Laity’s Role in Church
Part Two
The Liturgy of Prayer
Christians foremost ways of meeting God is prayer. As Prophet David said, “seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws,” (Psalm 119:164) we have seven canonical hours to praise, plead and worship our Lord; let us see them one by one.
a) In the morning
b) At the third hour
c) At noon
d) At the ninth hour
e) At sun set (evening)
f) At bedtime
g) At midnight (Our Lord and Savior Jesus Chris born, baptized, rose from the dead and will come again for judgment at midnight)
12th Hour – Prime
This morning prayer is performed in the commemoration the creation Adam the first man kind, the time of our two guardian angels meet when they exchange the time their watch over us and also is the hour of which our and Savior Lord Jesus Christ stood in front of Pilate for trial.
3rd Hour – Terce
The Third Hour commemorated three significant events: Christ’s trail by Pilate, His ascension to heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit may cleanse our hearts and renew our lives.
6th Hour – Sext
The Sixth Hour reminds us of the crucifixion and passion of Christ. We pray that, through His life-giving passion, He may deliver our minds from lusts, and turn our thoughts to the remembrance of His commandments, and make of us a light of the world and salt of the earth.
9th Hour – None
The Ninth Hour commemorates the redemptive death of Christ in the flesh on the cross, and His acceptance of the repentance of the Thief. We pray that the Savior may mortify out carnal lusts, make us partakers of His grace, and accept our repentance when we cry out with the Thief, “Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)
11th Hour – Vespers
The Vespers (Sunset): Eleventh Hour, is associated with the act of taking down Christ’s body from the cross. At the end of the day, we give thanks for God’s protection, and confess our sins with the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31) that we may be counted among the labours who were called at the eleventh hour of the day. (Matthew 20:1-16)
Bed time
We pray before we go to bed thanking God for all the peace, love and protection He granted us. We also pray seeking protection from night devils who bring bad dreams and nightmare’s
The Midnight Hour:
It commemorates the birth hour of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His resurrection and His second coming of the Lord. The office consists of three watches, corresponding to the three stages of Christ’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 25:1-13).
Moreover, The Divine Liturgy and “Kidane” are another form of our prayer that we plead God in private and public. During these hours especially on the Divine Liturgy, laities are not expected to attend the whole three hours of the liturgy in concentration and silence. Men shall stand on the North and Women on the south inside the Church. Children must stand with their Mothers. No one is allowed to start late, enter in or leave out of the temple or the Church compound once it has started. It is forbidden to talk or laugh during it. We must all participate following our role in the Divine Liturgy. It is better if no one carries their Mobile Phones in the Church.
Dear brethren, notice that particularly on Sabbaths, we shall attend the Divine Liturgy, hear the Miracle of Saint Mary to be read in Church and partake the Holy Communion. This Christian endeavor is expected from all those in the name of Christ who was crucified for us, and bestow His holy flesh and blood for we shall carry the cross, eat His flesh and drink His blood for the salvation of our soul.