Compline ( ), also known as Complin, Night Prayer, or the Prayers at the End of the Day, is the final prayer liturgy (or

office An office is a space where the employees of an organization perform Business administration, administrative Work (human activity), work in order to support and realize the various goals of the organization. The word "office" may also denote a po ...

) of the day in the

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

tradition of

canonical hours In the practice of Christianity, canonical hours mark the divisions of the day in terms of Fixed prayer times#Christianity, fixed times of prayer at regular intervals. A book of hours, chiefly a breviary, normally contains a version of, or sel ...

, which are prayed at

fixed prayer times Fixed prayer times, praying at dedicated times during the day, are common practice in major world religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Judaism Jewish law requires Jews to pray thrice a day; the morning prayer is known as Shachari ...

. The English word is derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

, as compline is the completion of the waking day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the

6th century The 6th century is the period from 501 through 600 in line with the Julian calendar. In the West, the century marks the end of Classical Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire late in the prev ...

in the ''

Rule of Saint Benedict The ''Rule of Saint Benedict'' () is a book of precepts written in Latin by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. The spirit of Saint Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of th ...

'' (''Regula Benedicti''; hereafter, RB), in Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 42, and he uses the verb ''compleo'' to signify compline: "''Omnes ergo in unum positi compleant''" ("All having assembled in one place, let them say compline"); "''et exeuntes a completorio''" ("and, after going out from compline")… (RB, Chap. 42). Compline liturgies are a part of

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

Oriental Orthodox The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christianity, Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysitism, Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 50 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to the Nicene Christian ...

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

, and certain other Christian

liturgical Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

traditions. In

Western Christianity Western Christianity is one of two subdivisions of Christianity (Eastern Christianity being the other). Western Christianity is composed of the Latin Church and Protestantism, Western Protestantism, together with their offshoots such as the O ...

, Compline tends to be a contemplative office that emphasizes spiritual peace. In most

monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which m ...

it is the custom to begin the "Great Silence" after compline, during which the whole community, including guests, observes silence throughout the night until after the

Terce Terce is a canonical hour of the Divine Office. It consists mainly of psalms and is held around 9 a.m. Its name comes from Latin and refers to the third hour of the day after dawn. Along with Prime, Sext, None, and Compline, Terce belongs ...

the next day. Compline comprises the final office in the

Liturgy of the Hours The Liturgy of the Hours (), Divine Office (), or ''Opus Dei'' ("Work of God") are a set of Catholic prayers comprising the canonical hours, often also referred to as the breviary, of the Latin Church. The Liturgy of the Hours forms the official ...

Historical development

:''This section incorporates information from the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1917. References to

psalms The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament. The book is an anthology of B ...

follow the numbering system of the

Septuagint The Septuagint ( ), sometimes referred to as the Greek Old Testament or The Translation of the Seventy (), and abbreviated as LXX, is the earliest extant Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible from the original Biblical Hebrew. The full Greek ...

, as said in the

of the

Vulgate The Vulgate () is a late-4th-century Bible translations into Latin, Latin translation of the Bible. It is largely the work of Saint Jerome who, in 382, had been commissioned by Pope Damasus I to revise the Gospels used by the Diocese of ...

.'' From the time of the

early Church Early Christianity, otherwise called the Early Church or Paleo-Christianity, describes the historical era of the Christian religion up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Christianity spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and bey ...

, the practice of seven fixed prayer times has been taught; in ''

Apostolic Tradition The ''Apostolic Tradition'' (or ''Egyptian Church Order'') is an early Christian treatise which belongs to the genre of the ancient Church Orders. It has been described to be of "incomparable importance as a source of information about church lif ...

'', Hippolytus instructed Christians to pray seven times a day "on rising, at the lighting of the evening lamp, at bedtime, at midnight" and "the third, sixth and ninth hours of the day, being hours associated with Christ's Passion." The origin of compline has given rise to considerable discussion among liturgists. In the past, general opinion ascribed the origin of this liturgical hour to St. Benedict, at the beginning of the 6th century. But Jules Pargoire and A. Vandepitte trace its source to Saint

Basil Basil (, ; , ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' (, )), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a hardiness (plants), tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" r ...

