In the Coptic Church the rite of choosing the Lamb contains many theological meanings, spiritual experiences and heavenly notions, matters that language can't express. This rite speaks of the events of salvation together as if they were one event, subjected to "time" but beyond the boundaries of Time.
Through this rite, the soul enters Christ's manger, contemplating His incarnation and meditating upon His message. It bears Him with Simeon the elder into the Temple to see in Him the prophecies fulfilled. The soul follows Him to Jordan to see His baptism remembering His sacrificial act for its sake. Then it goes to Golgotha to enjoy the Cross and enters His tomb to practice His Resurrection.
Christ, the Lamb of God
The deacon brings the offering, i.e. bread and wine. Then the presbyter extends his hands over it to choose the "Lamb," that is the bread that will be transmuted into the Body of Christ. The Holy Scripture calls Him the "Lamb" of God.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."
"With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
"Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain…"
The presbyter chooses one "Lamb" out of 3, 5, 7, or 9 loaves, as it is said in the Book of Song of Songs "He is chosen from among ten thousands," and He is the First-fruit of the entire human race. Who is chosen as a sacrifice for all His brethren.
a- The "Lamb" is chosen out of three as a symbol of the Son, One of the Holy Trinity, Who was incarnated, fulfilling the redeeming plan.
- b- Number "5" refers to the five types of sacrifices in the Old Testament which were symbols of Christ's one and single Sacrifice.
- c- Number "7" refers to the above-mentioned five sacrifices plus the two birds offered for the leper on his healing. It also refers to the seven sacraments of the Church. It reminds us of the seven words, Christ uttered while He was upon the Cross.
We return to the rite of choosing the Lamb. The presbyter lays his hand on the oblations and crosses them in the shape of the cross; this action reminds us of the priest in the Old Testament, who laid his hands upon both the sacrifice and the sinner announcing that the sin had been transferred from the sinner to the sacrifice.
Our Lord bowed His head to the Cross for us to lay our hands upon Him so that He may bear our sins in His body.
At this instant, the people ask for nothing but God's mercy, singing the word "Kyrie Elieson," i.e. "Lord have mercy" forty one times.
As the Church sees her Bridegroom giving Himself up a sinoffering on her behalf, she asks Him to declare His mercy in the lives of all her members.
The presbyter crosses the bread and wine with the cross three times in the name of the Holy Trinity, before carrying them to the altar, in the same way as Jesus Christ accepted the Cross willingly before the action of the crucifixion. He bore the Cross within Himself before His going to the Golgotha, "the Altar."
After choosing the "Lamb," the presbyter crosses It with the wine by his finger, for the wine will be transformed into the Blood of Christ's Body. The other breads are also crossed with wine as a symbol of the Church, His brethren, who are sanctified and purified by His Blood.
Between Christmas and Epiphany
The rite of choosing the lamb contains a symbol of the Lord's baptism, for the presbyter puts the Lamb on the palm of his hand, anointing it with water, praying, "O Lord, let It be accepted for my sins and the ignorances of Your own people."
Before performing the symbols of Christmas the presbyter begins with those of Epiphany. The presbyter lifts up his heart towards Jordan to see the Messiah bearing His Church with Him secretly, in order that God adopts her in Him.
The presbyter prays inaudibly on behalf of all Christians in general, his family, his spiritual brethren and sons and for himself in order that God may preserve our baptismal garment spotless.
It is wonderful that in the rite of the Church, the presbyter practices the spirit of humbleness so that his heart may be full of love towards the Church, praying for them all and at the end he prays himself saying. "Remember, O Lord, my weakness - poor that I am and forgive me my manifold sins."
The presbyter wraps the lamb in a white linen veil, praying inaudibly the litanies of Peace, Fathers and Meetings of the Church. This white linen veil reminds us of the swaddling clothes of the Lord when He was lying in the manger and also of the burial clothes in which His Body was wrapped.
