HymnsHigh School, College, Graduates

Northern California Coptic Orthodox ChurchesMahragan Alkeraza

Festival of the See of Saint Mark2010

Greetings Young Ladies and Gentlemen,

You are the church of tomorrow. For this reason, we are happy that you are participating in the Festival of the See of Saint Mark. His Holiness

Pope Shenouda is proud of all of you. Our fathers the metropolitans and bishops, our fathers the priests, and the servants are also proud of you. Why? Because, when you memorize the hymns of the church, know the Coptic language, and study the Holy Bible and participate in all aspects of the Festival, you become sons and daughters of the

church - understanding, living, and involved in it.

We are very happy that you started memorizing the hymns, as well as the responses of the Divine Liturgy and the occasions of the Church. We thank God

that our father the Bishop Raphael and our wonderful teachers and chanters of our church - the beloved Cantor Ibrahim Ayad, Cantor Baher, Cantor Amin - recorded the hymns beautifully for you, so that you chant them, pray with us, and participate with us in the Divine Liturgy.

The hymns and responses of the Liturgy, as well as the hymns of the well-known occasions, are important and everyone should learn them. After that, there are advanced-level hymns. These are for the gifted and clever youth who are willing to go the extra mile. These hymns are longer and harder, similar to the hymns of Holy Week (Pascha).

I am very happy to introduce this curriculum for you. His Holiness and the whole church are very proud of you when you get involved like this in the life of the Church. You become the youth of the future and the church of the future. Many of you are familiar with the words of His Holiness when he says, “A church without youth is a church without a future.” And the response was, “And also, Your Holiness, a youth without a church is a youth without a future.”

I wish for you a successful future.

Peace,

Bishop Moussa

Introduction by H.G. Bishop Moussa

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HymnsHigh School, College, Graduates

Required Hymns Page

1. The Verses of Cymbals for the Feast of Epiphany (four verses) in the

joyful tune, and the concluding verses starting with I/#c# P,#c# n~caf

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2. The Introduction to the Doxologies (joyful tune) 5

3. The Hymn of Peace (p~ouro) 8

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Advanced Level Hymns Page

1. The Long Introduction to the Hymn of Intercessions 10

2. The Psalm for the Feast of the Nativity 12

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HymnsHigh School, College, Graduates

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

Required Hymn

The Verses of Cymbals for the Feast of EpiphanyThe Verses of Cymbals for the Feast of Epiphany

Je vai pe pas/ri

pamenrit: e~ta

ta'u,/ ]ma] n~q/tf:

afer paouws cwtem

n~cwf: je n~yof pe

pireftanqo.

This is My beloved Son in

Whom My soul is pleased. He

has done My will. Listen to

Him for He is the Giver of Life.

Yel/l m~v~r/] n~hanhi/b:

w~ piIordan/c nem

pefd~rimoc: je afi~ sarok

n~je pihi/b: v/etw~li

m~v~nobi m~pikocmoc.

Rejoice like lambs, O Jordan

and its wilderness, for unto

you came the Lamb Who

carries away the sin of the

world.

Ouran n~sousou pe

pekran: w~ picuggen/c

n~Emmanou/l: n~yok

ounis] qen n/eyouab t/-

rou: Iwann/c piref]wmc.

A name of pride is your name,

O kinsmen of Emmanuel. You

are great among all saints, O

John the Baptist.

<ere Iwann/c: pinis]

m~p~rodromoc: ,ere piou/b:

p~cuggen/c n~Emmanou/l.

Hail to John, the great

forerunner. Hail to the priest,

the kinsman of Emmanuel.

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

<ere nak w~ pimartu-

roc: ,ere pieuaggelic-

t/c: ,ere pia~poctoloc:

(abba) Markoc

piyew~rimoc.

Hail to you, O martyr. Hail to

the evangelist. Hail to the

apostle, (Abba) Mark the

beholder-of-God.

I/#c# P,#c# n~caf nem voou:

n~yof n~yof pe nem sa

e~neh: qen ouhupoctacic

n~ouwt: tenouwst m~mof

ten]w~ou naf.

