In ancient times, days were counted from the evening. At six o’clock p.m. (as we count time), night began, which was divided into the following
four portions or watches (times of changing sentries): evening (from 6 to 9 p.m.
as we would say); midnight (from 9 p.m. to 12); the cock-crow (from 12 to 3 a.m.), and
morning (from 3 to 6 a.m.). The day began at 6 a.m. by our reckoning, and was
also divided into four watches or hours: The first hour (6 to 9 a.m.); the third hour (from 9 a.m. to 12 or noon);
the sixth hour (from 12 to 3 p.m.), and the ninth hour (from 3 to 6 p. m.). Christians began each
portion of the day by common prayer. This resulted in eight services: Vespers,
Compline, Midnight Office and Matins for the night; the services of the First,
Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours for the day. Besides these, in fulfillment of
Christ’s command to break bread in memory of him, Christians celebrate every
day the Liturgy, or, if not the Liturgy, the Typica, otherwise called
the “Pro-Liturgy Service.” Thus was formed a daily cycle of nine services