My Coptic Church
What does the word Ecclesia mean?
What is the foundation of our Church? (hint: why do we gather?)
The Eucharist is the foundation of the whole church. It is the Body and Blood of Emmanuel our God.
Who established the Sacraments? and Why? and When? :D (oops sorry)
Who = Our Lord Jesus Christ
Why = so that the believers would receive blessings and gifts that would show the way of the Kingdom of Heaven to them and help them follow His path.
When = when Jesus came to the Jordan River and was baptized by John the Baptist
What happens in the 1st section : The Woman’s absolution? and Why?
This prayer gives permission to the woman to enter the church and partake in the church sacraments after she gives birth.
It starts with the Lord’s Prayer and ends with the priest praying and asking God to look at her, fill her with the Holy Spirit, purify her from all her sins.
The priest then anoints her with simple oil or Apocalypse oil.
What is the symbol of:
1. Baby's nakedness during baptism?
2. Mother looking West when renouncing Satan?
3. Mother raising her right hand while renouncing Satan and Confessing Christ?
1. Undressing the child reminds us of the nakedness of Adam and Eve when they obeyed Satan and disobeyed the commandment of God
2. Facing the West symbolizes exile and separation from God (like the sun sets or "leaves" in the west)
3. Raising the right hand is a sign of covenant made with Christ
What are 4 things that describe our Coptic Church?
eg. A church of ...
1. A Church of Theologians: St. Athanasius, St. Dioscorus, and St. Cyril.
2. A Church of Monasticism: St. Anthony, St. Macarius, St. Shenouda, and St. Bakhoumios.
3. A Church of the Martyrs
4. An Evangelic Church: preached throughout the world.
What are 3 blessings of communion?
We abide in Christ
We become united with the heavenly: angels and saints are present in the church.
We become united with each other
How many many sacraments in the Church?
How many of them are essential for our salvation? and what are they?
Our Orthodox Church has 7 sacraments.
4 of them are essential for salvation: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist and Repentance and Confession.
In the 2nd section: Renouncing Satan and Confessing Christ:
1. What arm does the mother carry the baby?
2. Which direction does she look when she's Renouncing Satan and Confessing Christ?
3. What does the priest ask the mother 3 times?
Renouncing Satan
1. The mother takes off the baby’s clothes and carries him/her on her LEFT hand
2. looks at the WEST and raises her RIGHT hand and renounce Satan
3. Priest breathes 3 times on child
Confessing Christ
1. The mother looks towards the EAST with her child on her LEFT arm
2. Raises her RIGHT hand confessing Christ
The priest then asks her three times: “Do you believe on behalf of this child?” And three times she responds, “I believe”.
Why does the child get anointed in the:
1. Head?
2. Eyes, ears, mouth, nostrils?
3. Heart and abdomen?
4. back?
5. Arms?
6. Legs?
To sanctify the
1. thoughts
2. senses
3. feelings
4. will
5. deeds
6. steps
In the Divine Liturgy, we hear the deacon say this about the church. (Hint 7 things)
“Pray for the peace of the One, only, Holy, Catholic, and apostolic Orthodox Church, the Church of God."
4. We receive forgiveness
5. Salvation
6. Eternal life
7. We proclaim His death, confess His resurrection and remember Him until he comes
Which Sacrament is the door to all the other ones?
We also refer to this sacrament as "the new ..."?
The sacrament of Baptism
The new Birth of water and Spirit
During the 3rd section, how many oils does the priest use to sanctify the baptismal water? and what are they?
Simple Oil: pure olive oil.
Ghaliloun Oil: called an ointment of joy. It is oil in which is boiled the remainder of the Myron oil after clarifying it
Myron Oil: fragrant oils which were on the body of the Lord Jesus during His burial and spices that were brought by the women to anoint His body with.
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”
John 6:54
Explain the first 3 words in "Pray for the peace of the One, only, Holy, Catholic, and apostolic Orthodox Church, the Church of God.”
1. One: The body of Christ is one. The bride of Christ (the church) is one.
2. Only: “unique in its kind”
3. Holy: The Holy Spirit of God is the essence of the holiness of its members.
How many Sacraments are there?
List 4 of them (the easy ones :)).
1. Baptism
2. Confirmation / myron
3. Eucharist / Communion
4. Repentance & Confession
Christ emphasized the importance of baptism in His conversation with THIS PERSON when he said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Nicodemus
Explain what happens when the baby is being baptized?
1. The priest holds the child from under the arms while facing the baby towards the West.
2. He gradually dips the child into the water, until the child is completely immersed, while saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father...” - this is the first immersion.
3. breathes and immerses “And the Son...” - this is the second immersion.
4. breathes and immerses “And the Holy Spirit” - this is the third immersion.
5. He then lifts the child from the water and breathes into him/her for the THIRD time.
6. he gives the child to the mother from the RIGHT
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
1Corinthians 12:27
Explain the other 4 words in "Pray for the peace of the One, only, Holy, Catholic, and apostolic Orthodox Church, the Church of God.”
4. Catholic: Catholic meaning Universal
5. Apostolic: The Church has “been built on the foundation of the apostles"
6. Orthodox: Orthodox means sound or correct
7. The Church of God: The Church is a pure property of God
List the remaining 3 sacraments (the harder ones) :D
5. Unction of the sick
6. Matrimony / Marriage
7. Priesthood
The Baptism is divided into how many sections?
What are they?
4 sections
1. The woman's absolution
2. Renouncing Satan and Confessing Christ
3. The Baptism Liturgy (sanctification of the water)
4. Baptism by Immersion
During the sacrament of Confirmation:
1. Which oil is used?
2. How many "anointing" in total?
3. Where and how many at each section?
1. Myron Oil
2. The child is anointed 36 times in 3 groups of 12.
3. The first group: on the head, face, heart, abdomen and back.
The second group on the arms
The third group on the legs
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19