The Standard Season (Non-seasonal Days)
Background
Three liturgies have been established in the Coptic Orthodox Church: (1) the Liturgy of Saint Basil is typically celebrated throughout the year except for the four major feasts of Nativity, Epiphany, Resurrection, and Pentecost; (2) the Liturgy of Saint Gregory is commonly used in the celebration of the four major feasts mentioned above; its melodies are somewhat more ornate than that of the Liturgy of St. Basil and has been characterized as the most beautiful because of how emotionally moving it is; and (3) the Liturgy of Saint Cyril, also known as the Liturgy of Saint Mark, is often prayed during fasts such as the Holy Great Fast.
The celebration of the liturgy is preceded by two special services unique to the Coptic Orthodox Church, one of which is observed in the morning just before the liturgy and the other on the previous evening. They are known as the Morning Offering of Incense and the Evening Offering of Incense. Today, in actual practice, the Morning Offering of Incense is often incorporated into the liturgy itself. Like the liturgy, these two services are cantillated (chanted).
The two standard melody types are named are Adam and Batos. Hymns labeled Adam are to be sung Sunday through Tuesday. The Adam tune is more joyful as these are days of joy from the day of Resurrection upto Wednesday. Hymns labeled Batos are reserved for Wednesday through Saturday. The Batos tune is more solemn as these days are attributed to events related to the betrayal, crucifixion, and burial of Christ. The two names derive from the Theotokia in Midnight Praises, in which Adam is the first Coptic word of the Theotokia for Monday, (“When Adam became of contrite spirit...“), and Batos is the first Coptic word of the Theotokia for Thursday, (“The bush which Moses saw...”).
MOFTAH, RAGHEB, et al. “Music, Coptic.” Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia.
Spiritual Application
“Yes, truly at this moment, filled with holy fear, we must hold our hearts raised on high to God and turned no longer toward the earth or earthly things. The priest invites us all implicitly to leave at this moment all the cares of life and our domestic preoccupations and to have our hearts turned to heaven, to God, the Friend of man.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Evening & Morning Praises
The church is joyous to begin our prayers of offering incense, thus the church celebrates with evening and morning praises before the offerings of incense.
Evening & Morning Raising of Incense
Offerings of incense are an opportunity for repentance and preparation for liturgy. Seeing the priest stand outside the altar and to the side shows us his humility and reverence for the altar as he, along with the rest of us, prepare ourselves for the Divine Liturgy.
We see in the bible as early as Noah, that he offered a sweet-smelling burnt offering to God and it was acceptable before Him (Gen. 8). In Revelations, we are told of the priests who offer incense before the throne of God. In addition to this, there are multiple references of incense in the book of Psalms. As such, the incense represents the rising up of our prayers and supplications to heaven.
Midnight Praise
The church represents the bride of Christ, and Christ is the Bridegroom. The divine liturgy is the wedding ceremony and communion is the fulfillment of this wedding with our union with Christ. Therefore the church spends the night rejoicing with praises for the upcoming divine wedding ceremony with Midnight Praises. The journey of the praises follow Psalm 66:12 “We went through water and fire, and You brought us to a land of fulfillment.”
Divine Liturgy
Offering of the Lamb: The bread and wine are chosen during this section, and the absolution of the servants is given.
Liturgy of the Word: It is important to not miss this section, as we are receiving the Logos in the form of the written Word. There are special messages organized for each day of the Coptic year for us to benefit from within these readings.
Liturgy of the Faithful
The Three Great Litanies: The church prays for the peace of the world, the fathers of the church, and for our assembly. This is a preparation for our reconciliation as one Body as we all pray for one another.
Reconciliation: The congregation is reminded of God’s reconciliation with man and that we must also reconcile with one another as one body so that we may practice the liturgy without any grudges or enmity with another person. We are all partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ and thus will all be in communion with one another, so it is necessary to be reconciled with God and with our brothers and sisters.
Anaphora: Here we lift up our hearts to God and abandon any thoughts and cares that may distract us during the liturgy. The church opens her heart to God in preparation for the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ that will be present with us on the altar.
Institution Narrative: This is the period in which the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The church bows in reverence for being in the presence of God during this mysterious change.
The Seven Short Litanies: Here the priest seizes the opportunity, with Body and Blood present on the altar, to make supplications for various things in our lives. This is a time of requests and prayers offered up by the whole church.
Commemoration of the Saints: This section focuses on the departed. It is a time of request for those who have passed. We are given hope as we commemorate the saints, and are reminded of the eternal life and reposal that we, along with those who have departed, will receive.
The Fraction: There are various standard and seasonal fraction prayers. During this time the body is broken into sections in a special way that has been handed down through tradition, with symbolism corresponding to each break.
The Confession: Here we proclaim our faith in the reality of the mysterious changing of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. If we are to partake and benefit from the holy communion, we must truly believe in this change and believe that the mysteries are given to us for salvation, the remission of sins, and eternal life.
