Paschal Hours
The Paschal Hours are the form in which the Little Hours are chanted on Pascha (Easter) and throughout Bright Week in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches. Specifically, the Paschal Hours replace: The Paschal Hours may also be chanted in place of the usual Thanksgiving after Communion. In addition, it is a pious tradition to substitute the Paschal Hours for Morning Prayers and Evening Prayers during all of Bright week. In this way, the faithful take a little rest from the long prayer services, but do not neglect to give joyous thanks to God, so as not  to fall into despondency and gluttony, as they partake of festive foods. Outline. The Paschal Hours differ from the normal Daily Office in several significant aspects: the entire service is chanted (sung) rather than being read; the services are much shorter than usual; and there are no Psalms at all. The hymnography and prayers center on Christ's victory over sin and death and Christians' hope for salvation. Each of the Paschal Hours is the same (except that in some traditions, a Prayer of St. Basil is added before the dismissal of Paschal Compline).