The Outline of the Liturgy

The basic pattern of the Coptic liturgy consists of:

• 1- The form of worship, which, in the language of the western liturgies, is called, "The Divine Office." It is also called "The Liturgy of Time," and contains four cycles of time:
• A. The daily cycle such as the Vesper (the Evening Incense), the Matin (the Morning Incense), the Canonical Hours etc.
• B. The weekly cycle such as the Psalmody, which contains Psalms, Scriptural, hymns, Doxologies, Theotokions etc. and is offered throughout the week, differing from day to day in material and music.
• C. The monthly cycle such as the service of the monthly feast of the Archangel Michael.
• D. The yearly cycle, where by we worship God with prayers and hymns fit for the feasts and fastings throughout the year.
• 2- The Eucharist: It may be divided into three services:
• A. The Offertory.
• B. The Liturgy of the Catechumens.
• C. The Liturgy of the Faithful "Anaphora."