Silly questions

[Soha]

I'll preface this by saying that I am new to Orthodoxy...I feel so embarrassed to ask this, as I feel I should know. But I still get terms mixed up...:blush:
What is the difference between Vigil, Liturgy, and Vespers?

[Macarius]

I'll preface this by saying that I am new to Orthodoxy...I feel so embarrassed to ask this, as I feel I should know. But I still get terms mixed up...:blush:
What is the difference between Vigil, Liturgy, and Vespers?
Vigil is generally done in the evening, and is a combination of Vespers (the evening candle lighting service) and Matins (the morning service).

Vespers is an evening service of prayer and psalms, and forms the first half of a Vigil.

Liturgy is the eucharistic service. It also, generally, happens in the morning (although at different times of the year there are "vesperal liturgies" which begin like a vespers service but have eucharistic prayers and serve the eucharist at the end).

Hope that helps!
-Macarius

[Soha]

Thank you so much!

[Lukaris]

I'll preface this by saying that I am new to Orthodoxy...I feel so embarrassed to ask this, as I feel I should know. But I still get terms mixed up...:blush:
What is the difference between Vigil, Liturgy, and Vespers?Do not feel embarrassed and your questions are not silly. ;) OK?

[fuerein]

Yeah don't worry I've been trying to figure out the difference between Vespers and Vigil myself, I thought it was just a difference in name from jusidiction since it seems like only the Russian-background (OCA & ROCOR) do Vigils, or at least I don't remember any others performing vigils.

[Kolya]

Yeah don't worry I've been trying to figure out the difference between Vespers and Vigil myself, I thought it was just a difference in name from jusidiction since it seems like only the Russian-background (OCA & ROCOR) do Vigils, or at least I don't remember any others performing vigils.

I'm Russian Orthodox, and our priest call vespers ALL NIGHT VIGIL. ;)
That only really happens at Nativity and Pasha.

Wait till you get to sing in the choir and you have to know what Kontakions and Troparia are.:scratch:

[Macarius]

Heh, the choir is a wonderful exercise in obedience...

So long as you aren't leading it, the principle is "sing what's put in front of you." If you try to make sense of it, you're brain will explode.

I guess in that sense its apophatic and ascetic...

[ClementofRome]

Heh, the choir is a wonderful exercise in obedience...

So long as you aren't leading it, the principle is "sing what's put in front of you." If you try to make sense of it, you're brain will explode.

I guess in that sense its apophatic and ascetic...

^_^

I needed that laugh!

[-Kyriaki-]

Heh, the choir is a wonderful exercise in obedience...

So long as you aren't leading it, the principle is "sing what's put in front of you." If you try to make sense of it, you're brain will explode.

I guess in that sense its apophatic and ascetic...
THIS. :D Thanks!

I'll add to that - ESPECIALLY if what's put in front of you is in Greek or Arabic or Slavonic or whatever... and you can read the alphabet but you've got no idea what it says!

[Akathist]

I'm Russian Orthodox, and our priest call vespers ALL NIGHT VIGIL. ;)
That only really happens at Nativity and Pasha.

Wait till you get to sing in the choir and you have to know what Kontakions and Troparia are.:scratch:

When I was new to visiting the church I wondered what the "Pokieman" was.

Prokemanon (not spelled right) sounded like Pokieman to me.

To this day I think about that at times and smile. "The Pokieman in the 1st tone" just seems to be so funny to me.

The prokemanon is a litany where the reader says something, and the congregation and/or choir responds.

[Soha]

You all are too sweet :D Thanks for the info :)