The devotional pattern of the monastic day is based upon David’s words: “Seven times a day do I praise Thee because, of Thy righteous judgments”(PS 119:64) “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous judgments.”(Ps 119:62) Consequently there are seven praises in the 24 hours as follows: 1) Vespers and 2) After-Supper Prayer, 3) Midnight Office, 4) Utreyna together with, the First Hour, 5) The Third Hour, 6) the Sixth Hour, 7) the Ninth Hour. They are called praises because they mirror the Savior’s redemptive work for humanity, as well as stages in His divine life and those of the Holy Apostles and the church.
The Midnight Office is said at or after midnight and reminds us or the Resurrection which took place ‘early in the morning’ ‘and also of the second coming, the hour which no man knows’ “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”(Matt. 25:13).
This is followed by Utreyna which ends at dawn, reflecting the dawn of salvation. The First Hour follows immediately, praising the beginning of the new day in which we join our hymns to those of the Angels together bringing them before God. Then the business of the day begins.
The Third and Sixth Hours are read before the Holy Liturgy. On the Third Hour the death of our Lord was planned, and at this hour also the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. The Sixth Hour commemorates the passion and crucifixion of our Lord. If there is no Holy Liturgy, then the Typical Psalms which give us a sketch of the Liturgy are said instead.
In the evening we read the Ninth Hour, the prayers of which bring into remembrance the hour of which the Lord laid down His life for the redemption of the world. Without a pause we pass on to Vespers which tells of the creation of God’s love for the world, of man’s fall into sin, his expulsion from paradise and or the Redeemer’s coming upon earth.
Before retiring After-Supper prayer is sung, bringing thanks for the coming of night with its rest and reminding us of death, which must not take us unaware. This is followed by evening prayers.
We can see that these praises are divided into three groups symbolizing the three Persons of the Holy Trinity and also the three heavenly choirs of Angels. They are also set according to time, three after midnight, three around noon, and three in the evening. Within the framework of these offices flows the monk’s life so that it may be filled with holiness, with grace from above, and hope of eternal blessedness, at whatever task he may be employed, be he at manual or intellectual world or practicing Hesychasm (in Greek, quiet – a method of interior, spiritual prayer to which monks are dedicated).

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