Elaborate on the Circuit of the Pauline Incense.

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

During the Circuit of the Pauline Incense, the movement of the priest and the response of the congregation carry deep symbolic and theological meaning regarding the universality of the Gospel and the eternal glory of God.

The "Round of the Pauline" represents the missionary travels of St. Paul the Apostle, who labored more than all the other apostles to spread Christianity to the ends of the world.

The Liturgical Movement

While the Praxis (Acts) incense round is limited in its movement to symbolize the Apostles initially limiting their preaching to Judea, the Pauline incense round involves the priest processing through the entire church, including the outermost aisles. This symbolizes that the message of Christ is for the whole world—from "generation to generation."

The Meaning of the Response

During this circuit, as the priest moves among the people, the deacon circles the altar carrying the Cross. They are proclaiming the Glory of the Holy Trinity. When the congregation responds, "As it was and shall be...", they are connecting several theological truths specific to this moment:

1. The Unchanging Message: Just as the "it" (the glory of the Trinity) is eternal and unchanging, the Gospel preached by St. Paul is the same Gospel we receive today. It is not a new invention; it is the "eternal glory" revealed in Christ.
2. The Witness of the People: As the priest passes by the congregation with the censer, he is effectively gathering the prayers and the "confession" of the people. By responding "As it was and shall be," the congregation is affirming that they stand in the same line of faith as the early Christians who heard St. Paul preach.
3. The Trinity and the Cross: The deacon's movement around the altar with the Cross, while the "Glory and Honor" is proclaimed, signifies that the glory of the Trinity was most perfectly manifested to the world through the Sacrifice on the Cross.

Why the Round Starts from Left to Right

The priest begins the Round of the Pauline from the left side of the altar to the right. This signifies the transition of mankind from the "left" (the darkness of sin and being far from God) to the "right" (the light of the Gospel and the kingdom of God).

The congregation's response—"As it was, and shall be, from generation to generation, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen"—serves as the "seal" of the people on this movement. It is a declaration that the transformation from darkness to light, and the glory given to the Trinity for this salvation, is an eternal and unceasing reality in the Church.