NIGHT OFFICE DAILY
Blessed are those who are blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who search His testimonies; they will seek Him with all their hearts. For those who do not commit iniquity have walked in His ways. You commanded to keep Your commandments firmly. Oh, that my paths would be directed toward preserving Your commandments! Then I would not be ashamed, considering all Your commandments. I will glorify You in uprightness of heart when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness. I will keep Your commandments; don't leave me until the end. How will the young man correct his path? In preserving Your words. With all my heart I have sought You; do not cast me away from Your commandments. I have hidden Your sayings in my heart, so as not to sin before You. Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments. With my mouth I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. On the path of Your testimonies I have enjoyed, as in all riches. I will reason about Your commandments and understand Your ways. I will pay attention to Your commandments; I will not forget Your words. Reward Your servant, revive me, and I will keep Your words. Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law. I am a settler on earth: do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul has desired to strive for Your judgments at all times. You have rebuked the proud; Cursed are those who turn away from Your commandments. Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I have sought Your testimonies. For behold, the princes sat down and slandered me, but Your servant reasoned about Your commandments. For Thy testimonies are my occupation, and my counselors are Thy commandments. My soul fell to the earth; quicken me according to Your word. I declared my ways, and You heard me; teach me Your commandments. Let me understand the way of Your commandments, and I will reason about Your wonders. My soul has fallen asleep from negligence: strengthen me in Your words. Remove the path of unrighteousness from me and have mercy on me with Your law. I have chosen the path of truth and have not forgotten Your judgments. I have clung to Your testimonies; Lord, don't shame me! I ran the path of Your commandments when You enlarged my heart. Set for me, O Lord, the path of Your commandments by law, and I will seek it constantly. Give me understanding, and I will search Your law, and I will keep it with all my heart. Guide me on the path of Your commandments, for I have desired it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to money-grubbing. Turn away my eyes, so as not to see vanity; on Your path revive me. Make Thy servant Thy word to fear. Remove my reproach, which I fear, for Your judgments are good. Behold, I have desired Your commandments; quicken me in Your righteousness. And may Thy mercy, O Lord, come upon me, Thy salvation according to Thy word. And I will answer those who reproach my word, for I trust in Your words. And do not take the words of truth from my lips until the end, for I have trusted in Your judgments. And I will keep Your law always, forever and ever. And I walked in the open, for I sought Thy commandments, and spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and was not ashamed, and practiced Thy commandments, which I loved dearly, and lifted up my hands to Thy commandments, which I loved, and reasoned about Thy commandments. Remember Your words to Your servant, with which You gave me hope. This comforted me in my humiliation, that Your word revived me. The proud have transgressed the law to the extreme, but I have not deviated from Your law. I remembered Your judgments from time immemorial, O Lord, and was comforted. Sorrow has overcome me because of sinners who forsake Your law. Your commandments were like songs to me at the place of my wandering. I remembered Your name at night, O Lord, and kept Your law. This happened to me, because I sought Your commandments. You are my destiny, Lord; I said: I will try to preserve Your law. I prayed before Your face with all my heart; have mercy on me according to your word. I have pondered Your ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I prepared myself and was not dismayed to keep Your commandments. The ropes of sinners have entwined me, and I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I got up to glorify You for Your righteous judgments. I am a fellow member of all who fear You and keep Your commandments. The earth is full of Thy mercy, O Lord: teach me Thy commandments. You have dealt kindly with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me kindness, good manners, and knowledge, for I have believed Your commandments. Before I humbled myself, I sinned, therefore I kept Your word. You are good, O Lord, and in Your goodness teach me Your commandments. The injustice of the proud has multiplied against me, but I will search Your commandments with all my heart. Their heart thickened like milk, but I delved deeper into Your law. It is good for me that You have humbled me, so that I may learn Your commandments. The law of Your mouth is more good to me than thousands of gold and silver.
IV. Additional materials on the topic
“Poglasitsy in modern worship»
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Teacher: Anastasia Ivanova, editor of the website rpsc.ru, teacher of the Church Slavonic language at the Sunday school of the Yoshkar-Ola community of the Russian Orthodox Church, head of the left choir.
Webinar date: May 27, 2021
Link to audio: https://disk.yandex.ru/d/Dpk8jFnuPID1SA
“Church poglasitsa. Repetition of what has been learned"
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Church Slavonic language.” Lecture 21.
Teacher: Sofya Viktorovna Volkova, teacher of the Moscow Old Believer Theological School and online courses, adult and children's Sunday school of the Intercession Cathedral on Rogozhsky, cliroshan of the church of the Tver Old Believer community in Moscow.
