Hey Everyone,
Now that we're in the fasting season for Lent, I thought it would be fun to show a
"Fasting Trailer" video I found on YouTube about a month ago. This is by user MohebBassily. This guy is so talented and funny... I highly recommend checking out his other videos on YouTube. Enjoy!
The Coptic Cross
This is an example of the typical coptic cross. Each side of the cross branches out to three points representing the Holy Trinity of God. All twelve points of the cross represents the twelve disciples. The translation of the coptic words around the cross is "Jesus Christ, Son of God." Click on the picture to read more about the Coptic People.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Born Nazeer Gayed, H.H. Pope Shenouda III became the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He was enthroned on November 14, 1971, 9 months after the death of the previous patriarch: H.H. Pope Kyrillos VI.
The Agpeya
The Agpeya is the Coptic Prayer Book divided into themed "hours" of major events of Christ's life. The book consists mainly of Psalms and excerpts from the Gospels. Click on the picture for more information.
Matania
This is a picture of a monk demonstrating a "matania." Whenever we say the phrase "Lord have mercy" in English, Coptic, or Arabic, in both liturgical and individual prayers, we prostrate ourselves. Like the monk, we kneel down fist first, our thumbs sticking out making a cross with our index finger, kiss the floor, and rise back up again.
Cross Tattoos
Coptic Christians often tattoo their right wrist or their forehand to indicate their commitment to Christ.
The Hanging Church
One can easily identify a Coptic church by its exterior dome and a cross that stands atop it. This is the "Hanging Church" in Old Cairo. It's called the "hanging church" because it's bulit over water.
St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt
This is an interior view of St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt. Instead of the use of statues, Coptic churches endorse the use of icons and other symbolic architecture. For example, every church has twelve pillars--six on each side of the church. These pillars represent the 12 disciples. Above the altar is always a painting or an icon of the Last Supper. The icons represent the saints that we expect to meet in heaven.
The Holy Theotokos with the Baby Jesus
This is an icon of The Virgin Mary--her title "Theotokos" translates into "Mother of God"--with the baby Jesus. Icons are "written" not "drawn" because they are meant to depict the story of the person in the picture and not their literal physical attributes. Every color and item in an icon is symbolic. For example, a red sash means that person is a martyr. Christ is seen wearing a red sash in all of His icons because He died on the cross; and because He is God, He resurrected after 3 days.
Heavenly Icons
Orthodox Christians are notorious for their use of icons. This is an icon "written" on the interior of the dome above the congregation. Included is the resurrected Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the 12 disciples.
Church Deacons
There are 5 ranks for deacons: Epsaltos (hymnist), Anaghnostos (reader), Epodeacon (assistant deacon), Deacon (full deacon), Archdeacon (head of deacons). All ranks wear a white tunia representing purity. In addition, they were a "patrachil" (the red sash you see in the picture). How they wear it depends on their rank. The patrachil has two side: red and purple. The purple side is worn only during funerals and Holy Week.
About Me
- Natalie
- I'm an unemployed English Teacher whose namesake is Natalie Wood and whose last name is Coptic for "belonging to the cross." I was born in the Virgin Islands, but raised in a suburban neighborhood near DC. I studied my top three passions in undergrad: English, Studio Arts, and Education. After taking a year off, I am returning to school to get my MFA in Creative Writing.
