What is a Psali in Coptic hymnody?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08

In Coptic hymnody, the word “Psali” is of Greek origin, derived from the book of Psalms (termed “Psalmos” in Greek), and serves as a synonym to the word “Praise,” as detailed in MusicalityOfCopticHymnsEnglish. Research on the Psali was filed by “Yassa Abd-El-Messih” (1898–1958) and published in the magazine of the Coptic Studies Institute.

Poetically, a Psali is structured similarly to rhymed poetry and consists of many “Stikhons”—which can number as many as 24—with each stikhon comprising four sentences or short strophes of four lines each. Each stikhon typically begins with a letter of the alphabet (Coptic, Arabic, or Greek, depending on the language of the Psali) arranged in alphabetical order. According to An Introduction to Coptic Music | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, the author's name may also appear in acrostic form as the initial letters of the strophes or embedded directly in a strophe with a plea for mercy and pardon from sin, designating the writer as “the poor servant” or “a poor sinner.”

Musically, most Psalis are sung to either the “Adam” or “Batos” (or “Batis”) melody-type depending on the day of the week. Coptic Hymnody notes that on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, the Psali takes a short tune called “Adam”, whereas on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, it takes a long tune called “Batis”. It also possesses a yearly tune, a Kiahk tune, and a joyful tune for feasts. These melodies are rhythmic, syllabic, and quasi-parlando, spanning a range of four or at most five tones, which facilitates congregational singing.

Liturgically, the Deacon Service Book (SUS) indicates that during Midnight Praise, a Psali is chanted before each Hoos (Canticle) and before the Commemoration of the Saints. One well-known example is the Psali Batos for the three holy young men (“Cedrak, Mishak, & Abednego” or “Shadrach”, “Meshach” and “Abed-Nego”), which includes the hymn Aripsalin quoted by Cantor “Sarkis”.

Sources: MusicalityOfCopticHymnsEnglish; An Introduction to Coptic Music | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles; Coptic Hymnody; Deacon Service Book (SUS)