Rituals

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

13 questions

Why are the altar curtains in the church "white" instead of "red" during the 50 days following the Holy Resurrection?
This year, the beginning of the Fast (Feb. 16) coincides with one of the minor Master's Feast (Presentation of the Lord to the Temple). Normally, for the fast,we pray the…
During the Divine Liturgy, how many times does the priest cense before the Pope, Bishop and Priest?
At the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, why does the priest put the cross at an angle on the top of the chosen bread (Korbana) while he goes around the altar?
On the Feast of Theophany, during the sanctification of the water and the washing with the water, do we sing "Praise God" in the joyful tune or the annual tune? The book…
All the Divine Liturgy books mention that "Pe Oik" is a hymn during communion for the weekdays' liturgies, while "Je efzmaro-out" is used on Sundays. What is the reason…
Do we chant "Je efzmaro-out" only on feasts and fasts? Or we have the choice to chant it if we are not going to chant "Pi Oik"?
I have a question regarding when the "allelouia ente ti eprosfora" is said. Is there any other day, apart from the feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ and the regular…
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the priest goes around the altar kissing its four corners and clapping his hand. What is the symbolic meaning of his action?
dDuring the Holy Thursday Liturgy, we skip the commemoration of saints because we are supposed to be focused on Christ, correct? Why then do we say "hail to the saints"…
Does the papal seat within each respective church need to be located in a specific spot or direction or can/should it be placed within the altar to allow His Holiness to…
During the period between the Ascension Feast and the Pentecost Feast, is there a procession done every day in the sanctuary only or is it only the Sunday between the…
Which of the following are/are not practices of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: -Eating the agape meal -Transubstantiation -Praying directly to deceased Christians…

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.