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Tasbeha, the Midnight Praises

Tasbeha is the Coptic Orthodox service of Midnight Praise: the Church standing through the night in canticles and hymns. Its order shifts with the day of the week and the season. Pick a night and watch the praises assemble.

Night (day of week)
Season
Tune of the day
Adam · Sunday night
Adam tune, kept on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights; lighter and quicker in melody.
  1. Introduction
    The opening of the praises, “Come, let us worship…” and the introductory prayers that gather the Church into the night vigil.
  2. The First Canticle (Hoos)Exodus 15
    The Song of Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea, “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously”, followed by its Lobsh, the explanation.
  3. The Second CanticlePsalm 136
    “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever,” with its Lobsh.
  4. The Third CanticleDaniel 3
    The Song of the Three Holy Youths in the furnace, “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord”, with the Greek portion and the Commemoration.
  5. The Fourth CanticlePsalms 148–150
    “Praise the Lord from the heavens… praise Him with the sound of the trumpet”, the praises of the heights.
  6. The PsaliAdam Psali
    A metrical hymn of praise, chanted in the tune of the day.
  7. The TheotokiaSunday · Adam
    The Sunday Theotokia, the day’s praises of the Theotokos, telling her through the Old-Testament types: the burning bush, the ark, the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod.
  8. Commemoration of the Saints
    The Antiphonarium (Difnar), the verses of the saints commemorated on the day.
  9. Conclusion & DoxologiesSeasonal
    The concluding doxologies, which change with the season and the feast being kept.

An overview of the order of the praises in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, not the hymn texts themselves. Local practice and feast days vary the doxologies and additions.