Jesus christ is the same

yesterday, today, and forever,

in one hypostasis. We worship

Him and glorify Him.

Pouro n~te ]hir/n/: moi

nan n~tekhir/n/: cemni

nan n~tekhir/n/: ,a

nennobi nan e~bol.

O King of peace, give us Your

peace, establish for us Your

peace, and forgive us our sins.

Jwr e~bol n~nijaji:

n~te ]ekk~l/cia: a~ricobt

e~roc: n~neckim sa e~neh.

Disperse the enemies of the

Church. Fortify her that she

may not be shaken forever.

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

Emmanou/l pennou]: qen

tenm/] ]nou: qen p~w~ou

n~te pefiwt: nem

pip~neuma eyouab.

Emmanuel our God is now in

our midst with the glory of His

Father and the Holy Spirit.

N~tefc~mou e~ron t/ren:

n~teftoubo n~nenh/t:

n~teftal[o n~niswni: n~te

nen'u,/ nem nencwma.

May He bless us all, purify our

hearts, and heal the

sicknesses of our souls and

our bodies.

Tenouwst m~mok w~ P,#c#:

nem pekiwt n~a~gayoc:

nem pip~neuma eyouab: je

ak[iwmc akcw] m~mon nai

nan.

We worship You, O Christ,

with Your Good Father, and

the Holy Spirit, for You were

baptized and saved us. Have

mercy on us.

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Rites and Explanation

High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

The Verses of Cymbals for the Feast of Epiphany

These verses are chanted with cymbals during the Raising of Incense after the

Prayer of Thanksgiving. There are verses especially for occasions - for example,

the Feasts of our Lord, or for the fasts of the year.

The Verses of Cymbals are chanted in the joyful tune on joyful days, and in the

standard tune throughout the rest of the year.

This hymn highlights the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, “This is My beloved Son in

Whom my soul is pleased. Listen to Him for is the Giver of Life.” It also

highlights the doctrine of salvation when it says, “Rejoice like lambs, O Jordan

and its wilderness, for unto You came the Lamb who carries away the sin of the

world.” This hymn also praises Saint John the Baptist, “A name of pride is…”

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

Required Hymn

Introduction to the Doxologies (Joyful Tune)Introduction to the Doxologies (Joyful Tune)

Qen P,#c# I/#c# pen[oic

a~m/n al#.

In Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen. Alleluia.

<ere ne ten]ho e~ro: w~

y/eyouab eymeh n~w~ou:

etoi m~paryenoc n~c/ou

niben: ]macnou] y~mau

m~P,#c#.

Hail to you. We ask you, O

saint, full of glory, the ever-

virgin, the Mother of God, the

Mother of Christ.

Anioui n~tenp~roceu,/:

e~p~swi ha pes/ri

m~menrit: n~tef,a nennobi

nan e~bol.

Lift up our prayers to your

beloved Son that He may

forgive us our sins.

<ere y/e~tacmici nan:

m~piouwini n~tav~m/i: P,#c#

pennou]: ]paryenoc

eyouab.

Hail to the Holy Virgin, who

bore for us the True Light,

Christ our God.

Ma]ho m~p~[oic e~h~r/i

e~jwn: n~teferounai nem

nen'u,/: n~tef,a

nennobi nan e~bol.

Ask the Lord on our behalf

that He may have mercy on

our souls and forgive us our

sins.

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

}paryenoc

Mariam: ]yeo~tokoc

eyouab: ]p~roctat/c

e~tenhot: n~te p~genoc

n~te ]metrwmi.

O Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother

of God, the trusted advocate

of the human race.

Arip~recbeuin e~h~r/i

e~jwn: nahren P,#c# v/-

e~tarej~vof: hopwc

n~teferh~mot nan: m~pi,w

e~bol n~te nennobi.

Intercede on our behalf before

Christ Whom you bore that He

may grant us the forgiveness

of our sins.

