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Glite Dictionary
agrypnia

agrypnia

9.9
A night-long religious service with prayers and hymns before a feast day in Eastern Christian churches
  • noun
  • /əˈɡrɪp.ni.ə/
  • Specialized
: agrypnia
  • An agrypnia often includes prayers, readings, and hymns lasting through the night.

Examples

  • Many Orthodox Christians attend the agrypnia on the night before Easter.

  • The church was beautifully decorated for the agrypnia in celebration of the feast day.

  • The church held an agrypnia last night.

  • Many people attended the agrypnia for the feast of St. George.

  • Many Orthodox Christians attend the agrypnia on the night before Easter.

  • An agrypnia often includes prayers, readings, and hymns lasting through the night.

  • The church was beautifully decorated for the agrypnia in celebration of the feast day.

Synonyms

synaxis
vsagrypnia
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A religious meeting where people pray together, often to honor a saint

is a night long religious vigil held before specific feast days

Surface Forms

agrypnia singular
agrypnias plural

Etymology

Agrypnia comes from Greek parts a- and grypn- meaning 'not' and 'sleep', so it literally means 'not sleeping' or staying awake. That's why an agrypnia is a night-long religious watch or vigil where people keep prayer and song through the night.