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Category Archives: Rites & Rituals

The Patriarchal Commentary!

22 Mar


The commentary of the Coptic Funeral Rite of the Patriarch spoken as if it was from the mouth of HH Pope Shenouda III.

Once again as much confusion has arisen this is NOT HH personal will rather it is the Commentary to be read at the funeral of every Patriarch!

The words I am going to say are the words from His Holiness Pope Shenouda talking to his children, these are words of comfort and condolences to you all

I am your father and teacher, all of you my children, listen to my commandments, for I ask you my beloved children, preserve and look after the faith of the Holy Trinity.
I ask my beloved children, love one another with a true love.  Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2012/03/22 in Rites & Rituals, Unique

 

Symbolism of Candles!

07 Aug

Lit candles and Icon lamps (lampadas) have a special symbolic meaning in the Christian Church, and no Christian service can be held without them. In the Old Testament, when the first temple of God was built on earth the Tabernacle services were held in it with lamps as the Lord Himself had ordained (Ex. 40:5, 25). Following the example of the Old Testament Church, the lighting of candles and of lampadas was without fail included in the New Testament Church’s services.

The Acts of the Apostles mentions the lighting of lamps during the services in the time of the Apostles. Thus, in Troas, where Christ’s followers used to gather on the first day of the week (Sunday) to break bread, that is, to celebrate the Eucharist, there were many lights in the upper chamber (Acts 20:8). This reference to the large number of lamps signifies that they were not used simply for lighting, but for their spiritual significance. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/08/07 in Coptic Church, History & Tradition, Rites & Rituals

 

I Want To Be A Deacon! Epideacon – Subdeacon

20 Jul

Epideacon is a Greek word consisting of two parts: “epi” i.e. under or helper, and “deacon” i.e. deacon, so the meaning is deacon’s helper.

Conditions for ordaining:

1. He is not to be less than 20 years old in normal conditions, except if he is brilliant and outstanding in the church’s service, he is as wise as the elders and as honest as the saints.

2. He is to be recommended by the people and priests. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/07/20 in Coptic Church, Hymnology, Rites & Rituals

 

I Want To Be A Deacon! Anaghnostos – Reader

17 Jul

Anaghnostos is a Greek word formed of two parts: “Anagnoc” which means “chapter”, and “toc” which means “related to him”. So it means the chapter related to the reader, or the reader of chapters. Conditions for ordaining anaghnostos:

1. He is not to be less than 18 years old

2. witnessed by everyone for his good deeds and manners

3. to be recommended by the priest and congregation, without any objection from anybody. Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/07/17 in Coptic Church, Rites & Rituals

 

The Rank of Epsaltos – Singer!

10 Jul

The Epsaltos Deacon – His name is derived from the Coptic word “Psalmos” i.e. Psalm or hymn.

His job is clear from his name, learning hymns and tunes, and singing them in church. This rank was mentioned in some laws of the first church:

The Epsaltos are also blessed by the Bishop Children may be ordained as Epsaltos, according to the Psalm: “Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have ordained strength”(Psalm 8:2). The idea of ordaining children is getting them attached to the church at an early age, Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/07/10 in Coptic Church, History & Tradition, Hymnology, Rites & Rituals

 

I Want To Be A Deacon – Part 1

06 Jul

Starting from today we will begina six part series on Deaconship in the Coptic Orthodox Church. Bishop Mettaous will lead us through this series as he explores what it means to be a deacon and the 5 main ranks in the Coptic Church. I hope you thoroughly Enjoy this series as Deaconship is part of Priesthood and it has its own blessings as well as duties associated with it.

Overview

“Deacon” is a Syrian word that means servant. In Greek, it is called “Deyakon”. The deacon’s main job is to help the priest or bishop in his religious service. The first church appointed seven deacons to serve tables, who were filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/07/06 in Coptic Church, History & Tradition, Hymnology, Rites & Rituals

 

How To Benefit From The Holy Liturgy!

04 Jul

During the Holy Liturgy, angels and Archangels, the Cherubim and the Seraphim, together with all the heavenly hosts are present and are surrounding the altar with great glory. At the awesome moment when the priest calls on the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine present on the altar into the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord, He is present amidst the praising of His holy angels.

The time we spend in church during the Liturgy is a slice of heaven on earth. The glory might be hidden from our eyes because we are still in the flesh, but many desired to see His glory and indeed did see and are witnesses to the testimony. Yet despite all these glories, many express that they do not benefit from attending the Holy Liturgy. So, how can one benefit from the Liturgy? Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/07/04 in Coptic Church, General Spirituality, Rites & Rituals

 

Canons of Holy Bread Baking!

