vespers
Sunset worship service
Vespers is an evening prayer service in Christian tradition, particularly in Catholic and Orthodox churches.
It's one of the canonical hours—set times for daily prayer.
The word comes from the Latin for evening.
In broader use, vespers can refer to any evening devotional: We attended vespers at the monastery.
The singular vesper appears mainly as an adjective meaning related to evening: vesper bells.
Light after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- eventideArchaic term for dusk
- gloamingPoetic term for dusk
- candlelightLuminescence from burning wick
incense · bells · stillness · quietude · serenity · contemplation · reverence · solemnity
Day's final liturgy
- matinsLiturgical dawn devotions
- laudsExpresses high admiration
- evening prayerWorship at nightfall
- liturgyFormal worship structure
benediction · mass · congregation · clergy · sanctuary · chapel · cathedral · abbey
Alternating liturgical song
- canticleScriptural text sung devotionally
- psalmodySacred vocal music practice
- gregorianNamed for Pope Gregory
- magnificatMary's song of praise
hymn · psalm · intonation · recitation · plainchant · polyphony · acapella · chorister
Address to deity
- meditationFocused attention practice
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
petition · adoration · piety · faith · spirituality · holiness · sanctity · reflection
twilight
Light after sunset
candlelight · incense · bells · stillness · quietude · serenity · contemplation · reverence · solemnity · sacred
compline
Day's final liturgy
- matinsLiturgical dawn devotions
- laudsExpresses high admiration
- evening prayerWorship at nightfall
liturgy · benediction · mass · congregation · clergy · sanctuary · chapel · cathedral · abbey · monastery
antiphon
Alternating liturgical song
- canticleScriptural text sung devotionally
- psalmodySacred vocal music practice
- gregorianNamed for Pope Gregory
magnificat · hymn · psalm · intonation · recitation · plainchant · polyphony · acapella · chorister · cantor
prayer
Address to deity
- meditationFocused attention practice
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
invocation · petition · adoration · piety · faith · spirituality · holiness · sanctity · reflection · worship
- liturgical booksbreviary, missal, lectionary, missals, breviaries
- monastic lifecelibacy, cloister, habit, obedience, poverty
- choral termscantata, oratorio, mass, requiem, anthem
- Evening Prayersevening prayer, night prayer, compline, sunset prayer, evening hymn
- monasteriesabbey, abbeys, abbot, abbots, abbess
- Breviarylauds, compline, sext, none, prime
vespersmatins
Liturgical dawn devotions
lauds · morning prayer · prime · vigils · dawn prayers