What is the Coptic Gospel response for the Feast of the Nativity?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, the Gospel Response (also known as the Psali or the Gospel Re-entry) changes according to the liturgical season. For the Feast of the Nativity (celebrated on the 29th day of the Coptic month of Kiahk), the response is a joyful proclamation of the Incarnation.

There are two primary responses used during the Liturgy of the Feast:

1. The Standard Gospel Response

During the Divine Liturgy for the Nativity, the following is chanted in the "Joyful" tune:

Coptic (Transliterated):

"Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Isos Pi-Khristos b-shere m-Phnoti, p-etafmisi khen Beth-le-em. Fai pe bi-mo-mishi: eta-vons khen ni-moun-sh-voti: o-on ni-ven n-at-sh-gom: er-sh-gom emo-ou. Alleluia, Alleluia."

English Translation:

"Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born in Bethlehem. This is He Who was wrapped in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger; He empowered all the weak. Alleluia, Alleluia."

2. The Annual/Short Version

In some parishes or during the distribution of the Mysteries, a shorter biblical greeting is used:

English:

"Alleluia, Alleluia. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem, according to the prophetic sayings. Alleluia, Alleluia."

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Theological Significance of the Response

In our Alexandrian theology, this response is not merely a song, but a summary of our Christology:

• "Jesus Christ, the Son of God": This affirms the divinity of Christ. We confess that the One born of Mary is the same Logos (Word) who is co-essential with the Father.
• "Born in Bethlehem": This anchors the faith in historical reality, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:2. It emphasizes the true humanity of Christ (against the Gnostic heresies that claimed He only "appeared" to be human).
• "Wrapped in swaddling cloths": This echoes the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria, who marveled at the "kenosis" (self-emptying) of God. The One who clothes the lilies of the field and the heavens with clouds allowed Himself to be bound in rags for our sake.
• "Empowered all the weak": This reflects the purpose of the Incarnation. As St. Athanasius the Apostolic famously wrote in On the Incarnation, "He became man that we might become gods" (divinization/theosis). By entering into our human weakness, He granted us His divine strength.

Liturgical Note

These responses are chanted in the Joyful Tune, characterized by long, melismatic chants that reflect the cosmic joy of the "True Light" entering the world. In the Coptic calendar, this joy continues through the period of the "Holy Fifty Days" after the Nativity (the feast season), during which we do not fast or prostrate, celebrating the presence of the Bridegroom among us.