What is the Litany of Gatherings?

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

The Litany of Our Gatherings (ⲧⲉⲩⲭⲏ ⲛ̀ⲛⲓⲟⲩⲱⲧⲥ̀ — Te-evkhi en-ni-ou-ots) is one of the three "Minor Litanies" (along with the Litanies of Safety/Peace and the Fathers) that are prayed during the Liturgy of the Word, specifically during the Pauline and Catholic Epistles and the Praxis (Acts).

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, this prayer is central to the communal identity of the Church as the "Gathering of Saints."

The Purpose of the Litany

The Litany of Gatherings is a petition for God to bless, sanctify, and complete the gatherings of the faithful. According to Church rites, the priest prays this litany to ask God to:

• Bless the Church: That the Lord may bless the physical assembly of the believers.
• Abolish Obstacles: The priest asks God to destroy the worship of idols, to crush Satan under our feet, and to bring to naught the "snares" of heretics and enemies of the Church.
• Establish the Faithful: That God might make the various gatherings of the Orthodox Church (ⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ) houses of prayer, houses of holiness, and houses of blessing.

Liturgical Placement and Ritual

As noted in the rites of the Holy Liturgy, the priest offers incense during this litany. He processes around the altar and through the church, symbolizing the presence of God among His people.

• The Eprospharine (ⲡⲓⲉⲡⲣⲟⲥⲫⲁⲣⲓⲛ): During the recitation of the Major Litanies (which include Gatherings), the priest lifts the front of the Eprospharine to offer incense toward the covered Mysteries. This act is in remembrance of the women (the three Marys) who came to Christ’s tomb at dawn on Sunday bringing spices (Luke 24:1).
• The Deacon’s Call: Towards the end of these litanies, and especially leading into the Creed, the deacon calls the people to "Attend to God with wisdom." Historically, this was the point where the catechumens (those being instructed but not yet baptized) would leave the church, as they were not yet permitted to participate in the "gathering" of the faithful for the Liturgy of the Faithful (the Anaphora).

Theological Significance

The Coptic Church distinguishes its "gatherings" from any secular assembly. We believe that when we gather, we do so in the name of Christ, and therefore He is in our midst. The litany asks that our gatherings be free from "disturbances" or "divisions."

By praying this litany, the Church acknowledges that it is not merely a social club but the Body of Christ. It specifically petitions for the destruction of the "counsel of heretics" and the "uprisings of those who love to create divisions," ensuring that the "true Orthodox faith" remains the foundation of every gathering.

The litany concludes with the priest asking the Lord to arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let all who hate His Holy Name flee before His face. This emphasizes that the gathering of the Church is a spiritual battleground where God's peace (ϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ) must prevail.