Coptic hymns are religious songs that play an important role in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt’s liturgical music. They are statements written on Divinity, faith, and religious ideas that reflect human perceptions of God’s nature. The Coptic hymn is mostly composed of recited hymns in sync with instruments such as the cymbals and triangles. The Coptic chant is one of the most ancient forms in Christian religious music. Some of the melodies are thought to be derived from Ancient Egyptian ceremonies and activities. More research is needed to determine the true history of this ancient music and how it evolved in the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Coptic music has been passed down through generations solely by oral tradition. The liturgy is preceded by two distinct Coptic church services, one held in the morning soon before the liturgy and the other the night before. They’re known as the Morning (or Evening) Offering of Incense. The canonical hours, which are prayers done by lay people in city churches and monks in monasteries, contain a vast amount of Coptic hymnology. There are seven. The first hour, or Morning Prayer; the third hour; the sixth hour; the ninth hour; the eleventh hour, or Hour of Sunset; the hour of sleep, with its three Nocturnes and the midnight hour. In monasteries, the Prayer of the Veil is used. The Book of Hours, often known as the Horologion, contains these prayers. Today, many of the monks are former deacons who are familiar with the melodies of the church ceremonies, and they cantillate the hymnic portions of the hours as directed. Praising was among the first signs of reconciliation between God and man, when the angels appeared unto the shepherds saying; “Glory to God in the Highest, peace on earth and good will towards men” [Luke 2:12]. This information came from our former group member Marena and Marcil Zaky.
This Coptic hymn goes by the name of “O Mary” and is sung by the people during the St. Mary feast. The “O Mary” lasts 10 minutes and the following words are the first 3 minutes : “oh, Mary Lady of Virgin you attain greatness from the True Light you were exalted by the Lord himself the B the Creator, oh what a great Marvel wondrous among nations wisdom to rulers in and the gospel spoke of you they give you blessings in all generations daughter of JO exalted AB the CH you attain what no one could oh mother of the mercy and you become filed with grace to the Divine you became a veil for the word and greatly marel were you among the SCH Tabernacle of the sensor of spirit of Glory oh Daughter of Zion Oh the light of with you we rejoice and abide in Grace oh full of grace oh full of grace the fortifying foress the je of mercy of the PO your son as first death oh, the intercessor of sin intercede for us oh Mother of Mercy to you oh Lady of Virgin oh daughter of JO The Chosen Throne righteous is your son heers our shame the Glorious God the creator of Ages the Ador of Virgin the holy mother the purity of the pure oh light of light oh Jewel of Grace oh Mother of mercy truly you are the vine bu and bearing fruit oh daughter of Jo you attain greatness you are……”. PLEASE SKIP TO 16 MINUTES AND 50 SECONDS TO HEAR THE ‘O MARY’ IN COPTIC.
‘O Mary’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8gOmqacqt8
