The Didache (late 1st or early 2nd century), one of the earliest non-biblical Christian texts, explicitly instructs: pray the Lord’s Prayer “three times each day,” in place of Jewish practices.
Historically, early Christians practiced set times of prayer, commonly three times a day (often at the third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day—roughly 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m.), building on Jewish customs and developing into the broader Liturgy of the Hours (or Divine Office).
This traces to Jewish roots. Scripture records Daniel praying three times daily (Daniel 6:10), and Psalm 55:17 refers to prayer “evening and morning and at noon.” Jews observed fixed prayer times tied to Temple sacrifices and daily rhythms (such as the Amidah/Eighteen Benedictions), which early Jewish Christians continued and adapted.
In the New Testament, the Apostles pray at these hours: the third hour (Acts 2:15, Pentecost), the sixth (Acts 10:9, Peter’s vision), and the ninth (Acts 3:1, Peter and John at the Temple).
Orthodox Christians continue this practice as we always have.
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