Church History
What is Compline? A Little History…
Recently, we have begun offering the service of Compline in the evenings. Many have asked, “What is Compline?” A brief history of Compline can be found in “Commentary on the American Prayer Book”[1]Compline originated in the fourth century as the night prayers of monks in their dormitories. In his Rule, Benedict of Nursia describes the content of the rite in the sixth century: “Let Compline be limited to the saying of three psalms, which are to be said straightforwardly without…
Egeria’s Travels
For many Episcopalians celebrating Holy Week—the seven-day period preceding Easter—it’s hard to imagine Palm Sunday without a procession of palms or Good Friday without the adoration of the cross, and for many, the first celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at the Easter Vigil, celebrated after sunset on the eve of Easter Day. Who is responsible for conveying to the early Church what we know about the celebrations of Holy Week, celebrations that date back fourth and/or early fifth century in ancient…