Talk:All-Night Vigil

It appears that the person who flagged this article as needing diversity was indicating the focus on Slavic practice without any reference to Greek practice (with the possible exception of the word "orthros" rather than "matins" [an English word] and the mention of the holy mountain — mentioning the Greek word for vigil doesn't count). The description of parochial practice is almost entirely Russian (and only cathedrals, monasteries, and large parishes attempt the full cycle) for Sundays and feast days. Orthros for Greek typicon parishes (Greeks, Antiochians, etc.) is taken, not in the evening, but in the morning. The hours are typically omitted; orthros moves directly into the liturgy. I'm not sure I'm the best person to try to integrate the Greek practice into the article, but I'm sure this is what the flagger was pointing out here. --Basil 14:23, April 1, 2007 (PDT)

Yes, sorry -- no time right now!  :) The article should also mention that an All-Night Vigil in Byzantine practice is literally pretty much the entire daily liturgical cycle done at one go, so it still literally lasts all night, culminating in the Liturgy. (And thus almost never done in parishes.) Anyway, if no one else gets to this, I will eventually try to put some time into it. —Fr. Andrew ^talk contribs 18:26, April 1, 2007 (PDT)

The Greek parochial practice for All-Night Vigils is to not do them, which is why this article reflects more of the Russian practice. The Athonite practice, as I have been told, is to do the Biblical odes in full. Other than that, I don't know how it might differ from Russian practie... so it is on those who follow Greek practice to speak up for your practice. Frjohnwhiteford 19:05, April 1, 2007 (PDT)

Which Athonite practice?  :) One imagines that what is done in St. Panteleimon's, for instance, differs from that done at Hilandar, Iviron, or Vatopedi. (As a side note, I think perhaps we need to be on the lookout for references to "Athonite practice," as I've had multiple Athonite monastics tell me that there really is no such thing, at least in the singular.)

Anyway, I've added a section on the Byzantine practice, summarizing some of what is in the Antiochian Liturgikon. —Fr. Andrew ^talk contribs 04:26, April 2, 2007 (PDT)

I am not sure how uniform the practice is, but doing the Biblical Odes in full is one way to make an All-Night Vigil, all night.

A couple of comments on "Little Vespers". I think if we are going to use "Small Compline", we should use "Small Vespers", because in Greek and Slavonic, the word there is the same. In Byzantine practice, would Small Vespers be done, immediately followed by Small Compline, immediately followed by the rest of the Vigil? My understanding is that the reason Small Vespers exists, is so the monks can observe vespers at sunset, eat, and then later begin the vigil. Russians do Small Vespers also... but typically, this is done only in monasteries and cathedrals. Frjohnwhiteford 04:32, April 2, 2007 (PDT)