coptichymns.net - Sharing the Joy of Coptic Hymns Around the World

The Midnight Praise starts by the congregation chanting the hymn "Ten Theeno," or "Arise O Children of the Light." The words of this hymn adequately prepare and remind the congregation to fight sleep and laziness to praise God and glorify him. Thereafter, the midnight prayers of the Agpeya are prayed. Although some churches pray the midnight prayers before chanting "Ten Theeno," it is ritually correct to chant "Ten Theeno" first.

TEN :YNOU
In modern times, the first verse of this hymn may be chanted in its beautiful melismatic tune or in the fast ("damg") tune of its remaining verses. The melismatic tunes in powerful in its music, which awakens believers by its power and instructs them to awaken to praise the Lord. It is through our vigil and praise that our Lord accepts and forgives our sins.

}AGPI`A
Believers pray the midnight prayers in the Agpeya to help them meditate on those things that lead a person to repentance and preparation for the awesome day of judgment. The three watches in the midnight prayer symbolize the three times our Lord Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His arrest (Matt. 26:36-44.)

TENNAU
On the Feast of the Resurrection and for the 50 joyous days after, the congregation chants this hymn, which literally starts, "We seek the resurrection of Christ." These words remind us of the ultimate goal: to be transformed into heavenly bodies at the end of our earthly existence through Christ's resurrection and abolition of death. After the Feast of Pentecost, this hymn is chanted only on Sundays (or, more properly, during the Midnight Praise prior to a Sunday Holy Liturgy), because that day is a dedicated commemoration of the Lord's resurrection. This continues until the fourth Sunday of Hatoor, which precedes the Coptic month of Kiahk.

TOTE AFHWC `NJE MWYCYC
It commemorates Moses' song, which the Israelites sang as they crossed the Red Sea in their voyage out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15.) The Coptic Orthodox Church inserts this hymn as the first canticle to symbolize that, as Moses saved the Israelites from the Egyptian pharaoh, so also our Lord Christ saved us from Satan and the slavery of sin. For this reason, we ought to praise the Lord at all times.

QEN OUSWT
This is the Loubsh (or "explanation") that follows the First Canticle. It explains the deep spiritual meaning of the First Canticle. It can be chanted in a number of tunes depending on the occasion.

<ERE MARIA
(Weekday Midnight Praise Only)
If the Midnight Praise falls on any day from Monday to Saturday, the congregation reads the Gospel at the sixth part of the Saturday Theotokia, "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace" and proceed to the end of the ninth part after the First Canticle. These parts glorify the Holy Theotokos, who is honored greatly in the Coptic Orthodox Church.

OUWNH `EBOL `M`P[OIC
This hymn is comprised of Psalm 135 and offers the chorus, "For His mercy endures forever." Because the chorus is repeated at the end of every single verse, this hymn reminds believers that our Lord's mercy is neverending.

MARENOUWNH `EBOL
This is the Loubsh (or "explanation") that follows the Second Canticle. As with the Loubsh after the First Canticle, this hymn explains the Second Canticle.

`K`CMARWOUT `P[OIC `VNOU]
This is the song of the three holy youth who were thrown into the fiery furnace by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. Of note is the manner in which this commands seemingly God's entire creation to praise and glorify hymn. There are two choruses in this hymn: the first, which is chanted 6 times, is "more blessed and more exalted forever"; the second, which is chanted 34 times, is "Praise Him and exalt Him forever." Combined, this hymn therefore has 40 verses, which is a recurring perfect number in Christianity. This hymn has a wonderful finale in the form of joyous tunes on the last two verses and choruses.

ARI"ALIN
This Greek Psali (or song) of the three holy youth is chanted afterwards. It tells the story of the three holy youth and their victory over King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon's false gods. Indeed, its hymn is a perfect complement to its function: fast and joyous.

TENEN `O:EN
This beautiful melismatic hymn is chanted thereafter, primarily during the Holy Month of Kiahk and the Great Lent, but generally at any time.

TENOUEH `NCWK
The congregation subsequently chants this hymn, which begins with the words, "We follow with all our hearts." It has 6 total verses, which vary greatly in tune according to the season or occasion of the church.

ARI`PRECBEUIN - }DOXOLOGIA
The struggling church here on earth asks for the intercessions and prayers of the victorious church together with all her saints. Doxologies are then said in the same manner to glorify the saints and ask for their prayers. After the Congregation of the Saints comes the Doxologies, which are chanted to the Holy Virgin Mary, the choir of angels, Saint John the Baptist, the Holy Disciples, Saint Mark, and other saints and martyrs as appropriate.

`CMOU `P{OIC `EBOL
This is the Fourth Canticle, the last of all canticles in the Midnight Praise. It is comprised of three Psalms: 148, 148, and 150. In some respects, it is similar to the Third Canticle in its commandment to the whole creation to praise and glorify God. During the Holy Month of Kiahk, a special chorus is added to this hymn.

"ALIA
Every day of the week has its own Psali. In addition, many feasts and fasts of the church have their own Psalis, as well. These are all songs that praise and glorify God.

With the exception of Saturday and Sunday, each day has one Psali. Both Saturday and Sunday have two Psalis.

The Psalis of Monday through Friday, as well as the second Psalis for both Saturday and Sunday are dedicated to our Lord Jesus Christ. The first Psalis for both Saturday and Sunday are dedicated to the Holy Theotokos Saint Mary.

If the church is in a fast or occasion that has its own Psali, it automatically replaces the Psali of the day and the first Psalis of both Saturday and Sunday; the second Psalis of Saturday and Sunday are kept. However, if the church is in a fast or occasion that is less important than celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, such as the feast of a saint or apostle, then its Psali does not replace the regular Psali. Instead, both Psalis are chanted, with the Lord's own Psali chanted first.

:EOTOKIA
"Theotokia" is a Greek word referring to a praise to the Theotokos Saint Mary. There are seven total Theotoki, one for each day of the week. Theotoki glorify the mystery of the divine incarnation and miraculous virginal birth. They also include symbolisms and prophecies about Saint Mary and her miraculous birthgiving to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Each Theotokia is separate into parts, which are concluded by a repeated chorus. In the Sunday Theotokia, however, there are two different kinds of parts; one kind is concluded by two repeated verses while the other is concluded by three repeated verses.

At the end of the Theotokia comes the Loubsh (or "explanation"), except in the Sunday Theotokia.

TENOUWST (BATOC) / AMWINI MARENOUWST (ADAM)
Except during midnight praises for Sunday, the antiphonarium follows the loubsh. Typically, the first part of the antiphonarium is chanted, with different tunes for Adam days (Sunday to Tuesday) and Watos days (Wednesday to Saturday.) This part resembles the Synexarium, because it recounts the occasion or event of the day.


The conclusion of the midnight praise coincides with the conclusion of the Theotokia. Thereafter, the congregations proclaims the Nicene Creed of Faith and a special hymn of Kyrie Eleyson.

Here, the priest should be present to pray the absolution.

Depending on the time, the faithful either go home to prepare for the Holy Liturgy or begin the Holy Liturgy immediately.