The goal of the Ecclesiastical Choir is to encourage girls and female youth to learn and memorize church hymns, and to participate in the liturgical life of the Church. The Development of the Ecclesiastical Choir From the beginning of my service in Los Angeles, I noticed that church choirs, as a service, were made up primarily of females who focused on singing Western songs, avoiding learning Coptic hymns as families paid more attention to their – …

An excerpt from the Book, Spirituality of the Rites of the Holy Liturgy, pp. 45-54 The Coptic Church, in its humble and meek spirit, teaches her children three types of prostration, or metanias (bowing). These are: prostrations of worship, repentance, and honor. 1. Prostrations of Worship These are the prostrations offered to God during our individual or public worship, such as at the beginning of each of the hourly prayers when we say “Lord have – …

Blessing of the “Tunics” The “tunic” should be blessed before the “Matins Raising of Incense”. In case some deacons come late, the “Tunic” can be blessed before the “Agpia”, after the “Agpia” or before the “Absolution of the Servants”. The “Tunic” should not be blessed after the “Absolution of the Servants”. Lighting and Holding the Candles inside the Altar during the “Anaphora” Candles should not be lit while kneeling; therefore, candles should be lit as – …

“… And breaking bread from house to house, the ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” Acts 2:46 We ask all the parish churches of the Diocese of Los Angeles to hold fast the Biblical-Patristic Tradition of Agape Meals after Divine Liturgies. We encourage every parish church to invite her beloved children, after the Divine Liturgy, to share together with gladness and simplicity of heart a simple Agape Meal without sale and purchase – …

On December 11, 2008, His Grace Bishop Serapion clarified a liturgical rubrics question in a meeting with the clergy of the Diocese. The question presented was: In the Vespers Raising of Incense on Saturday evening, is it proper to chant the Adam (Amoini Marenousht) or Watos (Tenousht) Verses of the Cymbals? His Grace clarified that the rites of the Raising of Incense on Saturday evening follow the occasion/event of Sunday, the next day. For this – …