What are the Theotokias in the Coptic Midnight Psalmody?

Question

CopticBot.ai · Accepted Answer

The Theotokias are choral chants forming part of the Coptic Midnight Psalmody, a chanted service rather than a simple recitation of psalms. They are assigned to specific days of the week and accompanied by explanations called lobshs.

In the liturgical tradition of the Coptic Church, the theotokias are constitutive choral chants integrated into the psalmody. As documented in Deri CP 2009 and The Coptic Psalmos, at the conclusion of the offices of Compline, of the Midnight prayer, and of the Morning prayer, a daily choral service (Psalmodia) is held. Rather than being a simple recitation of psalms, it is a chanted service—mostly in Coptic—of Old and New Testament odes, theotokias, psalmis, lobshs, and hymns for the saints. Burmester’s Horologion of the Egyptian Church similarly notes that in the final form assumed by the Horologion of the Coptic Church, to the principle of twelve psalms, a lesson, and a collect, there is added a psalmody in the form of troparia and theotokia. Liturgically, the theotokias are assigned to specific days of the week and accompanied by explanations (lobshs). In the Coptic Hymns Lyrics Library : Annual Days - سنوي 2. Psalmody - الإبصلمودية Weekdays Theotokeias, specific weekday theotokias are chanted in the Adam tune: - The Monday Theotokia - Adam (ثيؤطوكية الإثنين - أدآم), given in Coptic as Ϯⲑⲉⲟ̀ⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲉ̀ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲥ̀ⲛⲁⲩ - Ⲁ̀ⲇⲁⲙ ⲉ̀ⲧⲓ ⲉϥⲟⲓ, paired with The Monday Theotokia Lobsh (لُبش ثيؤطوكية الإثنين; Ⲡⲓⲗⲱⲃϣ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ϯⲑⲉⲟ̀ⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲉ̀ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲥ̀ⲛⲁⲩ). - The Tuesday Theotokia - Adam (ثيؤطوكية الثلاثاء - أدآم), given in Coptic as Ϯⲑⲉⲟ̀ⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲉ̀ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ϣⲟⲙⲧ, paired with The Tuesday Theotokia Lobsh (لُبش ثيؤطوكية الثلاثاء; Ⲡⲓⲗⲱⲃϣ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ϯⲑⲉⲟ̀ⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ⲉ̀ϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ϣⲟⲙⲧ). Additional parts of the weekly cycle are mentioned across liturgical texts. The Deacon Service Book (SUS) notes the chanting of the Sunday Theotokia as well as item 18 in the order of the service: "The Conclusion of the Adam Theotokias J1IeK /'fAI WnA/'fO ... t is chanted", which precedes the recitation of the Creed and absolution of the Midnight Psalmody. Furthermore, the ce5 entry references the "Saturday theotokia in the PSALMODIA", noting that a mu‘aqqab is sung together with other tafasir at this theotokia before the evening offering of incense during Kiyahk and Lent. Sources: Coptic Hymns Lyrics Library : Annual Days - سنوي 2. Psalmody - الإبصلمودية Weekdays Theotokeias; Deacon Service Book (SUS); BurmesterHorologionOfTheEgyptianChurch; Deri CP 2009; The Coptic Psalmos; ce5

What are the Theotokias in the Coptic Midnight Psalmody?

Related questions