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The Midnight Office ((ギリシア語:Μεσονύκτικον), ''Mesonýtikon''; Slavonic: Полунощница, ''Polúnoshnitsa''; (ルーマニア語、モルドバ語():Miezonoptică)) is one of the Canonical Hours that compose the cycle of daily worship in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The office originated as a purely monastic devotion inspired by Psalm 118:62, ''At midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness'' (LXX),〔Throughout this article, the Septuagint numbering of the Psalms is used. To see the difference between the two numbering systems, see the relevant table in the article, Kathisma.〕 and also by the Gospel Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (). The name of the Midnight Office is sometimes erroneously translated as "Nocturns"; but this is misleading, as in the West "Nocturn" refers to a division within the completely different office of Matins. Originally, monks would rise in the middle of the night to sing praises to God. Saint Symeon the New Theologian mentions Psalm 118, a significant component of the Midnight Office on weekdays, being said privately in the cells before Matins.〔 Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev, ''St. Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition'' (Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 79.〕 Today, in most places where the Daily Cycle is observed, the Midnight Office is combined with Matins and the First Hour into one of the three daily aggregates called for in the Typikon.〔Kovalchuk, Feodor S., ''Abridged Typicon'', 2nd ed. (St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, South Canaan, PA, 1985), pp 17-19.〕 Concerning the Midnight Office, Saint Mark of Ephesus says: "The beginning of all the hymns and prayers to God is the time (''kairos'') of the midnight prayer. For, rising from sleep for it, we signify the transportation from the life of the deceit of darkness to the life which is, according to Christ, free and bright, with which we begin to worship God. For it is written, ''The people who sat in darkness saw a great light''" ( and ).〔 ''Patrologia Graeca'' 160, 1165D (Protopresbyter George Dion. Dragas, ''On the Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist'' (Orthodox Research Institute, Rollinsford, NH, 2004) p. 48 ).〕 The general tone of the office is one of penitence, tempered by an attitude of hopeful expectation. In the Russian tradition the Midnight Office often begins with the reading of the Morning Prayers in common, which otherwise would be said privately by the brethren in their cells. At the conclusion of the Midnight Office, just as at the end of Compline, it is traditional in many places for everyone present to venerate the icons and relics of the saints that are present in the temple (church building). In Greek Prayer Books, a modified form of the Midnight Office is used for Morning Prayers for laymen, while a modified form of Small Compline is used for evening prayers. ==Structure of the Service== The Midnight Office can be divided into four parts:〔''The Festal Menaion'' (Tr. Mother Mary and Archimandrite Kallistos Ware, Faber and Faber, London, 1984), p. 74.〕 # Opening—The usual beginning prayers that open most Orthodox offices: a blessing by the priest and prayers by the reader, including the Trisagion and the Lord's Prayer, ending with the call to worship, "O come, let us worship God our King...." # First Part—Psalm 50 and a Kathisma from the Psalter (differing according to the day of the week—see below), Nicene Creed, Trisagion and Lord's Prayer followed by the Troparia and prayers, concluding with a blessing by the Priest. During Lenten services there follows the Prayer of Saint Ephrem.〔Normally, the Prayer of Saint Ephrem is said once, with three prostrations; but on the first day of Great Lent (Clean Monday) it is said twice, with four prostrations and twelve bows.〕 # Second Part—"O come, let us worship..." and Psalms 120 and 133, followed by the Trisagion, Troparia of Repentance, an intercession and a blessing by the priest. # Conclusion—Next follows a mutual asking of forgiveness between the priest and all the brethren. Then the priest says a litany during which everyone slowly and quietly chants "Lord, have mercy," concluding with a final blessing by the Priest. At the present time, the Midnight Office will take one of four forms, depending upon the particular day: (a) Weekdays, (b) Saturday, (c) Sunday, and (d) a unique form which is observed only on Holy Saturday as part of the Paschal Vigil. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「midnight office」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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