. Vandepitte states that it was not in Cæsarea in 375, but in his retreat in

Pontus Pontus or Pontos may refer to: * Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea) * Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology * Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...

(358–362), that Basil established compline, which hour did not exist prior to his time, that is, until shortly after the middle of the 4th century. also traced the source of compline back to the 4th century, finding mention of it in a passage in

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (30 May AD 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilius, was a historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian polemicist from the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In about AD 314 he became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima. ...

and in another in

St. Ambrose Ambrose of Milan (; 4 April 397), venerated as Saint Ambrose, was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Ari ...

, and also in

John Cassian John Cassian, also known as John the Ascetic and John Cassian the Roman (, ''Ioannes Cassianus'', or ''Ioannes Massiliensis''; Greek: Ίωάννης Κασσιανός ό Ερημίτης; – ), was a Christian monk and theologian celebrated ...

. These texts bear witness to the private custom of saying a prayer before retiring to rest. If this was not the canonical hour of compline, it was certainly a preliminary step towards it. The same writers reject the opinion of

Paulin Ladeuze Paulin Ladeuze (; 1870–1940) was a Belgian bishop and theologian. Biography Paulin Ladeuze was born in Harveng, Belgium on 3 July 1870. He was educated at the Catholic University of Leuven, and became its rector in 1909, serving until his d ...

and who believe that compline had a place in the Rule of St. Pachomius, which would mean that it originated still earlier in the 4th century. The

Catholic Encyclopedia ''The'' ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'', also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedi ...

argues that, if St. Basil instituted and organized the hour of compline for the

East East is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fact that ea ...

, as St. Benedict did for the

West West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some Romance langu ...

, there existed as early as the days of St. Cyprian and

Clement of Alexandria Titus Flavius Clemens, also known as Clement of Alexandria (; – ), was a Christian theology, Christian theologian and philosopher who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. Among his pupils were Origen and Alexander of Jerusalem. A ...

the custom of reciting a prayer before sleep, and that this might be taken as the original source of compline.

Compline in the Roman Rite

It is generally thought that the Benedictine form of compline is the earliest western order, although some scholars, such as Plaine, have maintained that the hour of compline as found in the

Roman Breviary The Roman Breviary (Ecclesiastical Latin, Latin: ''Breviarium Romanum'') is a breviary of the Roman Rite in the Catholic Church. A liturgical book, it contains public or canonical Catholic prayer, prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings, and notat ...

at his time, antedated the

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

Office. These debates apart, Benedict's arrangement probably invested the hour of compline with the liturgical character and arrangement which were preserved in the

Benedictine Order The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly Christian mysticism, contemplative Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), order of the Catholic Church for men and f ...

, and largely adopted by the Roman Church. The original form of the Benedictine Office, lacking even an

antiphon An antiphon ( Greek ἀντίφωνον, ἀντί "opposite" and φωνή "voice") is a short chant in Christian ritual, sung as a refrain. The texts of antiphons are usually taken from the Psalms or Scripture, but may also be freely compo ...

for the psalms, is much simpler than its Roman counterpart, resembling more closely the Minor Hours of the day. Saint Benedict first gave the Office the basic structure by which it has come to be celebrated in the West: three

psalm The Book of Psalms ( , ; ; ; ; , in Islam also called Zabur, ), also known as the Psalter, is the first book of the third section of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) called ('Writings'), and a book of the Old Testament. The book is an anthology of H ...

s ( 4, 90, and 133) (Vulgate numbering) said without

s, the

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

, the lesson, the

versicle A versicle (from Latin , ) is a short two- or four-line verse that is sung or recited in the liturgy alternating between the celebrant, hebdomadarian or cantor and the congregation. It is usually a psalm verse in two parts. A series of versicl ...

