An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Prime

The second office of the seven canonical hours. It was usually recited at about 6 a.m., which was known as the first hour. Prime along with terce, sext, and none constituted the Little Hours of the Divine Office. Material from the office of Prime was included in the 1549 Prayer Book service of Matins, which was later known as Morning Prayer. See Little Hours of the Divine Office; see Matins; see Morning Prayer.

Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.