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Notes on the Rites of Passion Week

  • The Paschal day is divided into two sections (eve and day), each consisting of 5 Paschal prayer hours: first, third, sixth, ninth and eleventh. The day of Good Friday has an additional hour (twelfth hour).
  • The day begins from the eve of the present day until the eve of the next day.
  • The prayers of the Pascha are prayed outside the first section of the church, because Christ suffered outside the city; Heb 13:12-13, Heb 3:11.
  • A black veil is draped over the lectern, the veil of the sanctuary, the columns and the walls of the church.
  • Of the suffering Christ is placed in the middle, with a candle in front of it. Enter
  • The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are read on the days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, after the first hour of the day.
  • The Gospel of John is read before the midnight praises of the day of resurrection (the evening of Bright Saturday).
  • Greeting is not permitted from the first hour of the eve of Wednesday, until the end of the Liturgy of Bright Saturday, because of the kiss of Judas.
  • No Liturgies are celebrated during the Holy Pascha week except for Covenant Thursday and Bright Saturday.
  • The doxology of Holy Pascha week “Thok te tigom” is chanted twelve times:
    • In the second verse, the phrase “Pasoteer enaghathos” is added from the eleventh hour of the day of Tuesday.
    • Additionally, the phrase “Tagom nem pa esmou…” is added from the first hour of the eve of Friday.
  • The prayers of the Holy Pascha week start from the nonth hour of the day of Palm Sunday.

Notes on the Rites of the Hours of Passion Week

  • The introduction of each day is read before the prophecies of the first hour of each day.
  • The prophecies are chanted in Coptic (if known) then translated in Arabic/English.
  • If there is a homily, the introduction is chanted in Coptic, then the Homily is read then the conclusion is chanted.
  • The doxology of the Holy Pascha week “Thok te tigom” is chanted twelve times (alternating on each side, North then South) then concluded by the Lord’s prayer.
    • In the second verse, the phrase “Pasoteer enaghathos” is added from the eleventh hour of the day of Tuesday.
    • Additionally, the phrase “Tagom nem pa esmou…” is added from the first hour of the eve of Friday.
  • The Psalm is chanted in the paschal ‘edreeb’ tune, similar to “Ke Iperto”.
    • In the eleventh hour of the day of Tuesday and the twelfth hour of the day of Friday, the Psalm “Pekethronos” is chanted in the Syrian ‘Shammy’ tune.
    • In the third hour of the eve of Thursday and the first hour of the day of Thursday the Psalm “Avechinon” is chanted in the Syrian ‘Shammy’ tune.
  • The hymn “Ke Iperto” is then chanted either quickly or in its Paschal tune.
  • The Gospel is chanted in Coptic in the paschal tune.
  • The Psalm and Gospel are then translated into Arabic/English.
  • The introduction to the Commentary is chanted, with differing words for the day and eve
  • The Commentary is chanted in Coptic and/or translated into Arabic/English.
  • The conclusion of the Commentary is chanted.
  • The litanies are then prayed, with prostration in the day service and without prostration in the evenings because the congregation is not fasting.
  • The priest raises the cross and chants “Evnoti Nai Nan”
  • The congregation responds with “Kirie Eleyson” twelve times (three on each side, North then South).
  • The congregation chants the hymn “Epouro” in the Paschal tune.
  • The conclusion hymn for the Holy Pascha is chanted, followed by the priest concluding the service with the benediction of the Holy Pacha week.

Covenant Thursday

Matins – Offering of Morning Incense

  1. The first hour of Covenant Thursday is prayed in the first section of the Church.
  2. The prophecies are chanted in Coptic then translated to Arabic/English.
  3. The introduction to the Homily is chanted in Coptic then the Homily is read, then the conclusion is chanted in Coptic.
  4. The veil of the sanctuary is opened.
  5. The doxology of the Holy Pascha week “Thok te tigom” is chanted twelve times.
  6. The priest begins the Offering of the Incense with the Thanksgiving Prayer.
  7. The deacons chant the verses of the cymbals in the standard tune, with the addition of the verse for the feast.
  8. Psalm 50 – “Have mercy upon me O God…”, followed by “Alleluia. Zoxasi Otheos Imon”.
  9. The priest prays the Litanies of the sick and oblations.
  10. “Let us sing with the Angels…” and the Trisagion are recited.
  11. The doxologies are chanted, in the standard tune.
  12. The priest offers incense around the church without greetings/kissing.
  13. At the end of the doxologies, the Creed is recited until “…He was incarnate and became man” then continued with “Truly we believe in the Holy Spirit…”.
  14. The priest raises the cross and chants “Evnoti Nai Nan…”, the congregation responds with “Kirie Eleyson” three times, in the great tune.
  15. The hymn “Fai etafenf” is chanted, followed by “Tenousht”.
  16. The Acts is chanted in Coptic in the paschal tune, and then translated in Arabic/English.
  17. The Greek hymn “Youdas…” is chanted while the deacons are going clockwise around the church. This hymn is for Judas’ reprimand.
  18. The Trisagion is chanted in the Paschal tune.
  19. The Litany of the Gospel is prayed.
  20. The Psalm “Avechinon” is chanted in the Syrian ‘Shammy’ tune.
  21. The hymn “Ke Iperto” is then chanted either quickly or in its Paschal tune.
  22. The Gospel is chanted in Coptic in the paschal tune.
  23. The Psalm and Gospel are then translated into Arabic/English.
  24. The Commentary is read, followed by the Litanies (with prostrations).
  25. The service is concluded as the usual rite of the hours of the Pascha week.
  26. The Gospel of St Luke is read in its entirety.
  27. The priest then starts the prayers of the third, sixth and ninth hours according to the rites of the hours of the Pascha week.
 