Kyrie eleison ', a transliteration of Greek , vocative case of ('' Kyrios''), is a common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, also called the ( ; ). In the Bible The prayer, , "Lord, have mercy" derives from a Biblical phrase. Greek , ...

'', the

benediction A benediction (, 'well' + , 'to speak') is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service. It can also refer to a specific Christian religious service including the exposition of the eucharisti ...

, and the dismissal (RB, Chaps. 17 and 18). The Roman Office of compline came to be richer and more complex than the simple Benedictine psalmody. A fourth psalm was added, ''In te Domine speravi'' ( Psalm 30 in Vulgate). And perhaps at a fairly late date was added the solemn introduction of a benediction with a reading (based perhaps on the spiritual reading which, in the Rule of St. Benedict, precedes compline: RB, Chap. 42), and the confession and absolution of faults. This is absent from parallel forms, such as that of Sarum. The distinctive character and greater solemnity of the Roman form of compline comes from the responsory,'' In manus tuas, Domine'' ("Into Thy hands, O Lord"), with the evangelical

canticle In the context of Christian liturgy, a canticle (from the Latin ''canticulum'', a diminutive of ''canticum'', "song") is a psalm-like song with biblical lyrics taken from elsewhere than the Book of Psalms, but included in psalters and books su ...

Nunc Dimittis The Nunc dimittis (), also known as the Song of Simeon or the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 to 32. Its Latin name comes from its incipit, the opening words, of the Vulgate transl ...

and its

anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...

, which is particularly characteristic. The hour of compline, such as it appeared in the

prior to the Second Vatican Council, may be divided into several parts, viz. the beginning or introduction, the psalmody, with its usual accompaniment of

s, the

, the ''

capitulum capitulum (plural capitula) may refer to: *the Latin word for chapter ** an index or list of chapters at the head of a gospel manuscript ** a short reading in the Liturgy of the Hours *** derived from which, it is the Latin for the assembly known ...

'', the response, the ''

Nunc dimittis The Nunc dimittis (), also known as the Song of Simeon or the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 to 32. Its Latin name comes from its incipit, the opening words, of the Vulgate transl ...

'', the prayer, and the

. By way of liturgical variety, the liturgy of ''initium noctis'' may also be studied in the Celtic Liturgy, such as it is read in the

Antiphonary of Bangor The Antiphonary of Bangor (Antiphonarium Monasterii Benchorensis) is an ancient Latin manuscript, supposed to have been originally written at Bangor Abbey in modern-day Northern Ireland. History A thin manuscript volume of 36 leaves, it is th ...

, its plan being set forth by Warren and by Bishop (see

Bibliography Bibliography (from and ), as a discipline, is traditionally the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology (from ). English author and bibliographer John Carter describes ''bibliograph ...

, below). In the breviary of 1974

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

, compline is divided as follows: introduction, an optional

examination of conscience Examination of conscience is a review of one's past thoughts, words, actions, and omissions for the purpose of ascertaining their conformity with, or deviation from, the moral law. Among Christians, this is generally a private review; secular in ...

or penitential rite, a

, psalmody with accompanying

s, scriptural reading, the responsory, the Canticle of Simeon, concluding prayer, and

. The final

to the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

(''

Salve Regina The "Salve Regina" ( , ; meaning "Hail Queen"), also known as the "Hail Holy Queen", is a Marian hymn and one of four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons within the Christian liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina ...

'', etc.) is an essential part of the Office.

Lutheran usage

The office of Compline (along with the other daily offices) is included in the various Lutheran hymnals, books of worship and prayer books, such as the

Lutheran Service Book ''Lutheran Service Book'' (''LSB'') is the newest official hymnal of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC). It was prepared by the LCMS Commission on Worship and published by Concordia Publishing H ...

and '' For All the Saints: A Prayer Book for and by the Church''. In some Lutheran Churches, compline may be conducted by a layperson with a slight modification to the liturgy. In the Lutheran Service Book, used by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Compline consists of opening versicles from Psalm 92, confession of sins, psalmody, an office hymn, readings from scripture,

responsory A responsory or respond is a type of chant in western Christian liturgies. Definition The most general definition of a responsory is any psalm, canticle, or other sacred musical work sung responsorially, that is, with a cantor or small group sing ...

