rules 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 – recollection of the events (by the hour) of Good Friday (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, evening service, 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 Sunday 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 external rites, the entire earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ is depicted: His birth, teaching, deeds, suffering, death, burial, Resurrection and Ascension to 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 the types of material sacrifice accepted in natural religions, the Christian Church retained only this 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 color?

– The groups are assigned a certain color of clergy vestments. Each of the seven colors of liturgical vestments corresponds to spiritual meaning the event in honor of which the service is being held. 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 they mean? various colors priestly vestments?

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 Holy Mother of God 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 the fact that 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 is celebrated ( Palm Sunday), because green color- 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 color 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 Holy Cross and the Origin (Destruction) of the Honest Trees Life-giving Cross The Lord's 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 worshipers 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 most important thing begins, Church Sacrament– Communion – they are called 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 night.

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 is excluded), Maundy Thursday and Great 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 main reason The incomprehensibility lies not in the Church Slavonic language, it is very close to Russian - in order 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. Therefore, anyone who wants to understand Orthodox worship 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 hand, 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 the increase of 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 long"; ps. 62:1: "I will pray to You in the morning", v. 7: "I have commemorated You on my bed, in the morning I have learned from You"; ps. 87:2: " 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 flower"; Ps. 142:8: "I hear that in the morning show Thy mercy to me"). 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 mornings. 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,” scheduled 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 publican, 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 national and universal character (for the whole world) of lithium prayers.

9.32. What's happened Procession 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. Religious processions are held on the annual dates established for them. special days: on the Holy Resurrection of Christ - Easter Procession; 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. The Easter service begins 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 greet the news of the coming of the Light Christ's Resurrection 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 processions of the Cross 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 the 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 him, 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.

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 the external conditions of life are, 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 the summer the night hours are shorter than the day hours, and in the winter - vice versa, the schedule shown in the diagram is correct only during the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The daily cycle of worship - its meaning and content

The ninth hour is a memory of the most important event - the death of the Savior on the Cross.
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 ready 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 ones are always accompanied by a special service - the 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 - fast days, they recall the Savior's suffering on the Cross.
Wednesday is also dedicated to 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 the 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 number of parishioners, Liturgies are 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 eating of the Saints by the faithful Christ's Mysteries. 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 (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 it, there may be Vespers, Matins and the Hours, in monastery churches - Compline and 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 begins 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 situation. 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 Saturday evening, as well as on Sunday morning 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 importance 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 life's path 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 you along the way.

15.05.2013

Public worship in the parish church is usually held on Sundays and holidays. It is important to know that the liturgical (liturgical) day begins the evening before. For example, Sunday service begins on Saturday evening.

The beginning of evening services in Moscow and St. Petersburg churches, as a rule, occurs at 17 or 18 (less often at 16) hours, depending on the schedule of a particular church. It lasts differently in different temples, but in general it lasts from 2 to 4 hours.

Morning worship begins, also depending on the schedule of temple services, at 9 or 10 o’clock (less often at 8), and lasts about 2-3 hours. Moreover, in many churches, if a church holiday falls on a weekday, the morning service begins earlier so that parishioners have time to attend it before the start of the working day.

The schedule of services can usually be found on the doors of the temple or in the candle shop. Many churches and monasteries have websites on which, among other things, they publish schedules of services.

It is better to come to the temple at the beginning of the service and leave after its completion. However, there is not always enough energy and time for this. Many holy ascetics and theologians said that here, to put it modern language, “quality is more important than quantity.” Therefore, if time constraints do not allow you to attend the service from beginning to end, it’s okay, you can come and leave at any time.

For various services, we will get to know in more detail what kind of service is performed at what time. And accordingly, which moments of the service are most important to attend.

The liturgical charter (Typikon in Greek), which had developed in its current form by the 16th-17th centuries, measures the time of services by the hours of the day. But it also contains more subtle regulations and recommendations regarding the time of services.

