Incense

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

4 questions

• QWhy do we pray for the reposed using incense that the deacons pass around on Good Friday?
• QIn 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?
• QWhat do the five spoonfuls of incense the priest places in the censer represent?
• QWhy 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. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.