, prayer (concluded with the Lord's Prayer), the

, and benediction.

Anglican usage

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In the

tradition, Compline was originally merged with

Vespers Vespers /ˈvɛspərz/ () is a Christian liturgy, liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin liturgical rites, Latin and Eastern Catholic liturgy, Eastern Catholic liturgical rites), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental O ...

to form Evening Prayer in the ''

Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...

''. The United States Episcopal Church's ''Book of Offices'' of 1914, the Church of England's 1928 proposed prayer book, the

Scottish Episcopal Church The Scottish Episcopal Church (; ) is a Christian denomination in Scotland. Scotland's third largest church, the Scottish Episcopal Church has 303 local congregations. It is also an Ecclesiastical province#Anglican Communion, ecclesiastical provi ...

's 1929 Scottish Prayer Book, the

Anglican Church of Canada The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC or ACoC) is the Ecclesiastical province#Anglican Communion, province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French-language name is ''l'Église anglicane du Canada''. In 2016, the Anglican Church of ...

's 1959/1962 prayer book, and also the 2004 version of the ''Book of Common Prayer'' for the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland (, ; , ) is a Christian church in Ireland, and an autonomy, autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the Christianity in Ireland, second-largest Christian church on the ...

, along with the 2009 ''Daily Prayer'' book of the

Church in Wales The Church in Wales () is an Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses. The Archbishop of Wales does not have a fixed archiepiscopal see, but serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishops. The position is currently held b ...

, restored a form of compline to Anglican worship. Several contemporary liturgical texts, including the American 1979 ''Book of Common Prayer'', the Anglican Church of Canada's ''

Book of Alternative Services The ''Book of Alternative Services'' (''BAS'') is the contemporary, inclusive-language liturgical book used in place of the 1962 ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) in most parishes of the Anglican Church of Canada The Anglican Church of Canad ...

'', and the Church of England's ''

Common Worship ''Common Worship'' is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent in 2000. It represents the most recent stage of development of the Liturgical M ...

'', provide modern forms of the service. A traditional form is provided in the 1991

Anglican Service Book ''The Anglican Service Book'' is an unofficial Anglican prayer book in traditional language which was first published in the United States in 1991. The book was compiled by a committee of priests, and published when David Moyer was rector of the ...

. The ''Common Worship'' service consists of the opening sentences, the confession of sins, the psalms and other Bible lessons, the canticle of Simeon, and prayers, including a benediction. There are authorized alternatives for the days of the week and the seasons of the Christian year. As a public service of worship, like Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, compline may be led by a layperson, quite similar to Lutheran use.

Compline in Byzantine usage

Compline is called literally, the after-supper (

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

( ''τὸ'') ''Ἀπόδειπνον'' , Slavonic ''повечеріе'', Povecheriye), has two distinct forms which are quite different in length Small Compline and Great Compline. Both forms include a

canon Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the material accepted as officially written by an author or an ascribed author * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western canon, th ...

, typically those found

Octoechos Oktōēchos (here transcribed "Octoechos"; Greek: ;The feminine form exists as well, but means the book octoechos. from ὀκτώ "eight" and ἦχος "sound, mode" called echos; Slavonic: Осмогласие, ''Osmoglasie'' from о́с ...

to the

Theotokos ''Theotokos'' ( Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are or (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are "Mother of God" or "God-beare ...

, although alternative canons are used on certain forefeasts, afterfeasts and days during the

Paschaltide Eastertide (also known as Eastertime or the Easter season) or Paschaltide (also known as Paschaltime or the Paschal season) is a festal season in the liturgical year of Christianity that focuses on celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. P ...