The Liturgy of the Waters

1.      The congregation sings the hymn of the Blessing “Tenouosht Emefiot” while the priest and deacons put on their service vestments. The Liturgy of the Waters is prayed in the third section of the Church.

2.      The priest begins with the Thanksgiving Prayer.

3.      The deacons chant the verses of the cymbals in the standard tune, and conclude with the verses for the Feasts of the Lord “Isos Pekhristos Insaf nem fouo” and “Epouro…”.

4.      The congregation recites Psalm 50 “Have mercy upon me O God…”

5.      The congregation responds with “Alleluia” then “Zoxi Otheos Eemon”.

6.      The prophecies are read.

7.      The homily is read.

8.      The congregation chants “Tenouosht emmok…”

9.      The Pauline Epistle is chanted in the standard tune, then read in Arabic/English.

10.  The Trisagion is chanted in the standard tune with the verse “O-estavrotis di mas” repeated three times.

11.  The Litany of the Gospel is prayed.

12.  The Psalm is chanted in the standard tune, then translated in Arabic/English. While the reader reads the passage “He rose from supper, and laid aside His vestments, and took a towel and girded Himself …” the priest girds himself and pours water into the basin three times in the shape of the cross.

13.  The priest raises his cross with three candles and chants “Evnoti Nai Nan”.

14.  The congregation chants “Kirie Eleyson” ten times in the great tune.

15.  The congregations chants the feast’s response to the Gospel in the standard tune.

16.  The priest then prays the seven great litanies: the sick, travellers, seasons, leader, departed, oblations and catechumens.

17.  The priest prays the litanies and the congregation responds with “Kirie Eleyson” after each verse.

18.  The priest raises his cross with three candles while the congregation chants “Kirie Eleyson” one hundred times.

19.  The priest prays the three great litanies (Peace, Fathers and Assemblies).

20.  The Creed is recited until “…He was incarnate and became man” then continued with “Truly we believe in the Holy Spirit…”. And congregation chant the concluding verse of the creed.

21.  The Adam Aspasmos for the feast may be chanted.

22.  The priest continues with the prayers of the Liturgy of the Waters.

23.  At the end of the prayers, the Lord’s Prayer is recited, followed by “Khen pekristos Isos Penchois” and “Bow down your heads…” etc.

24.  The priest prays the first two absolutions only.

25.  The deacon raises the cross and prays “Sotis Ameen…” / “Saved indeed…”

26.  The priest makes the sign of the cross on the basin and water vessel three times while praying “Eflogitos Kirios …”

27.  The congregation rise from their worship and chant “Yis o panagios pateer …”

28.  The liturgy is concluded by Psalm 150 in the standard tune, while the priest washes everyone’s feet with the water.

29.  The priest prays the “thanksgiving prayer after lakkan”

30.  The homily of St John Chrysostom is read.

 

The Holy Liturgy

1.      The lamb is presented without the Agpeya prayers of the hours.

2.      “Kirie Eleyson” (41 times) is NOT chanted, but rather the lamb is examined in silence as Christ who was silent when tried before Pilate and did not open His mouth.

3.      The hymn of “Alleluia Fai Pepi” is NOT chanted.

4.      The hymn “Sotis Ameen” is NOT chanted.

5.      The priest prays the absolution of the servants.

6.      The hymn of the Intercessions is NOT chanted.

7.      The priest raises the incense of the Pauline Epistle while the deacons chant “Tenouosht emmok…”

8.      The Pauline is chanted in Coptic and read in Arabic/English.

9.      The Catholic Epistle, Acts and Synaxarion are NOT read.

10.  The Trisagion is chanted in the standard tune with the verse “O-estavrotis di mas” repeated three times.

11.  The Psalm and Gospel may be chanted in Coptic in the standard tune. And Followed in Arabic/English.

12.  The response of Gospel for the feast is chanted in the standard tune.

13.  The priest prays the three great litanies (Peace, Fathers and Assemblies).

14.  The Creed is recited until “…He was incarnate and became man” then continued with “Truly we believe in the Holy Spirit…”. And congregation chant the concluding verse of the creed.

15.  The prayer of the Reconciliation is NOT prayed, because reconciliation of heaven and earth has not been fulfilled as of that time.

16.  The Adam Aspasmos for the feast may be chanted.

17.  The prayer from the Gregorian liturgy “You come to the slaughter as a lamb” is preferred over the Basilian liturgy prayer “He arose from the dead”.

18.  The liturgy is continued as usual, WITHOUT praying the Congregation of Saints and the Departed.

19.  The Fraction for Covenant Thursday (the slaying of Isaac) is prayed.

20.  During the distribution of the Holy Communion, the veil of the sanctuary is closed and Psalm 150 is NOT chanted.

21.  The prayer of the eleventh hour is prayed according to the rite of the Holy Pascha week.

22.  After the Commentary, the Litanies are prayed without prostration because the congregation has taken Communion and not fasting.

23.  The prayer is concluded as usual.

24.  The Gospel of St Luke is read in its entirety, if not read earlier.

 

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