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Midnight Office

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Originally, monks would rise in the middle of the night to sing praises to God. [[Symeon the New Theologian|Saint Symeon the New Theologian]] mentions [[Psalm 119|Psalm 118]], a significant component of the Midnight Office on weekdays, being said privately in the cells before Matins.<ref> Bishop [[Hilarion Alfeyev]], ''St. Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition'' (Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 79.</ref> In most places where the Daily Cycle is observed at the present time, the Midnight Office is combined with [[Matins]] and the First Hour into one of the three daily aggregates called for in the [[Typikon]].<ref>Kovalchuk, Feodor S., ''Abridged Typicon'', 2nd ed., pp 17-19, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, South Canaan, 1985."</ref>
Concerning the Midnight Office, [[Mark of Ephesus|Saint Mark of Ephesus]] says: "The beginning of all the hymns and prayers to God is the time (''[[kairos]]'') of the midnight prayer. For, rising from sleep for it, we signify the transportation from the life of the deceit of darkness to the life which is, according to Christ, free and bright, with which we begin to worship God. For it is written, ''The people who sat in darkness saw a great light'' [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%209:2;&version=50; ({{bibleverse||Isaiah|9:2|KJV}} and {{bibleverse||Matthew|4:16|KJV}})]."<ref> ''[[Patrologia Graeca]]'' 160, 1165D [Tr. Protopresbyter George Dion. Dragas, ''On the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist'' (Orthodox Research Institute, Rollinsford, NH, 2004) p. 48].</ref> The general tone of the office is one of penitence, tempered by an attitude of hopeful expectation.
In the Russian tradition the Midnight Office is often preceded by Morning Prayers, or the Morning Prayers are incorporated in them, which otherwise would be said privately by the brethren in their cells. At the conclusion of the Midnight Office, just as at the end of Compline, it is traditional in many places for everyone present to venerate the [[icon]]s and [[relic]]s of the saints that are present in the [[temple]] (church building).
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