. A further exception is on days when the liturgy to the saint(s) of the day is displaced by, e.g., by a newly canonized or locally venerated saint (or icon), the displaced canon is used and after that are inserted the

stichera A sticheron (Greek language, Greek: "set in verses"; plural: stichera; Greek language, Greek: ) is a hymn of a particular genre sung during the daily evening (Hesperinos/Vespers) and morning (Orthros) offices, and some other services, of the Ea ...

prescribed for

vespers Vespers /ˈvɛspərz/ () is a Christian liturgy, liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin liturgical rites, Latin and Eastern Catholic liturgy, Eastern Catholic liturgical rites), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental O ...

. The Office always ends with a mutual asking of forgiveness. In some traditions, most notably among the

Russians Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...

, Evening Prayers (i.e., Prayers Before Sleep) are read at the end of compline. It is an ancient custom, practiced on the Holy Mountain and in other monasteries, for everyone present at the end of compline to venerate the

relics In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...

and

icons An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, saints, and angels. Although especially ...

in the church, and receive the priest's blessing.

Small Compline

Small compline is prescribed for most nights of the year. It is presided over by a single priest without a deacon. The liturgy is composed of three Psalms (50, 69, 142), the Small Doxology, the

Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed, also called the Creed of Constantinople, is the defining statement of belief of Nicene Christianity and in those Christian denominations that adhere to it. The original Nicene Creed was first adopted at the First Council of N ...

, the Canon followed by ''

Axion Estin ''Axion estin'' ( Greek: , Slavonic: Достóйно éсть, ''Dostóino yesť''), or It is Truly Meet, is a pair of hymns to the Virgin Mary used in the Divine Services of the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, consisting o ...

'', the

Trisagion The ''Trisagion'' (; 'Thrice Holy'), sometimes called by its incipit ''Agios O Theos'', is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, Western Orthodox, Oriental Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodox, an ...

Troparia A troparion (Greek , plural: , ; Georgian: , ; Church Slavonic: , ) in Byzantine music and in the religious music of Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a short hymn of one stanza, or organised in more complex forms as series of stanzas. The wid ...

for the day, ''

'' (40 times), the Prayer of the Hours, the Supplicatory Prayer of Paul the Monk, and the Prayer to Jesus Christ of Antiochus the Monk.Here follow the Evening Prayers in places where they are said at compline. Following these are the mutual forgiveness and final blessing by the priest and the priest's reciting of a

litany Litany, in Christian worship and some forms of Jewish worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions. The word comes through Latin ''wikt:litania, litania'' from Ancient Greek wikt:λιτα ...

. Before an

all-night vigil The All-night vigil is a service of the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches consisting of an aggregation of the canonical hours of Compline (in Greek usage only), Vespers (or, on a few occasions, Great Compline), Matins, and the ...

, compline in the Greek tradition precedes great vespers, being read during the great incensing, while in Russian tradition it simply follows little vespers.

Great Compline

Great Compline is a penitential daily office which is served on the following occasions: * Tuesday and Thursday nights of Cheesefare Week, the week proceeding

Great Lent Great Lent, or the Great Fast (Greek language, Greek: Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή, ''Megali Tessarakosti'' or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, ''Megali Nisteia'', meaning "Great 40 Days", and "Great Fast", respectively), is the most impor ...

* Monday through Thursday nights of Great Lent * Friday nights of Great Lent * Monday and Tuesday of

Holy Week Holy Week () commemorates the seven days leading up to Easter. It begins with the commemoration of Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, marks the betrayal of Jesus on Spy Wednesday (Holy Wednes ...

* Monday through Friday during the lesser Lenten seasons:

Nativity Fast In Christianity, the Nativity Fast—or Fast of the Prophets in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church—is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churc ...

Apostles' Fast The Apostles' Fast, also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles, the Fast of Peter and Paul, or sometimes St. Peter's Fast, is a fast observed by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, and Reformed Orthodox Christians. In the Byza ...

, and

Dormition Fast The Dormition of the Mother of God is a Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches (except the East Syriac Rit ...

* The Eves of certain

Great Feasts In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast of the death and Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter), is the greatest of all holy days and as such it is called the "feast of feasts". Immediately below it in importance, there is a group of T ...