For example, the service of holy days, which lasted all night, should have begun “as soon as the sun has set,” that is, at sunset. At the same time, the clergyman in charge of the service had to ensure that the solemn exclamation “Glory to Thee, who showed us the light” and the chants that followed it sounded strictly at the moment when the sun began to rise. Based on this, time was allocated for all elements of the service.

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Let us consider the most often celebrated All-Night Vigil - Sunday. It is served on the eve of Sunday, on Saturday evening. The All-Night Vigil of most holidays is structurally very similar to Sunday, with rare exceptions...

An important question is the “measure” of the discrepancy between liturgical and spoken language, the possibility and necessity of making the language of worship more understandable. This is a matter of serious and very lengthy church discussion...

After describing the structure of services, it is worth asking one thing only: important issue- perhaps central to this book. The question was formulated by one of the readers of the first version of this book before its publication...

We will try to answer in detail the question: what time does morning prayer begin in church on the website: the site is for our dear readers.

Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.

What time does the church service start?

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What is worship

The main task of the church is revival church life countries, increasing 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 the evening service in church start? 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 events Sacred history Old Testament: about the creation of the world by the Lord, original sin ancestors, about 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 the worldly life of Christ, but also offer to unite with him during the passage of 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 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.

By 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.

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

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Tradition of early Christian worship

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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); polyeleos is performed - special chant“Praise the name of the Lord,” after which the choir sings the Sunday troparia “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.

Ends Saturday evening service 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 eight. 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.

What time does morning prayer start in church?

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"A Word about Words": Matins and Mass

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What is church matins? It seems that the answer is simple: a service that is probably served in the morning. But it's not that simple! Matins is the common name for Matins, a daily divine service, which, according to the rules and meaning, is truly a morning service. In Greek churches they serve it this way - in the morning, before the Liturgy.

But in the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, Matins has long ago and firmly joined Vespers, so that now Matins is served in the evenings (and on Christmas and Easter - at night). Thus, in the evening during Matins in churches they sing and read prayers and hymns, which in meaning refer to the holiday of the next day. It was at matins on the eve of Sundays and church holidays A polyeleos is served, at the end of which the foreheads of the worshipers are anointed with consecrated oil - oil. On the eve of major holidays, Matins in combination with Vespers is served especially long and solemnly, and such a service is called the All-Night Vigil.

In Russian literature you can also find the word “matins”, which does not mean any matins, but only Easter ones.

Since Matins is not served in the morning, the reader will not be surprised by the fact that Mass is not served at lunchtime at all, but before it - in the morning. Mass is the popular name for the Divine Liturgy, the main church service, at the end of which Christians partake of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In different churches, the Liturgy may begin at different times, and the approximate time reference is 8 o’clock in the morning. On Sundays and holidays, Ryazan churches usually serve two Liturgies (mass): the early one begins at about 6-7 o’clock in the morning, and the late one at about 8-9 o’clock in the morning.

On Easter and Christmas, the night Liturgy is celebrated - it joins the festive matins.

It is also customary to use the word “mass” to refer to the commemoration of the living and the dead, which is always performed at every mass, that is, the Liturgy. Therefore, in church shops you can often hear the phrase “order a mass” - that is, submit a list of names for commemoration at the Liturgy.

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Liturgy and Communion

Liturgy and Communion. How to properly prepare for Sunday service in church? What happens on Sunday morning in church? What do you need to know to come to church service on Sunday?

Liturgy and Communion - what is the difference?

Liturgy is the name of a church service, and communion is the reception (with proper preparation) of the holy gifts. Communion is like a fresh new shirt - you can’t put it on a dirty body. Communion is given as a reward for fasting and intensive reading of prayers.

1. How to prepare correctly for the church service on Sunday (for the Liturgy) if you want to receive communion?

If you decide to visit the temple on Sunday “in full”, then you should prepare in advance. The Sunday morning “strongest” service in the church is called Liturgy (when they receive communion, that is, the priest gives “the blood and body of Christ” = a piece of bread in wine). We can talk a lot about the benefits of communion, but here we will talk about how to prepare for it:

You must fast at least Friday and Saturday: do not eat animal food, do not sin: do not drink, do not engage in “marital intimacy,” try not to swear, do not offend or be offended.

