In the Byzantine tradition, going back to early times, there has been a preference for prayer at certain set hours of the day. These prayers might be either personal (in the home or the monastic cell) or held in common (in church).

In the Byzantine tradition, these times or “hours” of prayer are distributed throughout the day as follows:

In monasteries and some parish churches, the First Hour may immediately follow Matins; the Third and Sixth Hours may be celebrated together, possibly followed by the Divine Liturgy; and the Ninth Hour may come immediately before Vespers.

The individual services can also be used for private prayer, or at any point in a parish’s liturgical cycle where there is a need for a short liturgical service which can be held without a great deal of preparation.