To Thee, the victorious Leader

The all-night vigil is celebrated on the eve of the main feasts of the Orthodox Church. The purpose is to show a sense of beauty in the setting sun and give the congregation a chance to consider the spiritual light of Christ, the new light of the coming day and the eternal light of the heavenly kingdom. The vigil consists of three separate services: Great Vespers, Matins (at midnight) and the First Hour or Prime (in the morning).
First Hour: The Vigil ends with another hymn to the Virgin, a brilliantly scored and lively movement which ends the All-Night Vigil in a suitably splendid fashion.
Classic FM Magazine: 'Both intimate and powerfully atmospheric, shedding new and memorable light on what usually comes across as a massive choral spectacular'.