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From Nordan Symposia
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A '''vigil''' (from the ''Latin'' vigilia, [[meaning]] [[wakefulness]]) is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for [[devotional]] watching, or an observance. The Italian word vigilia has become generalized in this sense and means "eve" (as in on the eve of the [[war]]).
A '''vigil''' (from the ''Latin'' vigilia, [[meaning]] [[wakefulness]]) is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for [[devotional]] watching, or an observance. The Italian word vigilia has become generalized in this sense and means "eve" (as in on the eve of the [[war]]).
*''Eves of religious celebrations''
*''Eves of religious celebrations''
A vigil may be held on the eve of a [[religious]] festival (feast days), observed by remaining [[awake]]--"watchful"--as a devotional [[exercise]] or [[ritual]] [[observance]] on the eve of a [[holy]] day. Such [[liturgical]] vigils usually consist of [[psalms]], [[prayers]] and hymns, possibly a sermon or [[readings]] from the Holy Fathers, and sometimes periods of [[silent]] [[meditation]].
A vigil may be held on the eve of a [[religious]] festival (feast days), observed by remaining [[awake]]--"watchful"--as a devotional [[exercise]] or [[ritual]] [[observance]] on the eve of a [[holy]] day. Such [[liturgical]] vigils usually consist of [[Song|psalms]], [[prayers]] and hymns, possibly a sermon or [[readings]] from the Holy Fathers, and sometimes periods of [[silent]] [[meditation]].
The term "eve" means that the observance begins on the evening before. In [[traditional]] [[Christianity]], the celebration of liturgical feasts begins on the evening before the holy day because the Early Church continued the [[Jewish]] [[practice]] of beginnnig the day at sunset rather than midnight.
The term "eve" means that the observance begins on the evening before. In [[traditional]] [[Christianity]], the celebration of liturgical feasts begins on the evening before the holy day because the Early Church continued the [[Jewish]] [[practice]] of beginnnig the day at sunset rather than midnight.
