ACC ~ Mark 15 v25a

WORSHIPING AT SET HOURS

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS: Let your prayers be made at “the third hour”; [1] for then it was that Pilate gave sentence upon our Lord and savior to have him crucified. … Let your prayers be made also at the sixth hour; for at that time he was crucified. … We observe also “the ninth hour” of prayer; for at that time the sun was darkened and the earth shaken with horror, as being not able to look upon those bitter cruelties. [2] CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 8.34. [3]

[1] Cf. Mk 15:25.

[2] Cf. Mt 27:24, 51; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44-45; Acts 3:1; 10:3, 9, 30.

[3] PG 1:1135; GMI 423*.

THIRD OR SIXTH HOUR?

AUGUSTINE: One Evangelist says that the Lord was crucified at the sixth hour, [1] and another at the third hour. [2] Unless we understand it, we are left wondering. When the sixth hour was already beginning, Pilate is said to have sat on the judgment seat. In reality when the Lord was lifted up upon the tree, it was the sixth hour. … They had killed him already at the time when they were crying out. The government officials at the sixth hour crucified, the transgressors of the law at the third hour cried out. That which some did with hands at the sixth hour, others did with tongue at the third hour. More guilty are they that with crying out were raging, than they that in obedience were serving. PSALMS 64.5. [3]

[1] Cf. Jn 19:14.

[2] Cf. Mk 15:25.

[3] Cetedoc 0283, 39.63.5.1; NPNF 1 8:264*. Cf. an alternative interpretation in HOG 3.13, NPNF 1 6:203.