Webinar date: May 28, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-2JkzX1IM3gpehqOY7pGRVlwF-ajIEjo/view?usp=sharing
Link to presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13oDgBsAcYmaKQQgPHx9SBCTIbJYS67nn/view?usp=sharing
Recordings of readings given in the lecture:
1) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nvU_K7GFaCxwy9Dlm1JqFk3o7_vHelZg/view?usp=sharing 2) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1chuOimuM4LaN5ea0lF9fjaEpSxQM0urm/view?usp=sharing 3) https: //drive.google.com/file/d/1J-ftEqGEYhsLMcAXVAigzhVg8DCcfOhU/view?usp=sharing 4) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I7W2YLsEbEXGQgzYr8g99mB3zlRQPoNO/view?usp=sharing 5) https:// drive.google.com/file/d/1d1br6delETwNH4jffgP-KWNm6jlrCYhM/view?usp=sharing
"Technique of Church Reading"
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Lecturer: reader Daniil Andryukov, teacher of reading techniques at the Moscow Old Believer Theological School of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The lecturer expresses gratitude to his mentor Alexander Mikhailovich Nikonov.
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17waqYb60WSF-p1wM9a9GARmc-GmjW6wS/view?usp=sharing
When watching videos on YouTube, choose 4K quality.
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 1. “What is prayer. Types of prayers. Language of prayers"
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 1.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: February 2, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RiMJf7Tzo5f5Ofj98Ck3-ufvlS202UYs
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 2. “The Jesus Prayer. Small started"
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 2.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: February 23, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Hqr_WWwg5xgw4U6XOHHS-IeyhAx8cRiB
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 3. “The little one began. The Lord's Prayer (“Our Father”)
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 3.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: March 8, 2021
Link to audio: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Q2TQhHbfRIOCksUTmOgRMV—RlBCTvkr
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 4. “Creed”
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 4.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: March 22, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iT3UEewMSen4ew593ZNmM1pXva0gcz3x
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 5. “Big beginnings” »
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 5.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: March 29, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UiH-P_mfpXVHrrzE-AFpaAtA6f3Dk0BR
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 6. “How to pray at home when you can’t go to church »
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 6.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: April 5, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RSaYTgC9uz1n6Kesdo1KxaVvmJ9LT7NX
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 7. “Psalm 90 “Alive in the help of the Most High.” Small nightlife »
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 7.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: April 8, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EKt1T4F3y9FaKnoJNqJH78LdixBKDZ5S
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 8. “Easter Hours and Midnight Office. Little party girl. Everyday Midnight Office"
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 8.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: April 29, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-O6u2wY0AML9Js5gHYMPP4O7kHt03eJ4
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 9. “Vespers”
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 9.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: May 6, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kjZPfSqY9WCixKvawpiP-kw4EnikM282
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 10. “Matins” »
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 10.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: May 13, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t8GgErTAZOHSjz7JfG8yTnPPPRJL6Bzb
“We pray with meaning.” Lecture 11. “1st hour »
Old Believer "Sunday School Online".
Subject: “Praying with meaning.” Lecture 11.
Teacher: Archpriest Vadim Korovin.
Webinar date: May 29, 2021
Audio link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XWISEOblCm8EnwrJg_jpV3NiG9R_a3EQ/view?usp=sharing
Links
- Daily Midnight Office (modern (ROC) Church Slavonic translation).
The Midnight Office is one of the services of the daily liturgical cycle, dedicated to the coming Coming of Jesus Christ and the Last Judgment. It is performed at midnight or at any hour of the night until morning only once a day. Depending on the day, it can be everyday, Saturday, Sunday and Easter.
According to the Rule, the Midnight Office precedes Matins, but in modern liturgical practice it is usually served before the Hours. In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the second coming of the Lord is depicted as the coming of the Bridegroom, “coming at midnight.” Hence, the service of the Midnight Office reminds us precisely of this coming appearance of the Lord, “like a thief in the night,” for judgment on us, and the whole consists of hymns depicting this coming of the Lord (troparia: “Behold the bridegroom”) and repentant cries of the soul, in fear and confusion awaiting God's judgment (psalm 50 and kathisma 17).
The emergence of worship performed at night dates back to the birth of the Christian Church. During the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, night time was the safest time for worship. At the same time, the Church has always kept in mind that midnight is a time primarily convenient in its silence for concentrated prayerful conversations with God and for thinking about sins and their correction. This is how Basil the Great looks at the establishment of midnight worship (Second Epistle to Gregory the Theologian). According to interpreters, the Midnight Office was established, firstly, in order to remind believers of the prayerful midnight feat of Jesus Christ before His free suffering; secondly, for a constant reminder of the day of the Second Coming of Christ, which, according to the general belief of the Church, based on the Savior’s parable of the ten virgins, is at midnight.
