How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

The nine hours represent the nine hours the Lord Jesus
suffered on Good Friday (from 9am to 6pm). At the third
hour (9am) Pontius Pilate condemned the Saviour to be
crucified, then the path to crucifixion began with a long
series of tortures like lashing, the placing of the crown of
thorns, scourging, striking with reeds, mockery, spitting on
His Holy face and clothing Him with a purple robe. After all
this, "They led Him away to be crucified" (Matthew
27:31). Even St. Mark the Evangelist records, "They led
Him away to crucify Him" (Mark 15:20).
And so the Saviour suffered on the Cross until He gave up
His Spirit, at the ninth hour (3pm). Even after His death, one
of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately
blood and water came out. Then He was taken down from
the Cross at the eleventh hour (5pm), and after anointing His
Body with the spices, He was laid in the tomb at the twelfth
hour (6pm).
The period of His sufferance and torture was nine hours, and
so we fast nine hours, remembering the nine hours Christ
suffered for us. We commemorate and honour and the
passions of the Lord for our salvation, so that we may be
found worthy to partake of His pure Body which has been
broken for us, and His Precious Honoured Blood which has
been shed for us.
Children fast for six hours, in consideration for their young
age. Infants fast for three hours, which is the normal period
between weaning the infant.
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