Vespers

The liturgical day begins at sundown, or 6 p.m. The first service of the evening is called vespers. It begins with the recitation of Psalm 103 (“Bless the Lord, O my soul”), which commemorates the creation of the world, followed by a set series of hymns. Among these are hymns to the Virgin Mary as well as the beautiful hymn “O Gladsome Light” (Phos Hilaron), which links the setting of the material sun with the unending light of the Eternal Lord. Vespers concludes with the song of Saint Simeon the Righteous (“Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation”). If it is the eve of a featsday, additional hymns will be sung in honour of the feast and appointed readings from the Old Testament will be read. Each feastday possesses a specific hymn called an “apolytikion” (dismissal), summarizing the content of the feast, which is repeated at Matins and during the Divine Liturgy. For example, the apolytikion of Easter is “Christ is Risen from The Dead.”

Matins

The following service is that of matins, which begins early in the morning. Matins begin with the recitation of six Psalms (3, 37, 62, 87, 102, 142), followed by a series of hymns and a Gospel reading. The content of these hymns, as well as the Gospel reading, alternate according to a fixed 8-week cycle called the “Octaechos” (Eight Tones).

Next comes a series of hymns called a “canon”. The individual verses of the canon are called “troparia”, and vary according to the feastday and the season of the year. The canon of every matins is organized into eight thematic sections reflecting the ancient Biblical Odes (strictly speaking, there are 9 odes, but Ode 2 is only recited during the First Week of Lent due to its severe and penitential character). Each ode begins with a verse called an "irmos" (link), which establishes the melodic patter of the following verses in the section. The odes are:

Ode I: The First Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)

Ode II: The Second Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43)

Ode III: The Prayer of Hannah (I Kings 2:1-10)

Ode IV: The Prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-19)

Ode V: The Prayer of Isaiah (Isaiah 26:9-20)

Ode VI: The Prayer of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9)

Ode VII: The Prayer of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:26-56)

Ode VIII: The Song of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:57-88)

Ode IX: The Song of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:46-55); the Song of Zacharias (Luke 1:68-79)

After the final song of the Virgin Mary, there follows the Great Doxology (“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men”), after which the Divine Liturgy immediately follows.

Hours, Compline, Midnight Office

In addition to Vespers and Matins, the Church has other Daily Services. These are the services of Hours, Compline, and the Midnight Office. The Hours consist mainly in the reading of Psalms. The First Hour thanks God for the light of the day and contains prayers that we may pass the day without sin. The Third Hour commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Sixth Hour commemorates the Crucifixion of Christ, and the Ninth Hour His death on the Cross. Three times a year, on the eve of Christmas and Theophany, and on the morning of Holy Friday, the Church celebrates the so-called Royal Hours, a solemn service that combines the services of all the Hours and contains hymns and scriptural readings specific to the feastday being celebrated.

After Vespers comes Compline. This service begins with the recitation of several psalms centred on repentance, followed by prayers to God and the Virgin Mary. During Lent and on the eve of Christmas, Theophany, and the Annunciation, a longer form of Compline is celebrated, called “Great Compline”.

The Midnight Office is celebrated at Midnight and consists in the recitation of Psalm 50, the Creed, and several prayers. The theme of the service is spiritual vigilance and draws on the image of the foolish Virgins ("Beware, therefore, my soul, lest thou fall into slumber and be left outside, knocking, as were the five virgins; but wakefully watch, that thou mayest come to meet Christ with good oil, and He shall bestow upon thee the divine chamber of His glory").