Do Copts use something similar to Lectio Divina? If so, what questions do they ask as they read Scripture?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

While the term Lectio Divina is Latin (Western), Coptic Orthodox tradition has practiced the same spiritual method for centuries, though we tend to refer to it as "Devotional Reading" or "Contemplative Reading." Our monastic fathers, such as St. Anthony the Great and St. Pachomius, lived the Scriptures so deeply that their speech was almost entirely composed of biblical verses.

In the Coptic tradition, Scripture is not just "read"; it is "chewed" (to use the patristic metaphor of the "clean animal" that ruminates).

When practicing this, we ask five traditional questions rooted in the Alexandrian School of interpretation to ensure the text moves from the head to the heart.

1. "What is the Lord saying to me personally through this text?"

• Focus: Personal address.
• Theology: We believe the Bible is a "living letter" from God. Instead of looking for a general lesson, we look for a specific instruction for today.
• Question: Lord, what is Your message to me in my current situation?

2. "What is the 'Mind of the Church' concerning this passage?"

• Focus: Orthodoxy and patristic agreement.
• Theology: We never interpret Scripture in isolation. We ask how the Church Fathers (like St. Athanasius or St. Cyril) understood this, or how it is used in the Liturgy or Agpeya.
• Question: How does this verse align with the faith I received from the Fathers?

3. "Where is Christ in this verse?"

• Focus: Christocentricity.
• Theology: For Copts, every verse in the Old and New Testaments points to the Person of Christ. If you haven't found Christ in the passage, you haven't finished reading it.
• Question: How does this text reveal the face of my Savior?

4. "What sin must I repent of, or what virtue should I put on?"

• Focus: Metanoia (repentance).
• Theology: The Word of God is a mirror. It is meant to show us our "filth" so we can go to the fountain of confession.
• Question: Does this passage expose a specific pride, anger, or hypocrisy in my life today?

5. "How can I turn this verse into a prayer?"

• Focus: Transition to Oratio (prayer).
• Theology: In the Coptic tradition, reading should always ignite prayer. You take the verse and give it back to God as a petition.
• Question: How can I rephrase this Scripture to talk to God during my next visit to the Agpeya?

The Four Steps of Coptic Contemplative Reading

1. Reading: Read the passage slowly, even aloud. Listen for a specific word or phrase that "shimmers" or catches your attention.
2. Meditation: Repeat that word or phrase in your heart. Like an incense burner, let the scent of the word fill your mind.
3. Prayer: Talk to God about what you found. Ask for the strength to do what it says.
4. Contemplation: Sit in silence for 2 minutes. Rest in the presence of the Lord, letting the Word sink deep into your "Inner Man."

Fr. Tadros Malaty often says: "Do not read to finish the pages, but read to let the pages finish the old man in you and give birth to the new man."