, as a part of the All-Night Vigil: Nativity,

Theophany Theophany () is an encounter with a deity that manifests in an observable and tangible form.. It is often confused with other types of encounters with a deity, but these interactions are not considered theophanies unless the deity reveals itse ...

, and

Annunciation The Annunciation (; ; also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord; ) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Ma ...

. Unlike Small Compline, Great Compline has portions of the liturgy which are chanted by the Choir and during Lent the Prayer of St. Ephraim is said with prostrations. During the First Week of Great Lent, the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete is divided into four portions and read on Monday through Thursday nights. Due to the penitential nature of Great Compline, it is not uncommon for the priest to hear

Confession A confession is a statement – made by a person or by a group of people – acknowledging some personal fact that the person (or the group) would ostensibly prefer to keep hidden. The term presumes that the speaker is providing information that ...

during or immediately following the liturgy. Great Compline is composed of three sections, each beginning with the call to prayer, "O come, let us worship…": First Part :Psalms 4, 6, and 12; Glory…, etc.; Psalms 24, 30, 90; then the hymn "God is With Us" and troparia, the Creed, the hymn "O Most holy Lady Theotokos", the Trisagion and Troparia of the Day, ''Kyrie eleison'' (40 times), "More honorable than the cherubim…" and the Prayer of

St. Basil the Great Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (330 – 1 or 2 January 379) was an early Roman Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia from 370 until his death in 379. He was an influential theologian who suppor ...

. Second Part :Psalms 50, 101, and the

Prayer of Manasses The Prayer of Manasseh is a short, penitential prayer attributed to king Manasseh of Judah. The majority of scholars believe that the Prayer of Manasseh was written in Greek (while a minority argues for a Semitic original) in the second or first ...

; the Trisagion, and Troparia of Repentance, ''Kyrie eleison'' (40 times), "More honorable than the cherubim…" and the Prayer of St. Mardarius. Third Part :Psalms 69, 142, and the Small Doxology; then the Canon followed by ''

'', the

, the hymn "O Lord of Hosts, be with us…", ''Kyrie eleison'' (40 times), the Prayer of the Hours, "More honorable than the cherubim…", the Prayer of St. Ephraim, Trisagion (this depends on tradition, it is not always recited here), the Supplicatory Prayer of Paul the Monk to the

, and the Prayer to Jesus Christ of Antiochus the Monk. Then the mutual forgiveness. Instead of the normal final blessing by the priest, all prostrate themselves while the priest reads a special intercessory prayer. Then the litany and the veneration of icons and relics.

Oriental Christian usages

Syriac Orthodox Church, Indian Orthodox Church, and Mar Thoma Syrian Church

In the

Syriac Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination, denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The ch ...

and

Indian Orthodox Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. It serves India's ...

, as well as the

Mar Thoma Syrian Church The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Reformed Syrian ChurchS. N. Sadasivan. A Social History of India''. APH Publishing; 2000. . p. 442. and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malab ...

(an Oriental Protestant denomination), the office of Compline is also known as Soutoro and is prayed at 9 pm using the

Shehimo Shehimo (, ; English language, English: Book of Common Prayer, also spelled Sh'himo) is the West Syriac Rite, West Syriac Christian breviary of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the West Syriac Rite, West Syriac Saint Thomas Christians of India (S ...

breviary.

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

In the

Coptic Orthodox Church The Coptic Orthodox Church (), also known as the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt. The head of the church and the See of Alexandria is the pope of Alexandria on the Holy Apo ...

, an

denomination, the Compline is prayed at 9 pm using the

Agpeya The ''Agpeya'' ( Coptic: Ϯⲁⲅⲡⲓⲁ, ) is the Coptic Christian "Prayer Book of the Hours" or breviary, and is equivalent to the Shehimo in the Syriac Orthodox Church (another Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination), as well as the Byzan ...

breviary before retiring.

Armenian Liturgy: Hours of Peace and Rest

There are two offices in the daily worship of the

Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...

which are recited between sundown and sleep: the Peace Hour and the Rest Hour. These are two distinct liturgies of communal worship. It is the usage in some localities to combine these two liturgies, with abbreviations, into a single liturgy.

