Sources such as the Didache, Tertullian, Cyprian, Clement of Alexandria, and the Apostolic Tradition (attributed to Hippolytus) show that all Christians were encouraged to pray at set times:
- The Lord’s Prayer three times a day. – Prayer specifically at the third, sixth, and ninth hours of daylight (roughly 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m.—later called Terce, Sext, and None)
- These were linked to events of Christ’s Passion and to apostolic practice (Acts 2:15, 3:1, 10:9).
- Additional prayers in the morning (upon rising) and evening (at sunset or before sleep), and sometimes at midnight. Orthodox Christians still do.
New Testament Examples
Acts 3:1 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”
Acts 10:9 “The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.” (About noon.)
Acts 10:3 “About the ninth hour of the day he [Cornelius] saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, ‘Cornelius.’”
Acts 10:30 “And Cornelius said, ‘Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing…’” (Again, the ninth hour / ~3 p.m.)
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