Little Vespers, Great Vespers and Daily Vespers

[Ian Bromelow]

What is the difference between Little Vespers and Great Vespers and Vespers?

The Calendar refers to all three at different times, and sometimes gives different instructions for Little Vespers and Great Vespers on the same day (see Pokrov).

Can both be served on the same day?

Confused,

Ian

[Alex Haig]

What is the difference between Little Vespers and Great Vespers and Vespers?

The Calendar refers to all three at different times, and sometimes gives different instructions for Little Vespers and Great Vespers on the same day (see Pokrov).

Can both be served on the same day?

Confused,

Ian

Daily Vespers is appointed every day, except if Great Vespers is appointed. They are essentially the same, but Daily Vespers does not have an entrance and one of the Litanies is moved.

Great Vespers is appointed for feasts. I don't have the exact rules to hand, but I believe for third class feasts and above. Obviously Sunday counts as a feast of the Resurrection so Great Vespers is appointed. This is the one with which most people are familiar.

I have never been to Little Vespers served in a parish. As I remember it, it is a lay-led service done in some monasteries, followed by the trapeza, then Great Vespers. It is only served for big feasts.

In Xp

Alex

[Edward Henderson]

Daily Vespers is the typical Vespers service. The Appointed Kathisma is charted in any Orthodox Psalter. At "Lord I Have Cried", 6 stichera are sung. Great Vespers always accompanies a Vigil, a Major or Minor Feast day. The Kathisma, unless omitted, is always the first stasis of the 1st Kathisma ("Blessed is the Man"). At "Lord I Have Cried", 8-10 stichera are sung. There is an entrace, "O Gladsome/Gentle/Joyous Light" Sung. Old Testament readings may be appointed as is the litya service. In the current Russian practice "Vouchsafe, O Lord" and "Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant" is also sung, but this is not done in the Greek practice, nor in the Pre-Nikonian (Old Rite) Russian practice.

Little or Small Vespers also proceeds a Vigil. The practice of serving it in parishes has largely fallen out of use. However, it still is served in Monasteries and Russian Orthodox Old Rite parishes. It is much like Daily Vespers except there is never an appointed Kathisma, I believe there are only 6 stichera sung. There is no entrance and "O Gladsome Light" is never sung. Also, there are less litanies (I think only 1 or 2).

Typically, in a monastery, especially on the Holy Mountain, it is served between 3-4pm. Afterwards the evening meal is served followed by Small Compline and then the community rests for a few hours as the Vigil will begin around 9pm. On Mount Athos, this Vigil actually does last All Night concluding with Divine Liturgy and then the morning meal.