What does the presbyter ask for while he is in the Lord's manger or in His Holy Tomb, except that God may grant peace to the Church, Her Fathers and Meetings, for she is the "Lord's Holy Body..."
The use of the white linen is a symbol of sanctity and purity. The vestments of the priests and prophets of the Old Testament were from linen. Daniel saw the Lord, in his vision, clothed with a vestment of linen; and Jesus Christ when He was buried was wrapped in linen vestment.
With Simeon the Elder
The presbyter lifts the lamb covered with the linen veil and the
cross in front of his forehead, and turns round the altar once as the child Jesus Christ was borne by Simeon the Elder, not on his arms but in his inner heart and mind, putting Him in front of his eyes, for He is his crown!
The deacon walks behind the presbyter carrying the cup of wine and a candle, for through the Blood of Christ the whole world has been illuminated, and is assured of its salvation, and attains the worthiness to enter into God's holiness.
After the circuit round the altar, the presbyter stands at the royal door, lifting the lamb and the Cross over his head facing the people who bow down their heads. He declares mystically that the mind of the Church is occupied with the Divine Incarnation and Crucifixion, giving glory to the Holy Trinity, saying:
"Glory and honor, honor and glory, unto the Holy Trinity;
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Peace and edification unto the Church of God,
The One, Only, Catholic, and Apostolic Holy Church, Amen.
Remember, O Lord those who offered unto You these oblations,
Those for whom they were offered,
And those by whom they were offered.
Give them all the heavenly recompense."
In this pleasant view, Incarnation and Crucifixion are mixed together as a single redeeming act. For this reason the people sing to God, saying;
"Alleluia. This is the day, which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us,
Prosper us, O Lord.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Alleluia."
Christmas and Good Friday are joyful days, in which the Lord reveals His redeeming love towards man, making the way of salvation - which man thought impossible - very easy, opening to us the way to eternity!
"Blessed is He who came to us as the Way, by which we attain
to his Glory!" This is what the people sing during the ordinary Liturgy, except on fast days when they sing:
"Alleluia, for the thought of man will confess to You;
And the remains of his thought will keep festival to You. Accept the oblations, Alleluia."
In the first hymn we remember the day of His Incarnation as that of His Crucifixion, but in the other one, man praises God for His good deeds and love, asking Him to receive the Holy Sacrifice oblation of the holy fast - from His people.
In the great Lent and the fast of Nineveh, they sing:
"Alleluia. I will go to the altar of God,
To God, the Joy of my youth.
I will praise and thank You.
On the harp, O God, my God. Alleluia,
O Lord, remember David and all his meekness Alleluia."
In these holy days, as the liturgy is celebrated, the believers declare their joy in the Lord in spite of their fast and meekness, for He brings them to His altar. They see His face, the joy of their youth. His grace works in them, i.e. in His Church.
Crossing the Oblation
The presbyter bows to his brethren saying. "Bless," and they do the same, saying, "You bless."
He crosses the lamb, wine and water using the cross three times in the name of the Holy Trinity.
- \ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, The One God... Blessed be God the Father the Pantocrator, Amen.*
- \ Blessed be His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.*
- \ Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Amen.*
Now the sacred vestments, the sacred vessels and the oblations have been signed in the name of the Holy Trinity.
The presbyter places the lamb on the paten beneath which lies a linen cover, saying inaudibly: "Glory and honor, honor and glory,
unto the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
After this he pours the wine into the chalice, then he adds about its third of water. The deacon answers "Amen" three times, then he sings.
"One is the Holy Father,
One is the Holy Son.
One is the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Blessed be the Lord God unto all ages. Amen.
All you nations bless the Lord!
Let all peoples bless Him!
For His mercy is established upon us;
And the truth of the Lord endures Forever, Amen. Alleluia."
The people also sing the "doxology" namely: "Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now, and ever and unto everlasting eternity. Amen. Alleluia."
Now the presbyter, deacons and people give glory to the Holy Trinity, for through this Holy Sacrifice we understand the Holy Trinity, their mercy and their divine plan for us.