Can we sing and pray to Mary, the saints, and the angels?

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

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, it is essential to distinguish between worship (which is due to God alone) and veneration (which we offer to the Mother of God, the, the angels, and the saints).

1. Worship vs. Veneration

We do not "pray" to St. Mary, the saints, or the angels in the sense of worshipping them as gods. Worship (Greek: latreia) is reserved strictly for the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

However, we do venerate (Greek: doulia) them. When we sing to them or address them in our prayers, we are asking for their intercession. We ask them to pray to God on our behalf, just as you might ask a righteous friend on earth to pray for you, but with the understanding that they stand before the throne of God in a much higher capacity.

2. Singing and Praying to St. Mary

The Coptic Church honors St. Mary above all created beings, including the Cherubim and Seraphim. As noted in the hymns of the Midnight Praises and the Liturgy:

• We sing, "It is truly right to bless you, O Mother of God, ever-blessed and most pure."
• We call her "More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim."
• We entreat her, as the human being most intimate with Christ, to intercede with her Son for the forgiveness of our sins.

3. Veneration of the Saints and Angels

In our liturgical life, we constantly invoke the saints and angels:

• Angels: We recognize the Seven Archangels (such as Michael and Gabriel) as our protectors. We sing Doxologies (Gloria) celebrating their service to God and asking them to intercede for us.
• Saints: We believe the "Cloud of Witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) is active and alive. We pray in the Commemoration of the Saints during the Divine Liturgy, asking God that through their prayers and supplications, He might have mercy on us.

4. Why This Is Biblical

The Coptic perspective is rooted in the "Communion of Saints." St. James tells us that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). If the prayers of the righteous are powerful on earth, how much more powerful are they when they are in the presence of God in heaven?

Furthermore, in the Book of Revelation, we see the elders and angels offering the "prayers of the saints" as incense before the throne of God (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4).

Contrast with Other Groups

Unlike Protestants who often reject the intercession of saints—viewing it as an unnecessary "middleman"—the Coptic Orthodox Church views the Church as one family. A person does not stop being a member of the Body of Christ just because they have died in the flesh. To suggest that we cannot ask for their prayers is to deny the victory of Christ over death.

Summary

Yes, we sing hymns of praise to them, and we speak to them in our prayers, but always with the clear understanding that God is the source of all grace and the saints are our powerful advocates and friends who pray with us and for us to Him.