The concept of the Midnight Office in Orthodoxy
Midnight Office refers to daily services. The Christian Church has developed a tradition of prayerfully consecrating nine daily public services. The origins of consecration in this order date back to the Old Testament period, when there was a rule to pray three times during the day to make sacrifices - in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.
At the beginning, the services were performed separately from each other, but over time they were grouped into three periods of worship, 3 services each:
- in the evening - ninth hour, vespers, compline;
- in the morning - midnight office, matins and 1st hour;
- in the afternoon – third and sixth hours, liturgy.
But, if the setting of the time for holding public services was formed under the influence of the Old Testament Church, then the Orthodox Church determined the content of divine services based on the Christian events that took place during these hours. At services, prayers and passages from Holy Scripture are read and sung that directly or indirectly tell about the event and invoke the name of the saint.
For this reason, during daily services, both Old Testament psalms and New Testament prayers and chants are read and sung. For example, at the 3rd hour (at 9 a.m.) they remember the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; at the 6th hour (at 12 noon) - the suffering of Christ; at the 9th hour (at 15 o'clock in the afternoon) - the death of Jesus on the cross, in other services - about the resurrection of the Savior, about the Dormition of the Mother of God, and so on.
The Midnight Office is dedicated to Jesus' prayer for the cup, His second coming and His Last Judgment. Midnight silence is the most favorable time for concentrated prayer to the Lord, comprehension and repentance of committed sins, and making a decision about correction. During midnight prayer, believers remember the prayer of Jesus Christ to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. Before the upcoming difficult trials, Jesus prays to the Lord, if possible, to deliver him from this “bitter” cup, but immediately says that he is ready to “drink” it to the dregs, submitting to the will of God the Father.
The Second Coming of Christ is reminiscent of Christ's parable about the ten virgins, when five of them forgot the oil for the candles and were unable to meet the Bridegroom at midnight. The meaning of the parable implies that one must always remember that the soul (candle) can part with the body (meet the Bridegroom) at any moment. We must never forget about good deeds (oil) in order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, because there will be no time for repentance. In glorifying the Lord, believers should follow the example of the angels, whose choir does not stop day or night.
MIDNIGHT NIGHT OFFICE EVERYDAY
As usual, we begin with the verb with tenderness and contrition of heart:
Z
and the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us
(bow). A
min.
WITH
Lava to You, our God, glory to You for everyone's sake
(three times).
B
O God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have done no good before You
(bow),
but deliver me from the evil one, and Thy will be done in me
(bow),
so that I may open my unworthy lips without condemnation, and praise Your holy name, the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen
(bow).
C
Heavenly Arya, Comforter, True Soul, who is everywhere and fulfills everything, the treasure of good things, and the Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save the Good One, our soul.
WITH
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us
(three times, and three bows).
WITH
Lava to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.
P
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Master, forgive our iniquities. Saints, visit and heal our infirmities; for Thy name's sake.
G
Lord have mercy
(three times).
Glory, even now.
ABOUT
our dear, who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth, give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
G
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
A
min.
G
Lord have mercy
(12).
Posikh, prayer:
from
sleep, I thank Thee, All-Holy Trinity, for for the sake of many, for the sake of kindness and long-suffering, You were not angry with me, a sinner, and Thy lazy servant, and You did not destroy me with my iniquities, but love for mankind, and lying in hopelessness, raised up Wake me up and glorify Your invincible power; and now, Master God of the Most Holy, enlighten the eyes of my heart, and open my lips to learn Thy words, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and sing to Thee in confession of the heart, and sing and glorify Thy most honorable and magnificent name: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.
P
Come, let us bow to our God the King
(bow).
P
Come, let us bow to Christ, the King and our God
(bow).
P
Come, let us bow and fall before the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the King and our God
(bow).
Also,
Psalm 50. mercy
on me.
Tazhe, kaf and sma 17. Alleluia, psalm 118.
Glory, even now, without Alleluia.
Also, confession of the Orthodox faith. I
believe in one God.
Trisagion. And by
Our Father.
This Troparion, tone 8:
Bridegroom
comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant, for he will be found vigilant. He is not worthy of the pack; he will be found by being lazy. Take care therefore that my soul may not be burdened with sleep, and may not be given over to death, and be shut out of the kingdom, but rise up and cry: Holy, holy, holy art thou, O God, for the sake of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.
Glory.
day
, and think about it, rest on my soul, burning your lamp, and illuminating it with oil, for fear not when a voice comes to you saying: Behold the Bridegroom. Take care, my soul, that you do not slumber, and remain outside the crowd, like five virgins; but stay vigilant, so that Christ may be merciful and give you the palace of His divine glory.
And now.
You have an insurmountable wall of faithfulness and affirmation of salvation, We pray to the Virgin Mary: destroy the advice of those who resist and turn your people’s sorrow into joy. Peace your peace and establish the Orthodox, and pray for the humility of the world, for you are the Mother of God, our hope.
G
Lord have mercy
(40).
The same prayer of Great Basil:
And
at all times, and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, worshiped and glorified, Good God, long-suffering and abundantly merciful; Those who are righteous love and have mercy on sinners; Calls to salvation for all, promises for future benefits; Lord Himself, accept our prayers at this hour, and correct our belly in goodness, to Your commandments. Sanctify our soul, and cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, and cleanse our thoughts, make our minds chaste and sober, and deliver us from all sorrow, evil and illness, and spiritual passions, and protect us with your holy angels, as if by their army we are observed and instructed, Let us achieve the unity of faith and the inviolable glory of You, for blessed are You forever, Amen.