The Peace Hour

The Peace Hour (Armenian: Խաղաղական Ժամ ''khaghaghakan zham'') is the office associated with compline in other Christian liturgies. In the Armenian Book of Hours, or Zhamagirk`, it is stated that the Peace Hour commemorates the Spirit of God, but also the Word of God, “when he was laid in the tomb and descended into Hades, and brought peace to the spirits.” Outline of the Peace Hour If the Song of Steps is recited: ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father … Amen.''; Psalm 34:1–7: ''I have blessed the Lord at all times ()''…; ''Glory to the Father'' (Always with ''Now and always … Amen''.; ''And again in peace let us pray to the Lord…''; ''Blessing and glory to the Father … Amen.''; Song of Steps: Psalm 120:1–3: ''In my distress I cried ()''…; ''Glory to the Father…'' If the Song of Steps is not said: ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our father … Amen''; Psalm 88:1–2 ''God of my salvation ()''…; ''Glory to the Father…''; ''And again in peace let us pray to the Lord …''; ''Blessing and glory to the Father … Amen.''; ''Peace with all.'' In either case the liturgy continues here: Psalms 4, 6, 13, 16, 43, 70, 86:16–17; ''Glory to the Father…''; Song: ''Vouchsafe unto us (Shnorhea mez)…''; ''Glory to the Father…''; Acclamation: ''At the approach of darkness (I merdzenal erekoyis)…''; Proclamation: ''And again in peace … Let us give thanks to the Lord ()…''; Prayer: ''Beneficent Lord (Tēr Barerar)…''; Psalm 27 ''The Lord is my light (Tēr loys im)…''; ''Glory to the Father…''; Song: ''Look down with love (Nayats` sirov)…''; Acclamation: ''Lord, do not turn your face ()…''; Proclamation: ''And again in peace … Let us beseech almighty God (Aghach`ests`ouk` zamenakal'')…; Prayer: ''Bestowing with grace (Shnorhatou bareats`)''… On non-fasting days the liturgy ends here with: ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our father … Amen''. On fasting days continue here: Psalm 119; ''Glory to the Father–''; Hymn: ''We entreat you (I k`ez hayts`emk`)…'' During the Great Fast: Evening Chant (varies); Acclamation: ''To the spirits at rest ()…''; Proclamation: ''And again in peace … For the repose of the souls (Vasn hangouts`eal)…; Lord, have mercy'' (thrice); Prayer: ''Christ, Son of God ()…; Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our father… Amen.”''

The Rest Hour

The Rest Hour (Armenian: Հանգստեան Ժամ ) is celebrated after the Peace Hour, and is the last of the offices of the day. It may be considered communal worship before sleep. It bears some resemblance in content to compline in the Roman Rite. In the Armenian Book of Hours it is stated in many manuscripts that the Rest Hour commemorates God the Father, “that he protect us through the protecting arm of the Onlybegotten in the darkness of night.” Outline of the Rest Hour: ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father … Amen.''; Psalm 43:3–5: ''Lord, send your light and your truth (Arak`ea Tēr)…''; ''Glory to the Father…; And again in peace let us pray to the Lord …; Blessing and glory to the Father … Amen.;'' Psalms 119:41–56, 119:113–120, 119:169–176, 91, 123, 54, Daniel 3:29–34, Luke 2:29–32, Psalms 142:7, 86:16–17, 138:7–8, Luke 1:46–55; ''Glory to the Father…''; Acclamation: ''My soul into your hands ()…''; Proclamation: ''And again in peace … Let us beseech almighty God (Aghach`ests`ouk` zamenakaln)…''; Prayer: ''Lord our God (Tēr Astouats mer)…'' ''Ending:'' Psalm 4; Pre-gospel sequence; Gospel: John 12:24ff; ''Glory to you, our God''; Proclamation: ''By the holy Cross (Sourb khach`ivs…)…''; Prayer: ''Protect us (; ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father … Amen.'' Ending during Fasts: Acclamation: ''We fall down before you (Ankanimk` araji k`o)…''; Meditation Twelve of St. Gregory of Narek; Meditation 94 of St. Gregory of Narek; Meditation 41 of St. Gregory of Narek; Prayer: ''In faith I confess (Havatov khostovanim)…'' by St. Nerses the Graceful; Acclamation: ''Through your holy spotless and virgin mother (Vasn srbouhvoy)…''; Proclamation: ''Holy Birthgiver of God (Sourb zAstouatsatsinn), ,''; Prayer: ''Accept, Lord (Unkal, Tēr)…''; ''Blessed is our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our Father … Amen.''

