What is the response in the Liturgy after the commemoration of the Saints and on specific days of the liturgy?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-09
Following the Commemoration of the Saints in the Divine Liturgy, there are two connected responses: first by the deacon, followed immediately by the congregation.
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1. The Deacon’s Proclamation
At the conclusion of the priest's prayer commemorating the saints, the deacon proclaims:
Ⲧⲉⲝⲧ (Coptic):
Ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲱϣ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲛⲛⲓⲣⲁⲛ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲓⲟϯ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲙⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏⲥ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲁⲩⲉⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ: Ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲙⲁⲙⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲭⲱ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Niet-osh marou-osh en-ni-ran ente nen-ioti ethowab em-patriar-khees niet-av-emton emmo-ou: Pchois ma-emton en-nou-psychee owoh ko nan evol en-nen-novi.)
English:
"Let those who read, recite the names of our holy fathers the patriarchs who have fallen asleep. O Lord, repose their souls and forgive us our sins."
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2. The Congregation's Response
The congregation then responds with the prayer uniting the earthly and heavenly Church:
Ⲧⲉⲝⲧ (Coptic & Ecclesiastical Greek):
Ⲡⲟⲩⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲛ: ⲁⲙⲏⲛ.
Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲟⲓ Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲏⲥⲟⲛ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲁⲛⲁⲡⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛ: ⲁⲙⲏⲛ.
English:
"May their holy blessing be with us. Amen.
Glory to You, O Lord. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless us. Lord repose them. Amen."
(Note on the language: The opening petition, Ⲡⲟⲩⲥⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛⲉⲙⲁⲛ, is native Bohairic Coptic. The concluding petitions—Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲟⲓ Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ, Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲗⲉⲏⲥⲟⲛ, Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲏⲥⲟⲛ, and Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲁⲛⲁⲡⲁⲩⲥⲟⲛ—are Greek liturgical texts written in Coptic script).
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Rites Across Different Days and Liturgies
Depending on the liturgical season and the anaphora being celebrated:
- Annual Days (Standard Days):
The response is chanted in the regular annual tune. In the Liturgy of St. Basil, the priest silently offers the incense and prays the Basil Diptych for the departed: "Remember, O Lord, all those who passed over to You... repose their souls in the bosoms of our saintly fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob..."
- Solemn Days / Fast Days (e.g., Great Lent) & The Liturgy of St. Cyril:
When celebrating the Liturgy of St. Cyril or during solemn liturgical occasions, the Diptych is prayed audibly in a deeply moving, mournful tune. Even if St. Cyril’s Diptych is prayed in this extended solemn manner, the standard petitions for the repose of the departed are completed before the Fraction.
- Feast Days (Joyful Days):
The text of the congregation's response remains the same, but it is chanted in the joyous liturgical melody, reflecting the joy of the Feast while still petitioning God to repose our departed fathers and brethren.