Table of Contents A complete analysis of the Great Lent hymn, Meghalo. Pronounciation Considerations ‘Meghal-oo’ would be the proper English transcription of its Coptic counterpart. In modern practice though, o­ne can find it pronounced as “Meghalo” or “Meeghalo”. The word is a purely Greek o­ne, loaned much in Greco-Bohairic and retains the original meaning “great” or “mighty”. Although the hymn text is purely Greek, it is pronounced in the Greco-Bohairic dialect of the Coptic language when chanted. It can be argued that because it is written in Greek, it should be chanted using New Testament (i.e. Koine) Greek pronunciation rules.

Table of Contents A spiritual and historical study of this Paschal hymn. Introduction Of all the hymns sung during the great Pascha, very few so elaborately tie together the dogmas of the church with her general feeling of mourning. In essence, this hymn is perhaps a proof of the intrinsic relationship between Theology and spirituality: they are inseparable. Everything about O Monogenis, from its words to its authorship is relevant for the Christian who wishes to derive from it all possible spiritual value. The Piece O only-Begotten Son, and the Word of God, the Immortal, before all ages, Who has

Table of Contents A short article by HCOC Servant, Albair, on the spirituality of praising in the Church. The article is a merge of two articles originally written in Arabic, translated by Bishoy K. R. Dawood and edited by Alexander A-Malek. The two articles were individually recorded in audio in the first two productions of HCOC: The Annual Sunday Midnight Praise and the Annual Sunday Vespers Praise. Praising is the work of the heavenly hosts, and the gift of God for the earthly, to commune with the angels in glorifying and thanking Him for His great works. Praising is our

Table of Contents A brief background o­n the history of Coptic hymns and its preservation through the Cantors of the modern age. Written by Albier Gamal Mikhail, and translated by Bishoy K. R. Dawood, edited by Alexander A-Malek. It is acknowledged that the hymns of the Coptic Orthodox Church date back to the early period of the Ancient Egyptians. Today, Coptic music is considered to be o­ne of the oldest musical genres alive. Coptic music is not transcribed, but rather passed down orally from generation to generation. In addition to its complexity, the precision of the hymns’ melody, and, finally,

Table of Contents A fictional dialogue between a Teacher (T) and his Disciple (D), where the musical heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church is discussed. Part 1 – The Forms of Music D: How true are the words of the prophet David when he said in the Psalms: “Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise” (Ps. 84:4). For that was exactly what I felt today during the Divine Liturgy, where through praising God along with the whole Church in the house of God one feels such unity and happiness, not only among every member of the

Table of Contents A short article written by HCOC Servant, Albair, on the history of praising, beginning with the evidence we have from the Holy Bible, to the history of Coptic music in modern times. The article was written in Arabic, and translated by Bishoy K. R. Dawood & Ragy Sharkawy, and edited by Alexander A-Malek. An audio recording of it is available in the HCOC’s Annual Sunday Vespers Praise CDs. In the beginning, God created the angels and the heavenly hosts to praise Him. Then He created man so that he may join with the heavenly hosts in praising

Table of Contents A brief history of the Sunday Vespers Praise during the Month of Kiahk, as written by Albair and also recorded in the HCOC’s production of: The Rite and Hymns of the Kiahk Sunday Vespers Praise A Brief History of the Sunday Vespers Praise during the Month of Kiahk The Coptic Church inherited the tradition of praising with the Psalms from the Jewish worship in the synagogue. The Psalms were the basis of the vigils of the early Church, and later on the Church added more prayers from other books in the Bible, as well as from the

Table of Contents A book that covers the history and spirituality of the Holy Psalmody in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and which consists of contemplations and studies on some hymns. The book has been edited and was forwarded by H.G. Bishop Youssef (Bishop of the Diocese of the Southern United States). Special thanks to Matthew Massoud (the author) and the priests of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Toronto, ON, for allowing us to publish this book on this site. Cover Page IN THE NAME OF GOD, ALMIGHTY COPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATEST. MARK’S COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCHTORONTO, CANADA The Spirituality of the