What are the main sections of the Coptic Liturgy?

The answer

The Liturgy can be divided into three services:

a. Offering of the Lamb. The Lamb is chosen from among the offered loaves of bread.

The priest anoints it with wine in the name of the Holy Trinity. The offering of the Lamb was once part of the Liturgy of the Faithful, but just before the fifth century, this rite was moved to the beginning of the Liturgy instead, in order to prepare the congregation for the renewal of their covenant with God by listening to God’s word and partaking of the sacraments. It is the beginning of the journey where the Church

acknowledges the cost of following Christ. The Church offers her whole life through Christ, the true Sacrifice. She offers her life as a sacrifice to the Lord who was slaughtered for her, for the Lord accepts no less from His Church than her entire life. Otherwise, the journey becomes feeble if the Church does not pay the cost in full.

b. Liturgy of the Catechumens. Predominantly characterized by preaching and

teaching, without ignoring the worship aspect. The catechumens, along with the believers, listen to the readings and the sermon, along with some prayers offered for them by the Church, for God to grant us understanding, wisdom, and faith. Thus, since the early Church, the catechumens enjoyed the Liturgy of the Word or the Liturgy of the Catechumens which prepares one for receiving the holy sacraments. For even when they have received the sacraments of baptism, chrismation, and the eucharist, they remain in need of listening to the word continuously.¹⁵⁴⁸

c. Liturgy of the Faithful (Eucharist or Anaphora).¹⁵⁴⁹ This service is an act of

worship, which includes an educational aspect, where the Church ascends to heaven by the Holy Spirit to be in the presence of God in Christ Jesus.

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty