Christmas 2026 Divine Service: what time is the beginning, duration, and which prayers are read

On Christmas Day, the divine service in Orthodox churches takes several hours and includes several stages: Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy, which are often celebrated at night, starting late in the evening on January 6. At the same time, most parishes also provide "daytime" options for believers: liturgy on the morning of January 7, so that everyone can choose a convenient time and quietly participate in prayer, confession and communion. The information about what time the Christmas service begins, how long it lasts and what prayers can be heard in the church on this day is in the material of Izvestia.

What time does the Christmas service start?

According to the church charter, Christmas belongs to the great feasts of the Lord, therefore, in many churches a night liturgy is celebrated — by analogy with Easter. The All—night vigil often begins on the evening of January 6 (around 16:00-22:00), and the Divine Liturgy begins at midnight or a little later. In a number of cathedrals, the schedule explicitly indicates the beginning of the liturgy at 00:00 or 23:30-00:30.

Where it is not possible to serve at night, the clergy hold a festive liturgy on the morning of January 7 — at 8:00-10:00. In some monasteries and cathedrals, a full night circle is practiced: Great Compline at about 23:00, followed by Matins and immediately Divine Liturgy, ending at 4-5 o'clock in the morning.

How long does the Christmas service last?

A full night service on Christmas Day — from Great Compline, Matins, and subsequent Liturgy — usually takes about 4-5.5 hours, depending on the church and choir. The abbots note that this is comparable in duration to a regular all-night vigil, which often lasts about four hours on Saturday (for example, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.).

If a believer comes only to the Divine Liturgy (night or morning), then he should expect about 1.5–2 hours of service. At the same time, those who wish to confess and receive communion usually come in advance, since there are many people in churches before Christmas and priests need time for confession.

The most powerful prayers for Christmas: which prayers to read on January 7 at home and in church

How is the Christmas service going?

The classical order of Christmas worship includes several stages. On the evening of January 6, Great Compline and Matins are served with festive hymns and the reading of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Then the Divine Liturgy is celebrated (most often St. John Chrysostom).

On the day of the feast itself, January 7, in churches where there was a night liturgy, another morning liturgy is often served to give an opportunity to pray to those who were physically unable to defend the night service.

What prayers and hymns are read at Christmas?

The main prayer texts of the holiday are the troparion and kontakion of the Nativity, which are sung at Vespers, matins and liturgy, as well as as part of the house prayer rule. The troparion begins with the words "Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hast raised up the light of reason in the world..." and glorifies Christmas as the illumination of the world by the light of true knowledge of God.

The Kontakion of the Nativity complements the meaning of the troparion, speaking of the birth of the "Supernatural" from the Virgin and the participation of angels, shepherds and magi in the worship of the Infant of God; its text is also unchanged and is given in printed and electronic collections of liturgical hymns. In addition, Christmas verses and irmos of the canon are sung at the service, and during the liturgy a special passage from the Gospel of Luke about the birth of Christ in Bethlehem and the adoration of the shepherds and magi is read.

How can a believer prepare and when is the best time to come

The clergy advise choosing a specific time to visit the temple, based on their strength and regime: for those who find it difficult to stay awake at night, it is wise to plan participation in the morning liturgy on January 7. At the same time, those who are going to receive communion at the night service are advised to stop eating the night before (most often after 18:00), and prepare for the Sacrament with confession and prayer during the day.

Each church publishes the exact schedule of Christmas services in advance: on the official website of the diocese, in parish groups, on information stands at the entrance to the church.