Is a Holy Hour something we do or something that is encouraged?

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

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the "Holy Hour" as defined in the Roman Catholic tradition—consisting of a specific hour spent in prayer specifically directed toward the exposed Eucharist in a monstrance—is not a practice we do, nor is it encouraged.

Because the Coptic Church does not practice Eucharistic Adoration (keeping the Body of Christ displayed for viewing), the Western concept of a "Holy Hour" before the Blessed Sacrament does not exist in our liturgical or spiritual life.

However, the Coptic Church has its own profound ways of dedicated prayer and "keeping watch" with the Lord, which are deeply rooted in our tradition:

1. The Agpeya (Book of Hours)

Instead of a "Holy Hour" focused on an object, the Coptic Orthodox faith encourages the "Hours" of the Agpeya. We are encouraged to pray at seven specific times throughout the day, commemorating the events of our Lord’s life, passion, and resurrection. This is our version of "consecrating time" to God.

Spending time to glorify and honor God is essential. Even small sacrifices of time to pray before sleep are pleasing to Him, as they honor His presence in our lives.

2. Midnight Praises (Tasbeha)

The closest Coptic practice to a lengthy period of communal devotion is the Midnight Praises. This is a time when the faithful gather—often late at night or early in the morning before the Liturgy—to spend several hours in praise, singing the Psali and the Theotokia. This is our "Holy Hour" when we join the heavenly chorus.

3. The Holy Pascha

During Holy Week, the Church spends many hours in the temple. We have five daytime hours and five evening hours of prayer. This is the time when Coptic Christians most literally "watch" with Christ, following His journey to the Cross. Unlike the Roman "Holy Hour," which focuses on a localized presence in the bread, the Coptic Pascha focuses on the entire salvific work of Christ through prophecy, psalms, and the Gospel.

4. Personal Prayer and the Jesus Prayer

The Coptic tradition, especially following the Desert Fathers, emphasizes unceasing prayer. As mentioned in the writings of John Cassian regarding the humility of the fathers, prayer is not about a "show" or a specific "performance" of an hour, but an internal state of being. We are encouraged to use the Jesus Prayer ("My Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner") to maintain a "holy hour" in our hearts at all times.

Summary of the Coptic Perspective

• The Roman Catholic Holy Hour: Rejected/Not Practiced (due to its connection to Eucharistic Adoration and the display of the Host).
• The Coptic Holy Hour: We do not use this term. Instead, we emphasize the Agpeya, Tasbeha, and the Divine Liturgy.

The Coptic Church teaches that we are "consecrated vessels" through the Mayroun, and we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, our "holy time" is not just about looking at the Eucharist, but about living a pure life and participating in the life of the Church through the Sacraments and the traditional prayers handed down by the Apostles.