The answer
The congregation can bow their heads only, they do not have to prostrateAnswered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)
Questions & Answers
Divine Liturgy
Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Prayer, Fasting and Worship › Divine Liturgy
The question
Should the church congregation bow down fully (prostrate) or just bend their heads after the fraction when the deacon says, "Bow your HEADS to the Lord"?
Related questions
- Why does the priest anoint the holy bread with water during the procession of the Lamb?
- What is the significance of stepping into the sanctuary right foot first and exiting backwards left foot first?
- During the Procession of the Lamb, why does the deacon holding the water flask stand on the priest's left hand side (on the south end of the church)?
Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1158 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.