Notes

References

* Bäumer, ''Histoire du Bréviaire'', tr. Biron, I, 135, 147–149 ''et passim'' * Batiffol, ''Histoire du bréviaire romain'', 35 * Besse, ''Les Moines d'Orient antérieurs au concile de Chalcédoine'' (Paris, 1900), 333 * Bishop, ''A Service Book of the Seventh Century'' in '' The Church Quarterly Review'' (January, 1894), XXXVII, 347 * Butler, ''The Text of St. Benedict's Rule'', in ''Downside Review'', XVII, 223 * Bresard, Luc. ''Monastic Spirituality''. Three vols. (Stanbrook Abbey, Worcester: A.I.M., 1996) * Cabrol, ''Le Livre de la Prière antique'', 224 * * Ladeuze, ''Etude sur le cénobitisme pakhomien pendant le IVe siècle et la première moitié du Ve'' (Louvain, 1898), 288 * Pargoire, ''Prime et complies'' in ''Rev. d'hist. et de littér. relig.'' (1898), III, 281–288, 456–467 * Pargoire and Pétridès in ''Dict. d'arch. et de liturgie'', s. v. Apodeipnon, I, 2579–2589 * Plaine, ''La Génèse historique des Heures'' in ''Rev. Anglo-romaine'', I, 593 * —Idem, "De officii seu cursus Romani origine" in ''Studien u. Mittheilungen'' (1899), X, 364–397 * Vandepitte, ''Saint Basile et l'origine de complies'' in ''Rev. Augustinienne'' (1903), II, 258–264 * Warren, ''The Antiphonary of Bangor: an Early Irish MS.'' (a complete facsimile in collotype, with a transcription, London, 1893) * —Idem, ''Liturgy and Ritual of the Keltic Church'' (Oxford, 1881)

External links

Roman Rite

Liturgy of the Hours

Liturgy of the Hours at www.ebreviary.com
(login required)

(English)
Compline of the Liturgy of the Hours, in Latin with Gregorian chants

Eastern Orthodox

Great Compline as sung during Great Lent in the Antiochian tradition

Anglican and Protestant

Pray Compline

The Lutheran Service Book with Prayer Offices (LCMS)

* ttp://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/Anglican_Service_Book/office.html#compline The Order for Compline in traditional language in The Anglican Service Book (1991)
Night Prayer from Common Worship of the Church of England (Anglican)

An Office for Compline (United Methodist – Order of St Luke)
(PDF)
Compline (Methodist Church – Stewardship Prayer Resources)
(Word file)
Compline (Methodist Church – Stewardship Prayer Resources)
(PDF – booklet format)

Sung compline

*
Compline Choir of Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
See also Wikipedia entry
Compline Choir of Saint David's Episcopal Church, Austin

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110726104853/http://www.pacem-music.org/compline/ Pacific Academy of Ecclesiastical Music*
Pittsburgh Compline Choir

Weekly Compline at Christ Church, New Haven, CT

Weekly Compline at Christ Church Anglican in Savannah, GA

St. Mary's Schola of St. Mary's Church, Arlington, VA

Compline Choir at The Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

Compline and litany of the Most blessed Sacrament for the octave of Corpus Christi in the Corpus Christi Royal College of Valencia
{{Authority control Liturgy of the Hours Anglican liturgy Anglo-Catholicism Book of Common Prayer Little Hours