Vespers

The evening service. The liturgical day begins at sunset.

Before You Begin

Vespers is the evening service, and in the Church the new day begins at sunset, so Vespers opens the liturgical day. It gives thanks for the creation and the day now ending, and turns the heart toward Christ, the Light who never sets. The hymns noted as changing with the day vary with the calendar; the rest stays the same each evening.

The Opening and Psalm of Creation

After the opening blessing, the whole assembly sings Psalm 103, praising God the Maker of all things as the lamps are lit and evening falls.

The Great Litany

The deacon leads the petitions "In peace let us pray to the Lord," and the people answer "Lord, have mercy," gathering the world into the Church's evening prayer.

“Lord, I Call”

Psalm 141 is sung with incense, "Let my prayer arise in Your sight as incense", and the stichera, the hymns of the day, are woven among its verses.

“O Gladsome Light”

One of the most ancient hymns of the Church is sung to Christ the Light: "O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal Father... now that we have come to the setting of the sun, we praise God."

The Prokeimenon and Readings

A short psalm verse (the prokeimenon) is sung. On the eves of great feasts, Old Testament readings that point to the feast are read.

“Vouchsafe, O Lord”

The evening prayer asks God to keep us this night without sin: "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin... Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes."

The Aposticha and St Simeon’s Prayer

More hymns of the day (the aposticha) are sung, and then the prayer of the elder Simeon: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace... for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."

The Troparia

The dismissal hymns of the day are sung, of the Resurrection, the feast, or the saint commemorated.

The Dismissal

The priest blesses the people, and all are sent into the evening in peace: "Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to You."