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Holy Cross Monastery is an English-speaking Orthodox Christian monastic brotherhood within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the Diocese of Eastern America & New York. Learn more about the life and ministry of the monastery at https://holycross.org.

THE NINTH HOUR, which corresponds by our reckoning to the third hour of the afternoon, recalls the death of the Savior on the Cross, the earthquake, the arising of the dead from the graves, and the piercing of the side of the Lord with a spear. In accordance with this, corresponding psalms are selected. In them the dwellings of the Lord of hosts and a burning desire to enter into them are depicted; the prophecy of the Lord’s redemption of men is expounded; and the Lord’s descent into Hades is portrayed. The history of the origins of the Ninth hour is the same as that of the First, Third, and Sixth Hours; it is ascribed to the third century and the years that followed, which may also be observed in surviving literary monuments. At the reading of the Hours it is customary to read the Troparion and Kontakion hymns of the feast (if applicable) or of the saint of the day. However, in order to make the Hours herein available for general use throughout the Church year, the Troparion and Kontakion to the Holy Cross are used.