What happens at the all-night vigil?translated

Continued. Starts in No. 12 (668) dated June 24, 2026.

After the chant “Quiet Light” has sounded, we hear the prokeimenon. This is a Bible verse (usually from a psalm) that is spoken by a deacon or priest and repeated by a choir. Each day of the week has its own prokeimenon.

On Saturday it is “The Lord reigned (reigned), clothed in beauty (beauty)” (first verse of the 92nd Psalm). Church interpreters understand this verse as a prophecy of the Resurrection of Christ. Having reigned (i.e., resurrected), Christ put on the beauty and power of His Divine glory, which was hidden before His Resurrection.

After the special litany, where Christians pray for the most essential things for life and the salvation of the soul, the chant “Grant, O Lord,” is sung. In it we hear a request for the sending of a sinless evening, a request for the granting of mercy, admonition, as well as an evening praise to the Most Holy Trinity. According to Professor Mikhail Nikolaevich Skaballanovich, “Grant, O Lord,” is more of a song than a prayer; due to its prayerful and laudatory content, “Grant, O Lord,” cannot be called either a prayer or a song, which is why it is always called only its first words.” For the first time this chant...