Questions & Answers

Incense

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Prayer, Fasting and Worship › Incense

The question

What do the five spoonfuls of incense the priest places in the censer represent?

The answer

They represent the Old Testament's five acceptable sacrifices or offerings, the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and the trespass offering. They are offered for the glory and honor of the Holy Trinity.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

In the Pauline Incense procession during the Divine Liturgy, is there a specific reason why the deacon carries the cross as he goes around the altar with the priest?
Why do we pray for the reposed using incense that the deacons pass around on Good Friday?
Why does the priest "wash" his hands with the incense three times then takes the smoke and touches the paten and the chalice three times as well?

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 518 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.