{{diversity}}An '''All -Night Vigil''' (Greek: ''Agrypnia'' (which means literally, "without sleeping"; Slavonic: ''Vsenoshnoe Bdenie'') usually consists is a combination of [[Vespers]], [[Orthros]], and the First [[Hour]] -- though on certain feasts, it consists of Great [[Compline]], Orthros, multiple services whose makeup varies significantly according to regional and the First Hourlocal tradition. In more ancient practicethe Byzantine tradition, an All Night Vigil was truly done all the service lasts through the night, and ended with consisting of the entire liturgical cycle, culminating in the [[Divine Liturgy]] being celebrated as sunrise -- this is still the practice on [[Mount Athos]] and in some places in Russia and elsewhere. In the Slavic tradition, it does not last all night but normally includes [[parishVespers]]es, Vigils are less strenuous than those conducted in the (or [[monastery|monasteriesGreat Compline]]), but the structure remains the same. The Vespers often contains a [[litiaOrthros]] with and the blessing of the bread -- this is always the case, on [[Great FeastsHours|First Hour]]. The differences between the more rigorous practice, and general parish practice are the later contains some abbreviations, and the former it is usually chanted to slower melodies, and also includes additional readings that are done at certain places in the standard Saturday evening service. Also, the less rigorous practice is to stop the vigil after the first hour, and then allow people to get some sleep... and then to resume the Third and Sixth hours the following morning, followed immediately by the liturgy. In the more rigorous practice, the hours continue without such a break.

Because of its great length, the All-Night Vigil is rarely celebrated in [[parish]]es, but it is done in some places, especially for major [[feast day]]s. It is commonly celebrated in [[monastery|monasteries]], however, especially for the [[Great Feasts]] and the patronal feast of the community. One of the unique characteristics of the Vigil is that it includes Little Vespers (different from both Daily and Great Vespers), which is celebrated only as part of the Vigil. Additionally, the inclusion of the Litia and Artoklasia has as its purpose the sustenance of the faithful as they attend a service which may last eight or more hours through the night. ==Russian practice==In Russian practice, the All-Night Vigil is the standard Saturday evening service and usually consists of [[Vespers]], [[Orthros]], and the [[Hours|First Hour]]—though on certain feasts, it includes [[Great Compline]] instead of Vespers. In [[parish]]es, Vigils are less strenuous than those conducted in the [[monastery|monasteries]], but the structure remains the same. The Vespers often contains a [[Litia]] with the blessing of the bread—this is always the case on [[Great Feasts]]. The differences between the more rigorous practice, and general parish practice are that the latter contains some abbreviations, and the former is usually chanted to slower melodies, and also includes additional readings that are done at certain places in the service. A less rigorous practice is to stop the Vigil after the First Hour, then to resume with the Third and Sixth hours the following morning, followed immediately by the liturgy. In the more rigorous practice, the hours continue without such a break. == External link links ==