How many times do we say "Lord have mercy" in the St. Basil liturgy?

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

In the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, the phrase "Lord have mercy" is used extensively in two languages: the Greek ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ (Kyrie eleison) and the Coptic ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ (Pchois nai nan).

While the exact number of times a congregant says it can vary slightly based on the specific litanies intoned by the priest or the speed of the responses, there are specific structural points where these repetitions are fixed:

1. The Opening of the Liturgy of the Word

During the Prayers of the Incense (Vespers and Matins) and the Prothesis (Preparation of the altar), "Lord have mercy" is said frequently. Specifically, during the Absolution of the Ministers, the deacons and the people often repeat it in a series of 12 (symbolizing the Apostles) or as a general response to the short litanies.

2. The Liturgy of the Believers (The Anaphora)

This is where the most famous and structured repetitions occur:

• The Seven Short Litanies: After the Consecration, the priest prays the seven short litanies (for the Peace of the Church, the Fathers, the Clergy, Mercy, the Place, the Waters/Air/Fruits, and the Oblations). To each of these, the congregation responds:
• ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ (Kyrie eleison) — Lord have mercy.

• The Litany of the Gospel: When the priest prays the litany before the Gospel reading, the response "Lord have mercy" is chanted three times.

• "Have Mercy Upon Us, O God, the Father Almighty": In the section of the Liturgy following the Institution Narrative (where we remember the Death and Resurrection of ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ), the people chant:
• Ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ, Ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ ⲏⲙⲁⲥ (Je nai nan, Eleison imas) — "Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us."

3. The ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ Chanted 41 Times

The most significant and countable repetition occurs during the Fraction (ⲡⲓⲫⲁϣ) or immediately preceding the Confession. The congregation chants ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ 41 times.

The Theology of the 41 Times:

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the number 41 is deeply symbolic of the suffering of our Lord:

• 39 Lashes: The number of lashes Christ received during His scourging.
• 1 Spear: The piercing of His side by the Roman soldier.
• 1 Crown of Thorns: The mocking crown placed on His head.

Through these 41 repetitions, we are physically and spiritually participating in the memory of Christ’s Passion, acknowledging that it is through His wounds that we are healed.

4. Throughout the Responses

Throughout the entire Liturgy of St. Basil, "Lord have mercy" is the standard response to almost every petition of the priest. For example:

• During the Great Litanies (Peace, Fathers, etc.)
• During the Litanies of the Departed and the Oblations
• During the Prayer of the Veil

In total, if one were to count every single instance, including the responses to the deacon’s commands and the priest’s prayers throughout a full service (including Matins and the Liturgy of the Believers), the number is well over 100 times, with the 41 times being the most distinct and concentrated period of repetition.

This frequency reflects the Coptic spirit of constant ⲙⲉⲧⲁⲛⲟⲓⲁ (repentance) and our absolute dependence on the mercy of ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ (God).