Great Compline

E29142

Great Compline is a solemn evening prayer service in the Byzantine Rite, characterized by extended psalmody, penitential hymns, and supplications, especially used during Lent and major feasts.

Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Byzantine Rite office
Christian prayer
liturgical service
associatedWith monastic practice
parish worship in Lent
characterizedBy extended psalmody
penitential hymns
solemn tone
supplicatory prayers
contains Old Testament readings in some traditions
hymns
litanies
prayers of supplication
psalms
contrastedWith Small Compline as shorter daily form
emphasizes intercession for the living and the dead
repentance
function evening prayer of the Church
hasAlternativeName Great Apodeipnon
hasLiturgicalStructure fixed order with variable hymns
includes Trisagion prayers in many traditions
prayers to the Theotokos in many traditions
psalm-based refrains
includesChant Byzantine chant
liturgicalCategory Compline
liturgicalRank more solemn than daily Small Compline
liturgicalSeasonEmphasis Lent
surface form: Great Lent

major feasts
liturgicalTime evening
oftenCelebratedOn eves of major feasts
weekdays of Great Lent
performedBy choir
clergy
congregation
primaryLanguage Church Slavonic
Greek
various vernacular languages
purpose corporate evening worship
intensified Lenten prayer
relatedTo Compline
surface form: Small Compline
religiousTradition Byzantine Rite
theologicalTheme penitence
preparation for the coming day
vigilance in prayer
timeOfDay late evening
usedIn Eastern Catholic Churches
surface form: Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite

Eastern Orthodox Christianity
surface form: Eastern Orthodox Church

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Typikon appliesTo Great Compline
Byzantine Rite majorService Great Compline
Trisagion Hymn usedDuring Great Compline