On Saturday, read 3 canons at night (it will take about 40 minutes) (the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ, the canon of prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, the canon to the Guardian Angel) + another 35 minutes “Following to Holy Communion.”

After midnight, do not eat, drink or smoke, that is, go to bed before 00-00.

2.When should I come to church before the Sunday morning service (Liturgy)? When does Sunday morning service start?

We arrive at church around 7-20 (but better check the schedule).

Until then you need to:

Be strictly on an empty stomach, incl. no smoking. You can only brush your teeth, and then try not to swallow anything.

- writing notes for health and peace (simple ones are possible)

We approach and kiss the central icon.

- light candles whoever we want (I usually put 3 candles: on the main candlestick, for the saint at will and for the repose). There is no need to light candles during the service itself, as this distracts everyone.

We line up for confession. It usually starts at 7:30 (again, check the schedule of services in your church). Let's confess.

We take a place: men on the right side of the temple, women on the left.

The liturgy lasts about 2 hours. All this time we listen to prayers, think “about life, what we did wrong where” and all the time we repeat “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” Time usually passes fast.

- When everyone began to read “Our Father”, it means that communion will be held very soon.

When the priest brings out 2 large bowls for the first time, we simply bow our heads.

When the priest brings out small cup (it contains the sacrament) - then we bow, kneeling down.

They may carry alms trays around the church. Donate as much money as you like there.

3.What to do during the communion itself?

Participle: First, small children receive communion, then men, then women. Only those who have prepared correctly have the right to receive communion. Don't anger God.

When approaching communion, we cross our arms over our chests (the right one is at the top). We approach the bowl as close as possible. We do not cross ourselves, so as not to touch the thicket. We say the name, open our mouth, eat Communion from a spoon, let ourselves be wiped, kiss the cup and let's go eat and drink.

On a special table we take a small cup of water and a piece of prosphora. They eat and drink so that the pieces of Communion get completely inside and do not accidentally fly out with saliva or something else. It’s better to drink it first and then eat the prosphora.

We wait until the end of the service to kiss the cross. The priest can say “Participants, listen to the words of the prayer of thanksgiving” - then let’s go listen to the prayer. If this does not happen, then at home we read “Prayers of Thanksgiving for Holy Communion.”

4.What to do after receiving Holy Communion?

We no longer kneel anywhere: neither in front of icons, nor during the rest of the service. - We wait for the end of the service and kiss the priest’s cross. - we read thanksgiving prayers for Holy Communion

You can go home. Immediately after communion, do not immediately smoke or drink alcohol - at least eat normally first. Do not desecrate the Sacrament.

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What time does the morning (morning) service in a church or temple begin?

In the Kiev-Pechora Lavra, the morning service begins at four o'clock in the morning. Actually in Pechory. In other churches and cathedrals it starts at six, seven, and eight in the morning. Depending on the type of service itself.

The Church Charter outlines the times of all daily church services. There it is written that the Divine Liturgy is celebrated “neither before the end of the day nor below noon.” That is, no earlier than dawn and no later than noon. Of course, exceptions include days such as Easter and other major church holidays.

When and what time does the church service start? How long does the service last?

When does the service in the church begin, what time does the service in the Orthodox church begin?

How long does the church service last?

The service in each Temple may begin at a slightly different time. If we are talking about Sunday service, it usually begins between eight and nine o’clock in the morning, depending on the priorities of a particular Church. And the service lasts on average about two hours. Holiday services usually last longer and start earlier.

This is information regarding morning services. But evening services for the most part begin at five o’clock in the evening and last for the same.

Usually the morning service takes place on Sunday and Saturday, as well as the evening before. And services dedicated to a specific holiday are usually held in the morning on the day of the holiday and the evening before.

I will answer this question in simple words, because I know how difficult it is to understand such issues.

Services on ordinary days (not holidays) are morning and evening services. On Sunday there may be several morning services (liturgies).

Typical service duration is 1-2 hours. In ordinary churches it is less, in monasteries it is longer, since services are not shortened there. In any case, if you want to defend your service, get ready stand, pretty long. Of course, no one will forbid you to leave the temple if it becomes absolutely unbearable.

