What's the intercessions hymn?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-09
The intercession hymns, known as ⲛⲓⲉⲩⲭⲏ (Ni-Eukhi), are a vital part of the Coptic Orthodox Liturgy. They are chanted after the Pauline Epistle and before the Praxis (Acts) Response, asking for the prayers and intercessions of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Heavenly Hosts, and the Saints.
The structure of these short hymns follows a specific order, beginning with the Mother of God, followed by the Archangels, the Apostles, and the Martyrs and Saints.
For the Theotokos (The Mother of God)
ⲧⲉⲛϩⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲟ ⲱ ϯⲑⲉⲟⲧⲟⲕⲟⲥ: ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ϯⲙⲁⲩ ⲛ̀ⲁⲧⲑⲱⲗⲉⲃ: ⲛ̀ⲑⲟ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓϩⲏⲃⲥ ⲛ̀ⲛⲟⲩⲃ: ⲉⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ.
(We praise you, O Theotokos, Mary the undefiled Mother; you are the golden lamp that enlightens the world.)
For the Seven Archangels
ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲓⲁ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲁⲣⲭⲏⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏⲗ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ: ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲣⲓϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲭⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Through the intercessions of the holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.)
For the Apostles
ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲉⲩⲭⲏ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲁϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛ̀ⲓⲟϯ ⲛ̀ⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡ̀ⲥⲉⲡⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ: ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲣⲓϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲭⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Through the prayers of my lords and fathers the Apostles, and the rest of the disciples, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.)
For the Martyr St. George (Standard Intercession for Martyrs)
ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲉⲩⲭⲏ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲁⲑⲗⲟⲫⲟⲣⲟⲥ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ: ⲡⲁϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲡ̀ⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲅⲉⲱⲣⲅⲓⲟⲥ: ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲣⲓϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲭⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Through the prayers of the prize-winning martyr, my lord the King George, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.)
Conclusion (The General Intercession)
ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲉⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ: ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ: ⲡϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲁⲣⲓϩⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲭⲱ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ.
(Through the holy prayers of all the saints of this day, each one by his name, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins.)
Liturgical Note
These intercessions are not merely a list of names; they represent the Communion of Saints. We do not worship the saints, but we ask for their prayers, recognizing that they are alive in ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲭⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ (Jesus Christ) and stand before the Throne of Grace. This practice is a key distinction from Protestantism, which wrongly denies the efficacy of the prayers of those who have departed to paradise. In our Coptic Orthodox faith, the Church on earth and the Church in heaven are one body.