What should I do if I start having feelings for someone? Also, what hymn shares the tune of the hymn "Fai Etaf Empshos" said during the 6th and 9th hours of Good Friday?

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

Handling Feelings for Someone

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, our emotions and desires must always be guided by prayer, discernment, and the wisdom of the Church. If you find yourself developing feelings for someone, it is important to take the following steps:

1. Pray for Discernment: Before acting on your emotions, bring them before ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ (God). Ask for His will to be done and for Him to grant you clarity of mind and purity of heart.
2. Consult Your Father of Confession: This is the most crucial step. Your father of confession knows your spiritual state and can provide objective, godly counsel. He will help you determine if this relationship is beneficial for your salvation and if it is the right time to pursue it.
3. Exercise Self-Control and Purity: Our faith teaches us to maintain ⲙⲉⲧⲁⲅⲛⲟⲥ (purity) in our thoughts and actions. Guard your heart and maintain appropriate boundaries, treating the other person with the respect due to an image of God.
4. Evaluate the Foundation: A relationship in the Coptic Church should be built on a shared faith and the goal of a Christ-centered marriage. Consider if the person shares your spiritual values and commitment to the ⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ (Church).

---

The Hymn ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲱⲟⲩ (Fai Ete Pio-ou)

The hymn you are referring to, ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲉⲙⲡϣⲱⲥ (Fai Etaf-Empshos - "This is He who is worthy"), is chanted during the 6th and 9th hours of Good Friday.

The tune of this hymn is shared with a well-known hymn from the Liturgy of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Specifically, it shares the melody of the hymn:

ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲡⲣⲉⲡⲓ ⲛⲁϥ (Fai Ere Pio-ou Er-Prepi Naf - "This is He to whom glory is worthy").

In the Gregorian Liturgy, this is the "Hymn of the Intercession" or the response to the "Prayer of Reconciliation." The melody is characterized by its mournful yet majestic tone, which on Good Friday reflects the awe of the creation seeing its Creator hanging on the Cross. This connection is deeply theological: the same Lord who is offered glory by the Seraphim in the Liturgy is the "worthy" One who accepted the suffering of the Cross for our salvation.

If you are looking for recordings or further study on these melodies, notable cantors such as Moalem Ibrahim Ayad, Moalem Gad Lewis, or Moalem George Mikhail have preserved these oral traditions with great precision.