step by step through the litrugy of the coptic church

Step by Step Step by Step Through the Liturgy Through the Liturgy of the Coptic Churchof the Coptic Church

Ehab RoufailEhab Roufail

Our Way to ChurchOur Way to ChurchTake with you the following books:Take with you the following books:

The Agpia, the Liturgy book and your BibleThe Agpia, the Liturgy book and your Bible

•Psalm 121 – From the Sunset prayer – “I Psalm 121 – From the Sunset prayer – “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord”.into the house of the Lord”.•Psalm 83 from the sixth hour prayer, “How Psalm 83 from the sixth hour prayer, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.”hosts.”•Psalm 14 from the first hour, “Lord who Psalm 14 from the first hour, “Lord who may abide in Your Tabernacle”may abide in Your Tabernacle”

17th Feb 2012 Patristics Series 2

Our Way to ChurchOn Entering the ChurchBlessing the Garments

On entering the churchOn entering the church• Say with the Psalmist, Psalm 5:7 “ But as Say with the Psalmist, Psalm 5:7 “ But as

for me, I will come into Your house in the for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your Mercy. In fear of You I will multitude of Your Mercy. In fear of You I will worship towards Your Holy templeworship towards Your Holy temple

• When you reach the entrance to the Altar, When you reach the entrance to the Altar, make the sign of the cross and prostrate 3 make the sign of the cross and prostrate 3 times saying, “I worship You Christ our times saying, “I worship You Christ our God, with your Gracious Father and the God, with your Gracious Father and the Holy Spirit, because You have come and Holy Spirit, because You have come and saved us”saved us”

• Pray the Our Father, Touch the veil – as it is Pray the Our Father, Touch the veil – as it is a symbol of Christ’s garment – The woman a symbol of Christ’s garment – The woman with the issue of blood Mark 5:25-34with the issue of blood Mark 5:25-34


Our Way to ChurchOn Entering the ChurchBlessing the Garments

Blessing the Garments Blessing the Garments • The priest or Bishop bless the vestments The priest or Bishop bless the vestments

of the themselves and the deacons with of the themselves and the deacons with the sign of the Cross remembering:the sign of the Cross remembering:

• Whether he is pure and reconciled with Whether he is pure and reconciled with everyone according to “Therefore if you everyone according to “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. there before the altar and go your way. First be reconciled with your brother and First be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.”then come and offer your gift.”


Our Way to ChurchOn Entering the ChurchBlessing the garmentsPreparing the Altar

Preparing the AltarPreparing the Altar• ““A large Upper Room furnished and A large Upper Room furnished and

prepared” Mark 14:15prepared” Mark 14:15• Checks the Altar vestments and utensils Checks the Altar vestments and utensils

are present – Chalice, water container, are present – Chalice, water container, wine, Candles, utensilswine, Candles, utensils


Our Way to ChurchOn Entering the ChurchBlessing the garmentsPreparing the AltarWashing of hands

The washing of handsThe washing of hands• The priest washes his hands three times.The priest washes his hands three times.• 11stst washing – “purge with hyssop and I washing – “purge with hyssop and I

shall be clean, wash me and I shall be shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7)whiter than snow” (Ps 51:7)

• 22ndnd washing – “Make me to hear joy and washing – “Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which you have gladness that the bones which you have broken may rejoice” (Ps 51:7)broken may rejoice” (Ps 51:7)

• 33rdrd washing – “I shall wash my hands in washing – “I shall wash my hands in innocence so I will go about your altar, O innocence so I will go about your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim the voice of Lord, that I may proclaim the voice of thanksgiving, Alleluia (Psa 25:6-7)thanksgiving, Alleluia (Psa 25:6-7)


Our Way to ChurchOn Entering the ChurchBlessing the garmentsPreparing the AltarWashing of handsThe Selection of the Lamb

The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• Priest dries his hands and takes a veil from Priest dries his hands and takes a veil from

the paten and puts it inside his sleeve on the paten and puts it inside his sleeve on his sleeve on his left arm or on his head.his sleeve on his left arm or on his head.

• Holds the cross with his right hand and Holds the cross with his right hand and stands by the sanctuary door facing the stands by the sanctuary door facing the west as the Lamb and the wine are west as the Lamb and the wine are presented to him.presented to him.

• The priest puts the decanter of wine on the The priest puts the decanter of wine on the nearest bread loaf and does the sign of the nearest bread loaf and does the sign of the cross on himselfcross on himself

• The priest then examines the bread to The priest then examines the bread to choose the most suitable one for the choose the most suitable one for the offering.offering.



