When we say "Our Father," whom are we calling?

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

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer and say "Our Father who art in heaven", we are primarily addressing God the Father, the First Person of the Holy Trinity.

However, in Coptic Orthodox theology, this address is deep and multifaceted.

1. The First Person of the Trinity

Strictly speaking, in the context of the Holy Trinity, we are addressing the Father. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us this prayer so that we might approach God with the same intimacy that He has as the Natural Son. Because we are united to Christ through Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, we are "adopted" as sons and daughters, allowing us to call His Father "Our Father."

2. The One Godhead

While we address the Person of the Father, we must remember that the Holy Trinity is one in essence and undivided. When we call upon the Father, we are not excluding the Son or the Holy Spirit, for the Trinity works in inseparable unity. As the Church Fathers teach, where the Father is, the Son and the Holy Spirit are also present.

3. God as Creator and Provider

In a general sense, we call upon God as the "Father of all" because He is the Creator. However, for the Orthodox Christian, the term "Father" is specifically a sacramental title. We do not call Him Father just because He made us, but because He regenerated us in the baptismal font.

4. The Distinction from Christ’s Fatherhood

It is important to note that while we address the First Person of the Trinity in this prayer, the title "Father" can sometimes be applied to the Son in a different sense (such as "Father of the age to come" or as our spiritual Shepherd). However, in the "Our Father," we are specifically following the commandment of the Son to address the Father in His Name.

The Coptic Perspective on "Our Father"

When we say these words, we are acknowledging:

• Adoption: We are not "gods" by nature, but by grace through Christ.
• Brotherhood: By saying "Our Father" (and not "My Father"), we recognize that we are part of the Church, the Body of Christ. We pray as a community, not just as individuals.
• Humility: We acknowledge that our home is in "Heaven", and we are but sojourners on this earth.

In the Coptic Liturgy, the priest often introduces this prayer by asking God to make us worthy to pray "with a pure heart, a renewed soul... and boldness without fear" to call upon Him as Father. This "boldness" is only possible because of the Incarnation of the Word.