www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Seven times a day I praise Thee

Dear Friends,

Just a note to share with you what a great blessing it is to pray at seven different times of the day, when one can.

Following on what Psalm 118/119 says about this, the Horological system of praying either three or seven separate times really sanctifies one's time and day in a wonderful way.

One can do this using a number of methods.

One may say 100 Jesus Prayers seven times a day (beginning with 6:00 am and following through every three hours or so).

Or one may pray a Kathisma of the Psalter for each of the seven times.

(Orthodox monastic tradition prescribes the recital of seven Kathismata daily for those who are of the "perfect" monastic grade.)

The Assyrian Church has its Psalter divided into 21 sections and its monks formerly used to recite three of these at each of the seven hours of prayer to get through the entire Psalter each day.

One may say three decades of the Rosary at seven periods throughout the day - and the new decades help in that regard.

Or use whatever else is convenient.

It is a powerful and inspiring method to be sure!

Alex

I would only add that in the Byzantine tradition, being of the New Covenant, we pray eight times a day because of the eschatalogical significance of the number eight. In the order of the liturgical day:
(1) Vespers; (2) Compline; (3) Midnight Office (Mesonycticon); (4) Matins; (5) 1st Hour, (6) 3rd Hour, (7) 6th Hour, and (8) 9th Hour.

Dear Diak,

Not to be nit-picking here , but the Midnight Hour does NOT belong to the seven day hours . . .

But you are right . . .

Alex