Also,
Lord
have mercy
(three times).
Glory, even now. H
the most natural cherub, and the most glorious truly seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the real Mother of God we magnify Thee.
And bow.
AND
God bless me, father.
Z
and the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
A
min.
Whenever there is fasting, or apart from fasting, we always sing Alleluia and make three great prostrations, saying the prayer of St. Ephraim.
G
Lord, and Master of my belly, the spirit of despondency, neglect, love of money and idle talk, drive away from me
(bow).
D
wow, chastity, humility, patience and love, which I have granted to Your servant
(bow).
E
Oh, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins, and not to condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever, amen
(bow). And 12 other bows, saying in itself:
G
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner
(twice with bows).
B
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner
(bow).
B
O God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me
(bow).
WITH
Give me back, Lord, have mercy
(bow).
B
Without the number of sinners, Lord, forgive me
(bow).
And having finished bowing again, we say the entire prayer
written above: Lord
and Master of my life.
And one bow.
And after saying the prayer, or according to
the Most
Honest Cherub,
we say this prayer of Great Basil
:
O Lord God, Father Almighty, and Lord the Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Soul, one Divinity, and one power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and through their destinies, save me, Thy unworthy servant, for blessed art Thou forever, amen.
Also,
come
, let us bow
(three times). And three bows.
Psalm 120.
have
looked to the mountains, from where my help will come. My help comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth. Do not let your feet fall into confusion; below you will fall asleep and protect you. He will neither slumber nor sleep, the guardian of Israel. The Lord will protect you; the Lord will cover your right hand. The sun will not burn you during the days, nor the moon at night, the Lord will protect you from all evil, the Lord will preserve your soul. The Lord will preserve your coming in and your going out from now and forever.
Psalm 133.
Now
bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. At night, lift up your hands in holiness, and bless the Lord. The Lord will bless you from Zion, having created heaven and earth.
Glory, even now.
Trisagion, and three bows.
According to
Father
, this troparion:
P
Lord, remember that His servants are good, and if you have sinned in this life, forgive me. No one is without sin, only You can give peace to the departed.
AND
But with the depths of wisdom, constructing everything in a humane manner, and giving it to the benefit of all, the only Creator, rest, Lord, the soul of His departed servants, having placed their trust in You, Creator and Maker and our God.
Glory.
With
the saints is peace, O Christ, the soul of His servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but life. eternal.
And now, the Mother of God:
Blessed
, we all give birth to You, Virgin Mother of God, in You the inconceivable Christ our God, will you be contained, blessed are we, and we are Your helper, praying for us day and night, and the powers of the kingdom are established by Your prayers. Thus we cry out to You in gratitude: Rejoice, O joyful Lord: with You.
G
Lord have mercy
(12). Also, this prayer:
P
O Lord, who in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, remember our departed fathers and brethren, and all who died in the pious faith, and forgive them every sin, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, and in thought, sinned by them and house them in their places bright, in a cool place, in a calm place, from where all illness, and sorrow and sighing have fled, where the light of Thy face is present, and all Thy holy ones from all eternity rejoice. And grant them Thy kingdom, and the participation of Thy ineffable and eternal blessings, and Thy endless and blessed life of pleasure. For you are the resurrection and life and peace; to Your departed servant, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, with the beginningless Father, and with the Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.
Also:
Glory, even now. Lord
have mercy
(twice)
.
God
bless.
And let go:
Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all for the sake of the saints, have mercy and save us, for you are Good and Lover of Mankind, amen.
And forgiveness:
O
blessed ones, forgive, forgive God, my sins, voluntary and involuntary, both in word and in deed, both in knowledge and not in knowledge, in mind and in thought, in days and in nights, all of me forgive me, for I am Good and Lover of Humanity, amen.
And a prayer with bows:
those
who hate and offend us, O Lord, Lover of Mankind.
Do good to those who do good, to the brethren and to all our relatives, even those who are alone, grant them everything, even petitions for salvation and eternal life (bow).
IN
Visit and heal existing illnesses, in the prisons of existing freedom, wake up the Ruler on the floating waters and correct and hasten on those who are on their way
(bow).
P
Lord, remember us and our captive brethren, fellow believers of the Orthodox faith, and deliver them from every evil situation
(bow).
P
Lord, have mercy on those who gave us alms and commanded us, unworthy, to pray for them, forgive them and have mercy
(bow).
P
Lord, have mercy on those who work and serve us, who have mercy and nourish us, and grant them all petitions and eternal life that lead to salvation
(bow).
P
O Lord, remember our fathers and brethren who departed before, and bring them home, where the light of Thy face shines
(bow).
P
Lord, remember our thinness and wretchedness, and enlighten our minds with the light of reason of Your holy Gospel, and guide us on the path of Your commandments, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, amen
(bow).
G
Lord have mercy
(three times),
and the usual initial
bows.
Varieties
Every day of the week is also a day of the year, so for every day there are sentinel memories associated with a certain hour of the day; sedemic (weekly), connected to a specific day of the week; annual, having a connection with a specific date and month.
As a consequence of this, in Orthodoxy there are several types of midnight offices:
- daily (Monday to Friday);
- Saturday;
- Sunday;
- festive;
- Easter
The difference between the services of the same name lies in the content and sequence of prayers.
Saturday and daily consist of 2 parts, the rest - from one.
In parish practice, the Easter Midnight Office is read in all Orthodox churches. Other types of services are performed in monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church. The festive service can replace the All-Night Vigil required by the Charter or be read on some Orthodox holidays.