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question: when does church service start, it won’t work, since each church has its own schedule of Services. You can find it out on the Internet (yes, yes!), by calling the phone (you can find it again on the Internet), or go to the church - the schedule of services for the week ahead is always posted for parishioners.

To confirm everything said above, I will give service schedule for this week in a small church:

And this is schedule of services for the same week in a fairly large monastery:

There are different services, some in the evening and some in the morning.

So the morning service usually starts at seven o’clock in the morning (but if you want to confess, you should come a little earlier to have time to do this), then the service takes place, usually it lasts a little over two hours, during which time they receive communion. If you want to give Holy Communion to a small child, you don’t have to stand at the service.

And the evening service begins differently, in one cathedral, for example, at three o’clock in the afternoon, and in another at four, that is, each has its own schedule.

The duration is the same as the morning one.

If the service takes place on a holiday, it may last longer.

Unfortunately, there is no exact time, because each church, in each locality, begins the service in its own way.

But, usually, the service lasts about 1 – 2 hours. If the service is on Easter, then on average 4 – 5 hours.

If the service is on Sunday, then there may be several liturgies per day - morning, afternoon and evening.

The service starts differently, from 8 am, but in my church the service usually starts at 10 am - this is on Saturday and Sunday.

For Orthodox man It would be good to start the day with prayer. It is especially useful to be present in church during worship services. The service begins at 8 or 9 am, in different churches it is different. In large churches there may even be two morning services on holidays. In such cases, the first liturgy is at 6-7 am and can be attended before work, and the second late one begins around 9 am. There are also evening services, they start at 5-6 pm. In terms of duration, regular morning services last 3 hours, usually up to 12, and evening services last 2 hours.

Depends on what service we're talking about. It can be morning, evening, holiday and all-night vigil. Each service has its own time frame, like this:

As a rule, the service lasts about two hours, maybe a little less (morning) or a little more (evening). At the same time, being late for service is not a terrible phenomenon; none of the church ministers will judge you.

Although there is a Church Charter, according to which churches adhere to the schedule of services, discrepancies are allowed and individual characteristics temples.

It is impossible to give an exact answer to this question, since in each church the service begins according to its “own schedule.”

The service usually starts at 7:00 - 8:00. At this time, morning services begin in many churches. Some churches begin the first morning service at 8:00-9:00.

Somewhere they even start later: at 09:00..10:00.

As for the duration of the service, it usually lasts about an hour and a half (1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 40 minutes).

Basically, in all churches in Russia, the first morning service begins at 8-9 am. On average, the service usually lasts 1-2 hours. When Lent passes (on all days of the week except Wednesday and Friday), Holy Week services can begin much earlier from 7 a.m. All churches usually conclude services by lunchtime.

But if we talk about the evening service, it usually starts at 18-19 pm and also lasts 1-2 hours.

In some churches, the service begins differently. For example, morning work most often starts at 7 o’clock. Its duration is about two hours.

But it also happens that the service starts at 10 am, or there is a night service, for example on Christmas.

Evening service may begin at 16-17 hours.

Usually church services begin at eight in the morning. Sometimes they start later. On average, the service lasts two hours. In addition to morning services, there are also evening services. They start at about five o'clock in the evening and last two hours.

Liturgy is the main thing Church service. What time does the liturgy begin and how long does it last? Why and when does the liturgy take place in the evening or at night?

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

The Divine Liturgy is the central service, since during it the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrament occur (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 location where the temple is located and the number of parishioners. In other words, the Liturgy takes place in the church as often as is actually needed.

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 temple. But this does not mean that the composition of the service changes radically. For example, on especially solemn days, part of the prayers, which are sometimes read by the reader, are this time sung in chorus.

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 Gospel at the same pace, the other more measuredly . And so on.

But if we speak in general outline, then on days the Liturgy lasts longer than on ordinary days - 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) sometimes it takes place not during the service, but before it, and therefore those who want to confess or receive 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 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 thing is to come to the beginning of 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 are going 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.

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