<ere ne w~ ]parye-

noc: ]ourw m~m/i n~a~l/-

yin/: ,ere p~sousou n~te

pengenoc: a~rej~vo nan

n~Emmanou/l.

Hail to you, O Virgin, the right

and true queen. Hail to the

pride of our race. You bore for

us Emmanuel.

Ten]ho a~ripenmeui~:

w~ ]p~roctat/c e~tenhot:

nahren pen[oic I/#c# P,#c#:

n~tef,a nennobi nan

e~bol.

We ask you, remember us, O

our trusted advocate, before

our Lord Jesus Christ that He

may forgive us our sins.

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Rites and Explanation

High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

Introduction to the Doxologies (Joyful Tune)

This hymn is comprised of verses offered to our Lady Saint Mary. This

hymn is taken from the prayers of the Agpeya. After this hymn are chanted

the Vatos Doxologies.

This introduction is chanted during the Raising Evening and Morning

Incense (Vespers and Matins) after the Thrice-Holy Prayer and the Lord’s

Prayer, and before the doxologies.

The word doxology means glorification. It is a glorification hymn for the

Virgin Saint Mary, the angels, the apostles, the martyrs, and the saints. The

Introduction to the Doxologies is comprised of eight stanzas directed to

the Virgin Saint Mary. We ask her to intercede on our behalf before our

Lord Jesus Christ, her Lord and Son, that He may forgive us our sins. She

is a faithful intercessor before our Lord Jesus Christ. This hymn also

highlights many important doctrines, among them the incarnation, the

Holy Trinity, and intercession. Saint Mary as the Mother of God has a

prominent position before our Good Savior, and He responds to her

intercessions.

These eight stanzas are divided into four sections. Each section has two

stanzas, the first of which offers a greeting to Saint Mary, while the second

asks for her intercessions.

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High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

Required Hymn

The Hymn of PeaceThe Hymn of Peace

Pouro n~te ]hir/n/: moi

nan n~tekhir/n/: cemni

nan n~tekhir/n/: ,a

nennobi nan e~bol.

O King of peace, give us Your

peace, establish for us Your

peace, and forgive us our sins.

Jwr e~bol n~nijaji:

n~te ]ekk~l/cia: a~ricobt

e~roc: n~neckim sa e~neh.

Disperse the enemies of the

Church. Fortify her that she

may not be shaken forever.

Emmanou/l pennou]: qen

tenm/] ]nou: qen p~w~ou

n~te pefiwt: nem

pip~neuma eyouab.

Emmanuel our God is now in

our midst with the glory of His

Father and the Holy Spirit.

N~tefc~mou e~ron t/ren:

n~teftoubo n~nenh/t:

n~teftal[o n~niswni: n~te

nen'u,/ nem nencwma.

May He bless us all, purify our

hearts, and heal the

sicknesses of our souls and

our bodies.

Tenouwst m~mok w~ P,#c#:

nem pekiwt n~a~gayoc:

nem pip~neuma eyouab: je

aumack akcw] m~mon nai

nan.

We worship You, O Christ,

with Your Good Father, and

the Holy Spirit, for You were

born and saved us. Have

mercy on us.

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Rites and Explanation

High School, College, Graduates Required Hymns

The Hymn of Peace

This hymns is chanted with a joyful melody on:

1) The Feasts of our Lord and during festal seasons of the year instead of the

Hymn of Blessing (Tenouwst)

2) During the Raising of Morning Incense for the Feasts of Nativity, Epiphany,

and Resurrection, at the conclusion of the Hymn of the Seven Melodies.

3) At the conclusion of the Midnight Praise on Sundays, when there are feasts.

4) As part of the rites of the Mystery of Marriage, when the red ribbon is

untied from the bride and group (except when the marriage takes place

during the Holy Fifty Days, in which case “Christ is Risen” is chanted

instead).

5) As part of the rites of the Mystery of Baptism and the ordination of

deacons, when the red ribbon is untied.

This hymn has other melodies. It has a standard melody chanted for the

veneration of the saints. It also has a mournful melody chanted at the

conclusion of each of the Holy Week services.

