Regarding the Procession hymn "Ton Sinanargon," what does "Sinanargon" mean?

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

The word "Sinanargon" is actually two distinct Greek words joined together in the chanting of the hymn: ⲥⲓⲛⲁ (Sina) and ⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ (nargon).

When we chant the Procession of the Nativity, we say "ⲧⲱⲛ ⲥⲓⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ" (Ton Sina nargon).

Here is the breakdown of what ⲥⲓⲛⲁⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ means according to the Greek grammar used in our Coptic liturgy:

1. ⲥⲓⲛⲁ (Sina)

This refers to Mount Sinai. In the context of the Nativity hymns, Sinai represents the Old Covenant, the giving of the Law to Moses, and the "consuming fire" that was terrifying to behold.

2. ⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ (nargon)

As previously noted, this comes from the Greek ἀργόν (argon). It means "idle," "inactive," "void," or "ineffectual." It is the opposite of ergon (work/action).

The Full Meaning in the Hymn

The phrase ⲧⲱⲛ ⲥⲓⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ translates to:

"Making Sinai idle" or "Sinai has become void."

The Theological Significance:

The hymn contrasts two mountains: Mount Sinai (the Law) and the Manger in Bethlehem (Grace).

• At Sinai, God descended in fire, smoke, and thunder, and the people were afraid to approach. The Law was a "shadow" and was "idle" in its ability to grant salvation.
• At Bethlehem, the same God descended as a humble Infant. The Nativity of Christ fulfills the Law, thereby making the old terrors of Sinai "idle" or "void."

By chanting this, we are proclaiming that the birth of ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ (Jesus Christ) has replaced the condemnation of the Law with the gift of salvation, rendering the "work" of Sinai finished and its fear inactive.

Note on Language:

Both ⲥⲓⲛⲁ and ⲛⲁⲣⲅⲟⲛ are Greek loanwords used in the Coptic liturgical text. The hymn is an Adam Aspasmos chanted during the Feast of the Nativity, famously known for its beautiful and complex musical transitions, as documented by cantors like Moalem Ibrahim Ayad and Moalem George Mikhail.