Distribution: This is the pinnacle and holiest time of the liturgy as we are finally receiving the Bridegroom through the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Exercise
The standard season throughout the year, especially during the longest stretch from the Feast of the Cross to the Nativity Fast, can easily be taken as a break from the spiritual life. To avoid this, hold fast to the liturgies and to observing the Wednesday and Friday fasts, to give you power throughout the week and to not fall back into idleness and laziness in your spiritual life.
Take the evening and morning raising of incense as a time to recall your sins throughout the week, to repent, and to ask God to make you prepared and worthy of the Holy Mysteries. If it has been more than a month, also try to sit with the priest and confess before the liturgy.
Regularly attend the midnight praises and rejoice with the church for our upcoming Wedding with Christ.
During the Divine Liturgy, follow the sections and be mindfully present throughout the journey during the priest’s prayers by making each prayer your own, and be actively involved through chanting the congregation’s responses. If your thoughts wander, bring them back quickly with the responses and with internal prayers for the things occupying your mind. Be serious with the Holy Communion and acknowledge the life-giving mystery that you are receiving.
Rites
Vesper Praises
Evening praises start with the prayers of the 9th, 11th, and 12th hours in the Book of Hours. Then, the praises consist of Psalm 117:1-2, the fourth canticle, the Psali of the day (or of the season), the Theotokia of the day, and the Adam or Batos conclusion, depending on the day of the week.
Evening and Morning Raising of Incense
The priests then prays the Thanksgiving prayer, which is also used to begin all prayers, while standing outside the sanctuary representing our exilement from Paradise (it is not until the Divine Liturgy that the prayers are offered before the altar).
The first offering of incense takes place as the priest enters the sanctuary and puts 5 spoonfuls (symbolizing the 5 old testament sacrifices) of incense into the censer as he prays certain litanies inaudibly while the congregation chants the Verses of the Cymbals. The priests then prays certain litanies depending on whether it is morning or evening incense and depending on the day of the week.
After the conclusion of the litanies, the priest performs the second circuit of incense, this time offering incense to icons of the saints and praying on behalf of the congregation and himself. Meanwhile, the congregation prays a series of prayers and the Doxologies.
Afterward, the Nicene Creed is recited and the priest prays the litany “O God have mercy upon us...”. Then the priest prays the litany of the gospel. The psalm is chanted in the appropriate tune, according to the season, and the gospel is chanted. Afterwards, the priest prays the 5 minor litanies and the prayer is concluded.
Midnight Praises
The service starts with the Three Watches of the Midnight Hour. Followed by the praises following through the journey through water and fire, into the land of fulfillment (Ps. 66):
The hymn Arise O Children is chanted - primarily taken from Psalm 118.
The First Canticle - taken from Exodus 15 in which Moses and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh and crossed the Red Sea. Then its melismatic explanation is chanted. “We went through water...”
This is paralleled in the Second and Third Canticles, which are taken from Psalm 135 and Daniel 3, respectively. “...and fire...”
Two additional hymns about the Three Saintly Children.
The Commemoration of the Saints and the Doxologies.
The Fourth Canticle - Psalms 148-150 “...and you brought us to a land of fulfillment.”
The Psali of the Lord, the Psali of the day, the Theotokia of the day - in the Adam or Batos tune.
The Adam or Batos conclusion to the Theotokia.
The Conclusion to Midnight Praises.
Morning Praises
Morning praises start with the prayer of the 1st hour in the Book of the Hours. Then, the Morning Doxology and the Adam Conclusion to the Theotokia are chanted.
Divine Liturgy
- Offering of the Lamb
After Matins, the Third and Sixth Hours are prayed on non-fasting days, the 9th hour is added on fasting weekend days, and the 11th and 12th hours are also added on fasting weekdays. The psalms are prophetic prayers about the salvation that was accomplished on the Cross by the Holy Trinity. These prayers cannot take place unless the bread and the wine are present.
After these prayers, the selection of the Lamb takes place while the congregation chants “Lord have mercy” 41 times, which symbolizes the 39 lashes of Christ, the Crown of Thorns, and the spear in His side.
The Absolution of the Servants is prayed, and the servants of the liturgy must receive this absolution in order to dress in the vestments and participate in serving in the liturgy.
- Liturgy of the Word
The Liturgy of the Word is composed of two major circuits of incense, various hymns, and 6 readings from the Holy Bible, giving the name Liturgy of the Word.
Immediately after the Absolution of the Servants, a hymn of incense is chanted as the priest conducts the Pauline Circuit of Incense around the altar, in front of the altar, and around the whole church. The intercession hymn is chanted commemorating the season of the church and the saints. Then a selection from the Pauline and Catholic Epistles are read.
