Ramsha

Ramsha^[1] (Classical Syriac: ܪܡܫܐ‎) is the Aramaic and East Syriac Rite term for the evening Christian liturgy followed as a part of the seven canonical hours or Divine Office, roughly equivalent to Vespers in Western Christianity. It's also called Ramsho in the West Syriac Rite. It is used in the Syriac churches of the East Syriac tradition, including the Assyrian Church of the East of Iraq, the Ancient Church of the East of Iraq, the East Syriac Saint Thomas Christians of the Malabar coast, Kerala, India (Syro Malabar Catholic Church and Chaldean Syrian Church), and the Chaldean Catholic Church of Iraq. The Chaldean Catholic and Syro-Malabar Churches are all Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with the Catholic Church.^[2]

In the East Syriac tradition, a liturgical day begins with the Ramsha during evening at 6:00 pm which draws direct reference from Genesis 1:5.^[3] The Second Vatican Council made it clear that the canonical hours, referred to as the "Liturgy of the Hours" within the new form of the Roman Rite, are the official prayers of the Catholic Church along with the celebration of the Eucharist, which is done in the Holy Qurbana or Qurbono in the Syriac tradition.^[4]

The Shehima, the Divine Prayers, Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours, or canonical hours are all regular terms for the liturgy Ramsha is a part of. In accordance with the Jewish tradition, the following are the seven times of prayer in the Syriac Churches:

• Saint Thomas Christians
• Shehimo