Blessed Sunday, everyone! As encouragement for us to pray the Monday Tadakia (ⲑⲉⲟⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ ⲙⲡⲓⲫⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲃⲓⲧ) tomorrow, I’d like to run through another critical translation error (in the early English translation of the Psalmody, now made even worse in/by Coptic Reader) that has significant impact on the theological understanding of our salvation. In doing so, I …
There is immense value in adjusting translations, not only for theological and/or linguistic accuracy, but for musical purposes and proper grammar and syntax. As an example of this, let’s take a deeper look at the current introductory stanzas of several ⲁⲇⲁⲙ hymns, ⲁⲙⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ and ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϧⲁ ⲛⲓⲗⲁⲟⲥ. Coptic Text: ⲁⲙⲱⲓⲛⲓ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ ⳾ ⲛϯⲧⲣⲓⲁⲥ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ …
Since the feast of the Cross is approaching, I’d love to share some information about the hymn ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲉⲛϥ which is quite popular within Coptic Rite; the text is taken from the ⲑⲉⲟⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ of Sunday (the stanza ⲫⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲉⲛϥ is actually found twice in the tadakia, once in section 6, and the other instance below). …
According to the tradition of the Moharraq Monastery and Cantor Tawfiq Youssef, the hymn ⲁⲇⲁⲙ ⲁⲃⲉⲗ is chanted for any prophet. However, in doing some digging it turns out that the hymn is not necessarily for the prophets at all but it is a ⲃⲱϩⲉⲙ ⲡⲁϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ, that is, A Hymn for my Lord Jesus. …
Throughout Holy Week in the Coptic Rite, the Paschal Doxology ⲑⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ ϯϫⲟⲙ (Thine is the Power) is chanted in full 636 times (give or take depending on who’s counting ). Due to its depth and beauty, books have been written contemplating upon every word in this chant. By the end of ⲡⲁⲥⲭⲁ (Passover) Week, …
Ⲓ was sixteen when mom departed to be with the Lord (tomorrow marks eleven years). I would say one of the most trying aspects of losing an immediate family member at such a young age is not being old enough to truly understand their identity — their upbringing, their character, their passion, those things that …
The Coptic fraction prayer, “O God, begetter of light” (Ⲫⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲡⲓⲣⲉϥⲙⲓⲥⲓ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ) is one of the oldest fraction prayers we know of as it is present in the earliest extant Bohairic euchologia. Unfortunately, it is rarely heard nowadays. According to many of the early euchologia, this text is attributed to the Patriarch St Severus …
Have you ever wondered why there are interpretations for the Sunday Tadakia chanted during the month of Kiahk? Why are only six interpretations chanted regularly though there are seven sections of the tadakia? How about the portions from the Gospel of Luke — why do we read only one throughout the year but six during …
ⲡⲓϩⲱⲥ ⲙ̀ⲙⲁϩϥⲧⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲁⲃⲟⲧ ⲛ̀ⲭⲟⲓⲁϩⲕ Throughout the Coptic month of Ⲭⲟⲓⲁϩⲕ (Kiahk), the Coptic faithful take part in overnight vigils of praise in preparation for the Nativity of the Lord Jesus. While many tunes alternate with respect to the season, few change their structure, with the exception that the seven ⲑⲉⲟⲧⲟⲕⲓⲁ (Tadakia) are interspersed between …
One consistent lesson to be learned, especially now during this pandemic, is that man continues to search for love in his life. In any relationship, be it one of romance, or brotherhood, or friendship, the expression and perception love is imperative. Whether or not it is directly understood to be so, this deep need for …