biðtímar

Biðtímar is the Icelandic term for the hours of prayer in Christian liturgical practice. It refers to the custom of praying at set times during the day, following the tradition of the canonical hours that shaped Western monastic and cathedral worship since the early Middle Ages. The term appears in Icelandic religious literature and translations of liturgical texts and has been used to describe both historical observance and contemporary practice.

Historically, daily prayer at fixed times was central to monastic life and to many churches in medieval Iceland. The Reformation brought changes in practice, and in many places the formal cycle was reduced or replaced by private or congregational prayer. In some communities, however, biðtímar continued in altered forms or were revived as part of liturgical renewal. In modern Iceland, the phrase can appear in discussions of liturgy, within monastic settings, or in curricula for church groups, and may denote scheduled moments for prayer within services or personal devotion.

Practically, traditional biðtímar include several fixed times across the day, typically encompassing morning and evening prayers, with optional hours at noon or night in certain communities. In contemporary usage, the emphasis often shifts to simpler daily prayer routines rather than a full canonical cycle, especially outside monastic life.

Significance of biðtímar lies in providing a structure for daily devotion, creating a spiritual rhythm for worship, and preserving a historical link to medieval Christian practice. See also canonical hours, Liturgy of the Hours, monasticism.