On the Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian for Great Lent

[Matthew]

I thought this would be a useful reminder for us from Wikipedia:

The first time it is recited is at Vespers of Clean Monday (celebrated on the evening of the Sunday of Forgiveness), the service which begins Great Lent. The prayer is used on Monday through Friday of the five weeks of Great Lent, and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. At the end of the Presanctified Liturgy on Great Wednesday there is an additional recitation of the Prayer of St. Ephraim, at which everyone - even those who have received Holy Communion - makes prostrations. This is the final recitation of the Prayer of St. Ephraim during that Lenten season, and from that moment forward, the emphasis of the services is no longer on repentance, but on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Saint_Ephrem

[jgress]

Actually I think the prayer is also read at Vespers on Wednesday and Friday of Cheesefare Week.

[joasia]

I add it to my personal morning prayers during this time.

[m. Evfrosinia]

The prayer of St. Epraim is read for the first time tonight, at Vespers on Tuesday evening of Cheesefare Week.We begin chanting from the Triodion on Sunday evening at Vespers, and there are special services for Wednesday and Friday of this week, almost identical with the Great Lent services, with the exception that the Octoechos is also used, along with the Meanion and Lenten Triodion. See the Supplement to the Lenten Triodion.

[Matthew]

Thank you all for your contributions to this question. I will begin praying this prayer this evening.

[Jean-Serge]

The prayer of St. Epraim is read for the first time tonight, at Vespers on Tuesday evening of Cheesefare Week.We begin chanting from the Triodion on Sunday evening at Vespers, and there are special services for Wednesday and Friday of this week, almost identical with the Great Lent services, with the exception that the Octoechos is also used, along with the Meanion and Lenten Triodion. See the Supplement to the Lenten Triodion.

Very true but to be accurate, the answer is, it depends... In Russian practice, yes it is said this Tuesday night, during cheesefare week; in Greek practice however (at least in Violakis typikon), the ending of the vespers tonight was as a lenten vespers without prayer of Saint Ephrem.

Also note that in Russian practice, the prayer of Saint Ephrem is also said at certain times during the Fast of the Apostles, but maybe Mother Evfrosinia could confirm this.