The Acts response is chanted as the priest conducts the Acts Circuit of Incense, this time only around the altar and in front of the altar. The reading of the Acts and the day’s entry of the Synaxarium, the lives of the saints, is read. Then the Trisagion is chanted following this and then the Litany of the Gospel is prayed, and then the psalm and gospel are chanted.
- Liturgy of the Faithful
After the readings and the sermon are concluded, the Liturgy of the Faithful begins. The major elements of this section are:
Prayer of Reconciliation: At the conclusion of the Reconciliation prayers, the congregation exchanges a kiss of peace amongst themselves.
Anaphora: “The Lord be with you all...”, is accompanied by the lifting of the veil from the altar and the dialogue between the priest and the people consists of a blessing and the commands to lift up our hearts and to give thanks to the Lord. The prayer continues describing the great glory of God and His worthiness for our praise.
Institution Narrative: The Liturgy of St. Cyril diverges at this point to the litanies. The congregation bows as the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Seven Short Litanies: The eucharistic prayers the church then prays for those still on earth and everything in it. This is done by the prayers of seven short litanies in which we pray for peace, the fathers, the clergy, mercy, the salvation of the world, and the oblations.
Commemoration: After the litanies, we pray a Commemoration of the Saints, mentioning the departed faithful at the end, followed by a final glorification of the Holy Trinity “As it was...”
The Fraction: The fraction prayer is preceded by a prayer of thanksgiving and asking God to be made worthy for the receiving of the Holy Body and Blood. There are many fraction prayers. Some are directed to the Father or the Son and some are concerned with specific occasions.
The Confession: After this, is the proclamation that the “Holies are for the Holy,...” and the confession that this is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ who was incarnate in a great mystery without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration.
Distribution: Communion begins while the people chant Psalm 150. Afterward, there is the final concluding hymn, benediction, and dismissal.
29th of the Coptic Month
During the standard season, there is an exception to the standard rite, where three feasts are still celebrated together on the 29th of Coptic months as a commemoration of the feasts celebrated each on the 29th day of a Coptic month. This day of the month is prayed in the Joyful Tune, with no prostrations or abstaining, even if the feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday (but fasting is still practiced on those days).
Hymns
Verses of Cymbals Introduction - Adam
Lord have mercy.
O come let us worship the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We are the Christian people, for He is our true God.
We have hope in Saint Mary, that God will have mercy on us through her intercession.
All calmness in the world is through the prayers of Saint Mary the Virgin...
Verses of Cymbals Introduction - Watos
Lord have mercy.
We worship the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the holy and coessential Trinity
Hail to the Church, the house of the angels. Hail to the Virgin, who gave birth to our Savior.
psalm response
Alleluia
Gospel Response - Vespers & Matins
Let us worship our Savior the Good One and Lover of Mankind for He had compassion on us and has come and saved us.
This is the Day
Alleluia. This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord save us, O Lord straighten our ways. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Alleluia.
Hymn of the Censer
This censer of pure gold, bearing the aroma, is in the hands of Aaron the priest, offering up incense upon the altar.
The Golden Censer
The Golden Censer is the Virgin, her aroma is our Savior; she gave birth to Him, He saved us, and forgave us our sins.
Intercession Hymn
Through the intercessions, of the Theotokos Saint Mary, O Lord grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through the intercessions of the seven archangels, and the heavenly orders, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through the prayers of my lords and fathers, the apostles, and the rest of the disciples, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through the prayers of the beholder of God, the Evangelist Mark, the apostle, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
The verse for the saint of the church is added here, if not mentioned above.
Through the prayers of the saints of this day, each one according to their names, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through their prayers, keep the life of our honored father, the archpriest, Pope Abba (...). O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
Through their prayers, keep the life of our honored and righteous father, Abba (...) the bishop (metropolitan), O Lord grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
We worship You, O Christ, with Your good Father. And the Holy Spirit, for You have risen and saved us. Have mercy on us.
Acts Response
Hail to you O Mary, the fair dove, who has borne to us, God the Logos.
Blessed are You indeed with your good Father and the Holy Spirit for you have risen and saved us. Have mercy on us.
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who was born of the Virgin, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who was crucified for us, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, have mercy upon us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of the ages. Amen. O Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us.
Gospel Response - Liturgy
Blessed are they in truth the saints of this day each one according to his name the beloved of Christ.
Psalm 150
Praise God, in all His saints. Alleluia.
Praise Him, in the firmament of His Power. Alleluia.
Praise Him for His mighty acts. Alleluia.
Praise Him, according to the multitudes of his greatness. Alleluia.
Praise Him, with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia.
Praise Him, with psaltery and harp. Alleluia.
Praise Him, with timbrel and chorus. Alleluia
Praise Him, with strings and organs. Alleluia.
Praise Him with pleasant sounding cymbals. Alleluia.
Let everything that has breath praise the name of the Lord our God. Alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Alleluia.
Now and ever and unto the ages of the ages. Amen. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, our God. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to our God. Alleluia.
O Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hear us and have mercy upon us.