Third Hour

The Third Hour prayer of the Agpeya commemorates

Christ’s trial by Pilate,

His ascension to heaven,

and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

However, the prayer goes further than acting as a remembrance, but allows us to be in the presence of God. The Third hour, also known as “Terce” helps guide our prayers to have the Holy Spirit work within us, just as He did through the disciples. H.H Pope Shenouda III writes in “Why do we pray the Agpeya?” (1974), “By the assistance of the Agpeya we learn how to say our prayers and the appropriate way to speak to God.” He continues to write that the Agpeya isn’t a replacement to personal prayer, but instead, a way to include all the details that an individual might forget in their own prayer. The Agpeya allows us to pray for the supplication of yourself and others, confession of sin, asking for forgiveness, thanksgiving, as well as praise. Our focus of the Third Hour in particular is to pray that the Holy Spirit transforms our lives and works through us, similarly to the disciples.

Psalm 42 is one of the many Psalms that stands out when discussing the transformation of spiritual life through the Holy Spirit. The Psalm reads, “Send forth Your light and Your truth: they have led me, and brought me to Your holy mountain, and to Your dwelling.” (Psalm 42). This prayer shows that transformation begins when I recognize that I cannot always find my own way and need God’s guidance. Just as light removes darkness and allows us to see a clear path, the Holy Spirit also removes the evil desires of the world, and allows us to see God’s will. Through His truth, the Holy Spirit doesn’t simply change what I do outwardly, but gradually transforms who I am and draws me into a deeper relationship with God. In Psalm 43, similarly, it reads, “O send out your light and your truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto your holy hill, and to your tabernacles.” (Psalm 43:3). St. Augustine comments that God is indeed both the “Light” and the “Truth” and he has come to rescue us, to bring us to His “holy hill and to your tabernacle.” He mentions that “His holy hill” is His holy church. It’s the hill that he tells us David’s prayer was heard, saying “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of His holy hill.” (Psalm 3:4).

Our prayers can entail many things, like Pope Shedouda III has mentioned, and the Agpeya helps us make sure that we have checked in on many prayers that might naturally be forgotten. St. Augustine mentions that we shouldn’t just want our everyday prayers to be heard, but for our prayers to have an eternal life with God to be our loudest prayer. To constantly pray and ask for our forgiveness and to be led by the Holy Spirit in our lives as God would want. To be able to see the Light and to be heard unto eternal life is to have a pure heart that allows the Holy Spirit to guide them to an eternal life with our Lord.

Many times we are overwhelmed with our problems and earthly desires, so we dedicate our prayers to these problems. We must always remember to ask for guidance in everything we do and to let God work through our lives by letting go of our worries.

The Gospel of the Third Hour is from John 14:26-31 & 15:1-4. In this Gospel we read a Christ speaking to the disciples about his departure to be reunited with the Father. It is written, “My peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). It’s important to note Christ’s use of “My peace” rather than “peace”. St. Cyril of Alexandria comments saying that in this time, the disciples were fearful of being left alone, stripped of their defender, not having their guide, and losing the one most dear to them. Jesus Christ being aware of the suffering of their grievance, decided to reassure them, while still being physically with them. Christ reassured the disciples that although He may not be with them in the flesh, He will bring the Holy Spirit upon them to guide them throughout their lives. A peace that is unlike anything in the world, will be sent to protect them and guard their hearts. Although He left their sight, He still sits in their hearts. He instills in the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled or fearful as He gives unto them His peace, the Holy Spirit. In our lives, we find it hard to trust in the Lord and to find comfort in His peace, that He gave us.

The Third Hour Prayer therefore calls us not only to remember what Chritst did for us, but to also allow us to find comfort in him, leaving behind all fear, uncertainty, and distractions like the disciples did. Christ reminds us that His peace is beyond the understanding of the world and far greater than any peace the world could offer. When we pray the Agpeya we are given an opportunity to thank God and plead for His guidance in our lives through the Holy Spirit. This means that our prayer shouldn't end when we close our Agpeya, but to carry it throughout our day, seeking God’s will before our own. We should trust that He will protect us, just as the disciples did during his departure. Ultimately, we are called to trust God, open our hearts and allow His peace to settle in us, guiding us every day.

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