What are all the sections of the Coptic Divine Liturgy?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-09

The Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Orthodox Church is divided into three primary liturgical divisions—the Offertory, the Liturgy of the Word (Liturgy of the Catechumens), and the Liturgy of the Faithful (which encompasses the Anaphora, Fraction, and Holy Communion)—preceded by preparatory prayers.

I. Preparatory Services

1. The Canonical Hours (The Agpeya)

• Chanting of the Psalms and prayers of the Third and Sixth Hours (and the Ninth Hour on fasting days; the Eleventh and Twelfth Hours during the Holy Great Fast and Jonah’s Fast).

1. Washing of the Hands and Vesting of the Clergy

• The priest washes his hands while reciting Psalms and puts on the priestly vestments.

II. The Offertory (The Rites of the Oblation)

1. Selection and Examination of the Lamb

• The priest examines the prosphora (leavened bread) to select the unblemished "Lamb."

1. Baptism/Blessing of the Lamb and Procession

• The Lamb is moistened with water, symbolizing Christ's baptism, and carried in procession around the altar.

1. The Thanksgiving Prayer

• The priest offers thanksgiving to God for His protection and care.

1. Covering of the Altar and the Lamb

• The Lamb is placed on the paten, the wine and water are poured into the chalice, and the altar is veiled (the Prospharine).

1. The Absolution of the Servants

• The priest reads the absolution for all the clergy and the congregation.

III. The Liturgy of the Word (Liturgy of the Catechumens)

1. The Pauline Epistle

• Reading from the epistles of St. Paul, accompanied by the Incense of the Pauline.

1. The Catholic Epistle

• Reading from the universal (non-Pauline) epistles (James, Peter, John, Jude).

1. *The Acts of the Apostles (Praxis)*

• Reading from the Book of Acts.

1. The Synaxarium (The Commemoration of the Saints)

• Reading of the lives of the saints and church feasts commemorated on that day.

1. *The Trisagion (ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ - Agios)*

• The threefold hymn addressed to the Holy Trinity and the incarnate Word: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal..." (ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲟ ⲑⲉⲟⲥ, ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲓⲥⲭⲩⲣⲟⲥ, ⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲧⲟⲥ — Greek liturgical loanwords).

1. The Litany of the Gospel

• Petitions prayed by the priest before the holy Gospel.

1. The Psalm and the Holy Gospel

• Chanting of a selected verse from the Book of Psalms followed by the Gospel reading.

1. The Sermon (Homily)

• An exhortation and teaching delivered by the bishop or priest.

IV. The Liturgy of the Faithful (Liturgy of the Believers)

1. The Three Great Litanies

• The Litany of Peace
• The Litany of the Fathers (the Pope and bishops)
• The Litany of the Gatherings/Assemblies

1. The Orthodox Creed (Symbol of the Faith)

• Recitation of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

1. *The Prayer of Reconciliation (Aspasmos)*

• Commemorating the reconciliation between God and humanity through the Cross, concluding with the holy kiss of peace: "Greet one another with a holy kiss."

1. *The Lifting of the Veil (Prospharine)*

• The large veil covering the altar is lifted, symbolizing the rolling of the stone from Christ's tomb.

V. The Anaphora (Eucharistic Consecration)

(The Coptic rite employs one of three Anaphoras: St. Basil, St. Gregory, or St. Cyril.)

1. The Sursum Corda and Preface

• The introductory dialogue ("The Lord be with you all... Lift up your hearts..."), followed by thanksgiving for creation and salvation.

1. The Hymn of the Seraphim (Triumphal Hymn)

• The congregation joins the heavenly hosts chanting: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of hosts..."

1. The Historical Narrative of Salvation

• The priest recalls the Fall, the Incarnation, and Christ's redeeming work.

1. The Institution Narrative

• Recalling Christ's words and actions at the Last Supper when He instituted the Eucharist.

1. The Epiklesis (Invocation of the Holy Spirit)

• The priest kneels and invokes the Holy Spirit to descend upon the gifts and transform the bread into the True Body and the chalice into the True Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. The Seven Short Litanies (Intercessions)

• Petitions for the Church, the clergy, ministers, mercy, the waters of the river / fruits of the earth / winds of the heaven, the oblations, and the salvation of the world.

1. The Commemoration of the Saints (The Diptych)

• Remembering the departed saints, led by the Holy Theotokos (ⲑⲉⲟⲧⲟⲕⲟⲥ - Mother of God), followed by prayers for the departed faithful.

VI. The Fraction and Preparation for Communion

1. The Fraction Prayer

• The priest breaks the holy Body according to prescribed rites while praying the appropriate fraction prayer for the liturgical season.

1. The Lord's Prayer

• The congregation prays the Our Father.

1. The Prayers of Submission and Absolution to the Father

• Prayers offered while bowed before God in preparation to receive the Holy Mysteries.

1. *The Elevation of the Despotikon***

• The priest lifts the central part of the Lamb, proclaiming: "The Holies for the holy."

1. *The Confession (ⲡⲓϩⲟⲙⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ - Homologia)*

• The solemn proclamation by the priest that this is the life-giving Flesh and Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, taken from Saint Mary, united with His divinity without mingling, confusion, or alteration.

VII. Holy Communion and Dismissal

1. The Distribution of the Holy Mysteries

• The clergy and faithful partake of the True Body and Precious Blood of Christ.
• Psalm 150 and joyful eucharistic hymns are chanted during communion.

1. The Post-Communion Prayers and Thanksgiving

• Prayers giving thanks for partaking of the Holy Mysteries.

1. The Laying on of Hands and Blessing

• The priest places his hand upon the congregation, blessing them with water.

1. *Dismissal and Distribution of the Eulogia (The Blessed Bread)*

• The final dismissal ("Go in peace, the peace of the Lord be with you all"), followed by the distribution of the blessed bread (al-barakah).