When do we say Psalm 122?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
In the Coptic Orthodox Church, Psalm 122 (121 in the Septuagint/Agpeya), which begins with "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord'", is prayed in several specific liturgical and private contexts:
1. The Agpeya (Book of Hours)
This psalm is part of the Third Hour. The Third Hour commemorates three major events: the clothing of the Lord Jesus Christ in the purple robe and His mocking by the Jews, His ascent to Golgotha, and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost.
In this context, the psalm expresses the joy of the soul in entering the spiritual Jerusalem (the Church) and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within the believer.
2. The Rite of the Consecration of a New Church
When a new Coptic Orthodox church is consecrated by the Pope or bishops, Psalm 122 is prayed during the procession around the altar and the church. This is the most literal application of the text, as the clergy and congregation rejoice in the opening of a new "House of the Lord" where the Eucharist will be offered.
3. Entering the Church
It is a traditional and pious custom for Coptic Orthodox Christians to recite this psalm (or at least the first verse) mentally or quietly upon entering the gates of the church building. It serves as a prayer of preparation, transitioning the mind from the cares of the world to the sanctity of the Divine Liturgy.
4. Liturgical Symbolism
The psalm speaks of Jerusalem as a city "compactly built together." In our Coptic theology, this refers to the Unity of the Church. Just as the "Fraction" involves the breaking of the One Body to unite the many members, this psalm celebrates the gathering of the "tribes of the Lord" into one spiritual body to give thanks to the Name of the Lord.
5. Funerary Rites
In certain arrangements of the funeral service, specifically during the procession of the departed, verses from this psalm may be used to signify the soul's joy in entering the Heavenly Jerusalem, the "House of the Lord" not made with hands.
Note on Translation:
In the Coptic liturgy, we use the Bohairic version:
:.
(Ai-ounof ejen ni-etav-jos nei: je maron e-pi-ei em-Pchois.)