Vespers, gospel of st. john and st. michael prayer

[babochka]

In the eastern churches, great vespers (the beginning of the liturgical week), are traditionally prayed on Saturday evenings in which many in the community come and participate in.

ZP

I’m headed to Great Vespers in a couple of hours, for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. We pray Vespers weekly in our parish, though we are not usually able to do Great Vespers on Saturdays. It is my favorite regular service.

Nope! Generally evening prayer is done around 3-5 PM, I’d say. So generally way after Mass, and definitely not during it. It’s called the Liturgy of the Hours for a reason, and should never overshadow the liturgy of the Mass.

On a few occasions throughout the year, we (Byzantine churches) have a combination Vespers/Divine Liturgy that is prescribed by the Typicon. One flows seamlessly into the other as a single service.

 

[twf]

Public solemn vespers is offered in some Latin parishes as well and was in fact encouraged by Vatican II. Our cathedral celebrates solemn vespers sunday evening at 5 pm.

 

[twf]

I think public Sunday vespers is still relatively common in cathedral parishes.

 

[OraLabora]

Lauds as well, and our schola does it in Gregorian chant at the Cathedral for Holy Saturday. We also do Vespers in chant on the 4th Sundays of Lent and Advent at the Cathedral.