29 May
Im involved in making the Holy Bread at St Barbara & St Noufers Coptic Orthodox Church! Amongst the guys who bake the Holy Bread or “Orban”, we were discussing whether there were actually any guidelines or canons on how the Holy Bread should be made.
Being Me, i stumbled across the Following book from the 13th Century.
“ The Collection Of Safey Ibn Al-Assal (Safey The Son Of The Honey Meaker) A Collection Of Church And Civil Laws Based on The Norms and Traditions of the Coptic Orthodox Church From 13th Century A.D (1245).
In this book we find the following rules  in relation to baking the Holy Bread. Read the rest of this entry »
 
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Posted by on 2010/05/29 in Coptic Church, History & Tradition, Rites & Rituals

 

Tradition of the HOLY MYRON OIL

22 May

The Holy myron oil, is the oil used in the sacrament of confirmation to annoit the newly baptised as a way of them obtaining the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus instituted it when He said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom these believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39).

The Baptised is anointed with 36 signs on his joints and senses so that the Holy Spirit can dwell within them. His body and soul becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this anointment, God grants the grace of confirmation to the baptized as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Anointing the external organs by the Myron oil denotes anointing the power of the internal soul and its spiritual senses by the power of God to fight the hosts of evil and its power. This is because the Myron is the most powerful weapon against the devil and the best protection against sin and its seduction.

Our fathers the apostles granted this Sacrament by Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2010/05/22 in Coptic Church, History & Tradition, Rites & Rituals

 

Miracles That Occur In the Liturgy – St John Chyrsostom

30 Apr

At such a time angels stand by the Priest; and the whole sanctuary, and the space round about the altar, is filled with the powers of heaven, in honour of Him who lies thereon. For this, indeed, is capable of being proved from the very rites which are being then celebrated.

I myself, moreover, have heard someone once relate, that a certain aged, venerable man, accustomed to see revelations, used to tell him, that he being thought worthy of a vision of this kind, at such a time, saw, on a sudden, so far as was possible for him……

CLICK HERE to continue Reading this post by St John Chrysostom

 
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Posted by on 2010/04/30 in Coptic Church, General Spirituality, Rites & Rituals

 

Hymns of Resurrection Part 4

17 Apr

The Hymn of Tonseena is next in our series on Coptic Hymnology of Easter

LYRICS

We, the believers, praise and worship the Word, One in eternity with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, for He agreed and accepted to go up on the cross, and to suffer death in the flesh and to raise those who died, by His glorious Resurrection.

 
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Posted by on 2010/04/17 in Coptic Church, Hymnology, Rites & Rituals

 

Hymns of Resurrection Part 1

14 Apr

A curious custom of the Coptic Church is the liturgy is prayed and sung in Coptic, the original language of ancient Egypt. The Church keeps alive the language of the pharaohs, which was written in hieroglyphics, hieratic and demotic and now a modified version of the Greek alphabet, Egyptian written in Greek and demotic (the Copt) was gradually being forgotten, lost ground to the Arabic and thus became incomprehensible. However, the Coptic Church preserved the ancient Egyptian language by tradition thanks to its rites. The video shows images and also religious Copts of pharaonic Egypt, the Copts are the descendants of the ancient Egyptians who have become Christians.

This New Series will focus on the hymns of the Easter Season sung in the Church.

Below is the Hymn Onimnai

LYRICS

O what a, O what a, O what a harmonious tune

 
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Posted by on 2010/04/14 in Coptic Church, Hymnology, Rites & Rituals

 

Priesthood, Sacraments and the Anamnesis

27 Sep

EucharistRecently our parish Father, asked me to write a reply to one of our protestant brothers in regards to the following issues.

1. Concerning Priesthood

2. Concerning the Orthodox understanding of Sacraments

3. The true understanding of what really happens during communion and what is meant by remembrance or the Anamnesis.

Below is the article that i compiled in regards to this issue.

CLICK HERE

 
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Posted by on 2009/09/27 in Biblical Studies, Coptic Church, Rites & Rituals

 

Kissing the Sanctuary Curtain

15 Sep

Woman of Faith - Healed through the touch of a Saviors Hem!It is custom that when we enter the church that we bow down in front of the Sanctuary and kiss the curtain.

However people seem not to have the slightest clue as to what this ancient tradition handed down from generation to generation actually means.

So in an attempt to revive the tradition and its meaning, below is the reasoning behind kissing the curtain of the Sanctuary.

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The Gospel of Mark accounts the following,

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on 2009/09/15 in Coptic Church, Rites & Rituals

 
 
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