Vigils is a term for night prayer in ancient Christianity. See Vespers, Compline, Nocturns, Matins, and Lauds for more information. A Vigil is a night spent in prayer.

A Roman Catholic Mass that counts liturgically for a Sunday or Holy Day but which takes place the previous evening is often mistakenly called a Vigil Mass. But it is more accurately termed an "anticipated Mass," because a Vigil is actually the whole day prior to certain major feasts, which acts as sort of Western version of the forefeast. And such Vigils (such as Christmas Eve) have their own proper Mass theoretically said that morning.

Lieutenant General Siva Kumar, AVSM VSM (born January 29, 1948 in Madras, India) was the third and final Force commander of UN troops serving in Rwanda.

Kumar was born in Madras, India. As a youth, he attended St. Thomas High School, Loyola College and Presidency College where he earned a Bachelor's of Science. He is a graduate of the staff course at the Defence Services Staff College and has attended both Higher Command and National Defence College.

In August 1967, Kumar was commissioned from Officers Training Academy at the age of 19. He joined the Jat Regiment on June 23 1968, and later commanded the regiment in Arunachal Pradesh and Bikaner, Rajasthan. He also commanded a division of the Assam Rifles in the Ukhrul district of Northeastern Manipur.

He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Kumar acted as second-in-command of UNAMIR until Guy Tousignant's parting on December 8 1995, when he assumed acting command until the mission's completion in March 1996. He oversaw 1,252 troops and military support personnel, 146 military observers, 56 United Nations Volunteers and approximately 160 international and 160 local civilian staff. The Indian army contingent under UNAMIR consisted of an Infantry Battalion 1/3 Gurkha Rifles, an Engineers company commanded by Maj B Pandey and a Signals company commanded by Maj AV Malhotra. Kumar was also the head of the Indian contingent.

Murali Mohan Maganti (born June 24, 1940) is an Indian film actor, producer and a businessman from Telugu cinema. He has also been active in politics for the Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh, in India.

He was born Maganti Raja babu to Maganti Madhava Rao an Indian freedom fighter at that time. He did his schooling in Eluru. He shifted gears in 1963 and started his own business dealing in electrical motors and oil engines. Also, as a hobby, he started acting in stage dramas & theatre in Vijayawada.

In 1973, Murali Mohan debuted in films as a leading man for a famous producer, Poornachandra Rao Atluri, who was looking for a fresh face. Even though, the film "Jagame Maya" (1973) received a positive response, Murali Mohan continued to struggle for another break, until a famous director Narayana Rao Dasari cast him in the film "Tirupati" (1974). Dasari was impressed with his performance and cast him in 40 more films. In 1975, Murali Mohan wrapped up his business and shifted to Madras to concentrate fully in films.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliːɬaɬa manˈdeːla]; born 18 July 1918) is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela went on to serve 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to the establishment of democracy in 1994. As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades.