Among all the services of the Orthodox Church, the all-night vigil stands out separately. This is a service that usually takes place on the eve of great holidays and Sundays.
All-night vigil includes the service of Vespers, Matins and the first hour. In modern times, the all-night vigil begins in the temples at four, five or six in the evening, depending on the time zone of the city. The service takes place on Saturdays, as well as on the eve of the feast of the Virgin Mary, saints or days dedicated to the angelic armies. In the history of the Russian state, there have been cases when the all-night vigil was performed in gratitude to God for deliverance from various disasters, preventing the conquest of land by the conquerors or after significant victories in hostilities.
All-night vigil is especially solemn. In modern times, this liturgy lasts an average of two hours. But in the history of the Hritsian Church of the first centuries, this service was longer. It started late in the evening, and ended in the morning. Hence the name - all-night vigil. In modern times, the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the all-night vigil begins at about 11 pm, and immediately after it follows the liturgy. Liturgy in the temple for this holiday ends already in the morning. This is a pious tradition that is an echo of the ancient practice of worship.
In the service of the all-night vigil there are a number of characteristic features. So, many prayers are sung by the choir (in contrast to the usual daily services). For example, the first kathisma "Blessed is the husband", "Lord, bless me." During Vespers service, bread, vegetable oil, wine and wheat can be blessed at the All-night Vigil. In antiquity, these foods were consumed by monks after the end of Vespers before the Matins.
At the all-night vigil, readings of the Gospel passages are added, a great praise is sung, in which a person expresses his gratitude to God for the day lived and asks for help in abstaining from sins.
During the service of the all-night vigil, the anointing of believers is also held with blessed oil (oil). Otherwise, this process is called anointing.
Often after the service of the all-night vigil in the temples, the sacrament of confession is performed for those who wish to partake of the sacred secrets of Christ the next morning on the holiday itself.