This hymn speaks about our Lord Jesus Christ being in our midst, giving us

peace, forgiving our sins, and healing the sicknesses of our souls, bodies, and

spirits. We also ask Him to disperse the enemies of the Church, to fortify her

that she may not be shaken forever. In the conclusion of the hymn, we worship

Christ with His Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for He came/was born/was

baptized/has risen and saved us.

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Advanced Level Hymn

High School, College, Graduates Advanced Level Hymns

The Hymn of Intercessions(with the long introduction)

The Hymn of Intercessions(with the long introduction)

Hiten nip~recbia:

n~te ]yeo~tokoc: eyouab

Maria: P~[oic arih~mot

nan m~pi,w e~bol n~te

nennobi.

Through the intercessions of

the Mother of God

(Theotokos) Saint Mary, O

Lord, grant us the forgiveness

of our sins.

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Rites and Explanation

High School, College, Graduates Advanced Level Hymns

The Hymn of Intercessions

This hymn is chanted after the Absolution of the Servants and the Hymn of the

Censer (Taisour/) on days without fasting and on feast days. On days of

fasting, this hymn is chanted after another Hymn of the Censer (]sour/). This

hymn is chanted while the priest offers incense throughout the church (the

Pauline Procession of Incense).

The Hymn of Intercessions is made up of verses that ask for the intercessions

and prayers of the Holy Virgin Saint Mary and all the saints. The order of

intercession is as follows:

1. Saint Mary

2. The Archangels

3. Our Fathers the Apostles

4. Saint Mark

5. Saint George

6. Saint Mina

7. The Saints of the Day

8. The Patriarch (Pope), Metropolitans, and Bishops

Verses for other saints can be chanted before the verse for the saints of the

day. This hymn gives us a sense of fellowship with the saints in heaven. We ask

for their intercessions and prayers before God at all times, that He may grant

us the forgiveness of our sins.

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Advanced Level Hymn

High School, College, Graduates Advanced Level Hymns

The Psalm for the Feast of the NativityThe Psalm for the Feast of the Nativity

Al# Al# Al#: p~[oic

afjoc n/i je n~yok pe

pas/ri: a~nok aij~vok

m~voou: arie~t/n n~tot

n~ta] nak n~haneynoc

e~tekk~l/ronomia: ouoh

peka~mahi sa aur/jf

m~p~kahi.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia: The

Lord said to Me, ‘You are My

Son, Today I have begotten

You. Ask of Me, and I will give

You the heathen for Your

inheritance, and the ends of

the earth for Your

possession.’ (Psalm 2:7-8)

Al# Al#: I/#c# P,#c# p~s/ri

m~v~nou]: acmacf

n~je ]paryenoc: qen B/

yleem n~te ]Ioudea~:

kata nic~m/ m~p~rov/tikon:

Al# Al#.

Alleluia, Alleluia: Jesus Christ,

the Son of God was born of

the Virgin in Bethlehem of

Judea according to the

prophetic voices: Alleluia,

Alleuia.

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Rites and Explanation

High School, College, Graduates Advanced Level Hymns

The Psalm for the Feast of the Nativity

The joyful melody in which we sing the psalms on the feast days of our Lord is

known as Singary. This name came from the city of Singar, one of the dioceses

located in Northern (Lower) Egypt. It is called in Coptic Cinjaricma. This

diocese was located between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake El-Borollos. The

12th century historian, Abu El-Makarim, recorded that the Nile river flooded

this city and destroyed it. Currently, this area is located within the governorate

of Gharbia as mentioned in the Encyclopedia of the History of the Patriarchs

by Bishop Severus Ibn-Moqafaa the Bishop of Ashmounieen. This is how we

know that this melody has been used in this region since before the 12th

century.

This hymn is prayed after the Litany for the Gospel and before the Psalm

Response during the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of Nativity.

This hymn shows the relationship between the Father and the Son according to

the prophecy in Psalm 2:5-6, and that all has been given to the Son. This hymn

explains that the Father and Son are one, a very important dogma of the

church.