Agpeya

The Coptic cycle of canonical hours is largely monastic, primarily composed of psalm readings. The Coptic equivalent of the Byzantine Horologion is the Agpeya.

Seven canonical hours exist, corresponding largely to the Byzantine order, with an additional "Prayer of the Veil" which is said by Bishops, Priests, and Monks (something like the Byzantine Midnight Office). The Coptic terms for 'Matins' and 'Vespers' are 'The Morning Raising of Incense' and 'The Evening Raising of Incense' respectively.

The hours are chronologically laid out, each containing a theme corresponding to events in the life of Jesus Christ:
*Morning Raising of Incense "Midnight Praise" (said in the early morning before dawn) commemorates the Second Coming of Christ. It consists of three watches, corresponding to the three stages of Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane ( ).
*Prime (Morning Prayer): is said upon waking in the morning or after the Midnight Praise the previous night. Copts pray this prayer upon waking up. It symbolises the Lord Jesus Christ's incarnation, death and Resurrection. We pray it to give thanks to the Lord for having us rise from the sleep and to grant us the power of His resurrection.
*Terce (9 a.m.) reminds us of three events, Christ’s trial by [Pontius Pilate|Pilate] , His ascension to the heavens and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost. We pray that the Holy Spirit Who descended upon the disciples on the Pentecost Day would be with us and purify us.
*Sext (noon) commemorates the Passion of Christ.:Terce and Sext are prayed before each Divine Liturgy.
*None (3 p.m.) commemorates the death of Christ on the Cross. This hour is also read during fasting days.
*Evening Raising of Incense (sunset) commemorates the taking down of Christ from the Cross.
*Compline (9 p.m. - before bedtime) commemorates the burial of Christ, the Final Judgment. :Vespers and Compline are both read before the Liturgy during Lent and the fast of Nineveh.
*The Veil is reserved for bishops, priests and monks, as an examination of conscience.

tructure

Every one of the Hours follows the same basic outline:
* Introduction, which includes the Lord’s Prayer
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
* Psalm 51 (In some Agpeyas, it is referred to as Psalm 50 according to the Septuagint).
* Various Psalms
* A reading from the Holy Gospel
* Short Litanies
* "Lord Have Mercy" is then chanted times 41 (This represents the 39 lashes Jesus Christ received before the crucifixion, plus one for the spear in His side, plus one for the crown of thorns.)
* Prayers
* Conclusion

External links

* [http://www.agpeya.org English versions of the Agpeya prayers both written and chanted]
* [http://www.st-takla.org/Agpeya.html Arabic, English, French texts of the Agbeya]