The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• Then he presents the wine to the assistant Then he presents the wine to the assistant

priest and the deacon to smell the wine to priest and the deacon to smell the wine to make sure it is pure and not vinegary and is make sure it is pure and not vinegary and is not distilled winenot distilled wine

• The when choosing the most suitable bread The when choosing the most suitable bread he places his right hand over his left,. he places his right hand over his left,. Placing his hands over the tray in the shape Placing his hands over the tray in the shape of a cross as Jacob did when he blessed of a cross as Jacob did when he blessed the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:8) – saying the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:8) – saying “May the Lord choose a lamb without “May the Lord choose a lamb without blemish.”blemish.”

• He holds each bread in his hands and He holds each bread in his hands and examines them carefully to choose the bestexamines them carefully to choose the best



The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• If the one in his right hand is the best he If the one in his right hand is the best he

puts the one in his left back in the basket puts the one in his left back in the basket and chooses another. If that is better he and chooses another. If that is better he puts it in his right hand.puts it in his right hand.

• The best bread remains on top. The best The best bread remains on top. The best one in appearance, with a perfect one in appearance, with a perfect Spadikon, the right number of pierced Spadikon, the right number of pierced holes. Nothing should be sticking to it with holes. Nothing should be sticking to it with no defects or cracks just like the passover no defects or cracks just like the passover lamb. (Gen 12:5)lamb. (Gen 12:5)

• The priest then touches each of the breads The priest then touches each of the breads with the back of the chosen. He wipes the with the back of the chosen. He wipes the chosen with the small veil in his sleeve.chosen with the small veil in his sleeve.



The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• Holding the bread in his left hand with Holding the bread in his left hand with

the three pierced holes on the right, he the three pierced holes on the right, he dips his right hand thumb into the wine dips his right hand thumb into the wine decanter which the deacon is holding decanter which the deacon is holding and makes the sign of the cross on the and makes the sign of the cross on the face of the chosen bread saying face of the chosen bread saying –”sacrifice of glory” and then on the rest –”sacrifice of glory” and then on the rest saying sacrifice of blessing , sacrifice of saying sacrifice of blessing , sacrifice of Abraham, sacrifice of Isaac, sacrifice of Abraham, sacrifice of Isaac, sacrifice of Jacob. Then the Chosen again saying Jacob. Then the Chosen again saying sacrifice of Melchizedek.sacrifice of Melchizedek.



The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• Touching the other breads symbolises Touching the other breads symbolises

the blessings in the Old Testament that the blessings in the Old Testament that are acceptedare accepted

• Keeping the chosen on top shows the Keeping the chosen on top shows the superiority of the New Testament superiority of the New Testament sacrifice of Christsacrifice of Christ

• The bread is printed with greek on the The bread is printed with greek on the circumference – “Holy God, Holy Might, circumference – “Holy God, Holy Might, Holy Immoprtal”Holy Immoprtal”

• Round symbolising the Sun of Round symbolising the Sun of righteousness having no beginning or righteousness having no beginning or end eternal Alpha and Omegaend eternal Alpha and Omega



The Selection of the LambThe Selection of the Lamb• The imprint on the bread has twelve The imprint on the bread has twelve

small squares for each of the disciples small squares for each of the disciples and within each square a cross.and within each square a cross.

• The large center square with a cross in The large center square with a cross in the centre represents Christ.the centre represents Christ.

• Around the Spadikon are five holes Around the Spadikon are five holes representing the sufferings of our Lord: representing the sufferings of our Lord: three nail wounds, the crown of thorns three nail wounds, the crown of thorns and the piercing on his sideand the piercing on his side

• Number of breads in the selection should Number of breads in the selection should be 3, 5 ,7 – The trinity, 5 sacrifices, 7 be 3, 5 ,7 – The trinity, 5 sacrifices, 7 perfectionperfection



Baptising the LambBaptising the Lamb• After putting the veil on the Altar the After putting the veil on the Altar the

priest wets his right index finger and priest wets his right index finger and makes the sign of the cross on the bread makes the sign of the cross on the bread from top to bottom and then around from from top to bottom and then around from left to right.left to right.

• This symbolises the baptism of our Lord This symbolises the baptism of our Lord by John the Baptist.by John the Baptist.

• At this point the priest remembers that At this point the priest remembers that the heavens were opened and the priest the heavens were opened and the priest remembers all the needs of the people remembers all the needs of the people while kneelingwhile kneeling



step by step through the litrugy of the coptic church

Spiritual

altar washing of hands

altar vestments

lamb priest

patristics series

hands inwashing

churchour way

vestmentsthe priest

hour prayer