praying the agpeya

Praying the AgpeyaPraying the Agpeya1Cor 5:6 1Cor 5:6 “Your boasting is not good. Don’t “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?”batch of dough?”

Unity Meeting - Senior 7Unity Meeting - Senior 7thth October 2012 October 2012

Origins of the Agpeya Origins of the Agpeya • The Agpeya or the seven canonical prayers started The Agpeya or the seven canonical prayers started

as early as the Apostolic age during the earliest as early as the Apostolic age during the earliest days of Christianity. The believers received this days of Christianity. The believers received this spiritual practice from the head of the Alexandrine spiritual practice from the head of the Alexandrine Church: St. Mark the Apostle, who was also the first Church: St. Mark the Apostle, who was also the first Patriarch of Egypt. Patriarch of Egypt.

This was done according to what St. Luke, the This was done according to what St. Luke, the apostle, wrote in the Book of Acts: "And they, apostle, wrote in the Book of Acts: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meals with gladness and singleness of heart, meals with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46-47) should be saved." (Acts 2:46-47)

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• Origins of the Agpeya

• Format• When do

we pray using it?

• Why do we pray using it?

• How to Pray the Agpeya?

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Origins of the AgpeyaOrigins of the Agpeya• Nevertheless, there was at the beginning, Nevertheless, there was at the beginning,

some disagreement on the limits of some disagreement on the limits of adoration and the number of Psalms that adoration and the number of Psalms that should be recited. should be recited.

• Then one day, while the faithful assembled Then one day, while the faithful assembled to pray the Psalms, an angel appeared in to pray the Psalms, an angel appeared in their midst, and started praising the Lord and their midst, and started praising the Lord and hymning Psalms. The angel recited eleven hymning Psalms. The angel recited eleven Psalms with a very nice tune, then added Psalms with a very nice tune, then added certain individual prayers. Finally, the angel certain individual prayers. Finally, the angel ended his worship by reciting an additional ended his worship by reciting an additional Psalm. Therefore, the total number of Psalm. Therefore, the total number of Psalms was determined to be twelve. Psalms was determined to be twelve.

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we pray using it?




Origins of the AgpeyaOrigins of the Agpeya• The angel disappeared after he put an end The angel disappeared after he put an end

to the dispute, and the holy fathers to the dispute, and the holy fathers concluded that the matter was settled with concluded that the matter was settled with divine proclamation. Consequently, the divine proclamation. Consequently, the Agpeya became an ecumenical law to be Agpeya became an ecumenical law to be observed by all the believers. observed by all the believers.

• It was mentioned by John Cassian that the It was mentioned by John Cassian that the system of prayers in the Church of system of prayers in the Church of Alexandria was devised before the Alexandria was devised before the beginning of monasticism. He said, "These beginning of monasticism. He said, "These arrangements of prayers were observed by arrangements of prayers were observed by all the servants of God in Egypt." all the servants of God in Egypt."

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we pray using it?




Origins of the AgpeyaOrigins of the Agpeya• When the clergy charged Saint Basil in When the clergy charged Saint Basil in

Caesarea Philippi because of the Caesarea Philippi because of the Night-Watch system he proposed, he Night-Watch system he proposed, he replied that this system was being replied that this system was being observed in Egypt. Thus, it is not true, observed in Egypt. Thus, it is not true, what some of scholars claim, that what some of scholars claim, that praying the Agpeya in Egypt was only praying the Agpeya in Egypt was only a monastic practice. a monastic practice.

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we pray using it?




The format of the AgpeyaThe format of the Agpeya• The Agpeya is primarily used by the

Coptic Orthodox Church.

• It contains prayers for seven different hours to be said throughout the day.

• The hours are chronologically laid out, each containing a theme corresponding to events in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Each hour is composed of an introduction which includes the Lord’s Prayer, the Prayer of Thanksgiving, and Psalm 50.

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we pray using it?




The format of the AgpeyaThe format of the Agpeya• It is followed by various Psalms, an

excerpt from the Holy Gospel, and Litanies. Lord Have Mercy is then chanted 41 times (representing the 39 lashes Christ received before the crucifixion, plus one for the spear in His side, plus one for the crown of thorns), followed by several other prayers and a conclusion.

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we pray using it?




When do we pray the AgpeyaWhen do we pray the Agpeya• The Agpeya is read throughout the day

and in many situations. The hours of the day start from sunrise and end at sunset.

• The morning prayer (Prime), which corresponds to 6 a.m., is said upon waking up in the morning or after the Midnight praise the previous night.

• The Terce (9 a.m.) and Sext (noon) hours are prayed before each liturgy during the Offering of Incense.

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we pray using it?




When do we pray the AgpeyaWhen do we pray the Agpeya• The None (3 p.m.) hour is also read

during fasting days. Vespers (sunset) and Compline (9 p.m.) are read in the early evening and before bedtime, respectively. and are both read before the Liturgy during the Lent and the fast of Nineveh.

• The Midnight hour is read just before the Midnight Praise. The Veil hour is reserved for priests, monks and bishops.

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we pray using it?




Why do we pray using the Agpeya?Why do we pray using the Agpeya?• The Agpeya is a school of different types The Agpeya is a school of different types

of prayerof prayer

• What different forms of Prayer can we What different forms of Prayer can we think of?think of?

1. Prayer of Thanksgiving:1. Prayer of Thanksgiving:

2.2. Prayer of Penitence Prayer of Penitence

3. 3. Prayer of Praise and AdorationPrayer of Praise and Adoration

4. 4. Prayer of PetitionPrayer of Petition

5. 5. Prayer of IntercessionPrayer of Intercession

• How many different forms of this can we How many different forms of this can we find in the Agpeya?find in the Agpeya?

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we pray using it?




Why do we pray using the Agpeya?Why do we pray using the Agpeya?

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• For example, when you For example, when you recite the prayer: recite the prayer: “Holy, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbath, Heaven and Sabbath, Heaven and Earth are full of you Earth are full of you honour and glory”honour and glory” … … you are not you are not asking/interceding for asking/interceding for anything. Neither is this a anything. Neither is this a prayer for thanksgiving or prayer for thanksgiving or repentance, but you are repentance, but you are here glorifying God. here glorifying God. Besides, you are Besides, you are meditating upon His meditating upon His holiness and greatness. holiness and greatness. [H.H. Pope Shenouda III][H.H. Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?





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• When you say, at the end of When you say, at the end of your prayers of every hour: your prayers of every hour: “Christ our good Lord, the “Christ our good Lord, the long suffering, exceedingly long suffering, exceedingly merciful, and extremely merciful, and extremely compassionate, who loves compassionate, who loves the righteous and is the righteous and is merciful to the sinners…’merciful to the sinners…’, , you are, in this instance, you are, in this instance, meditating upon God’s meditating upon God’s beautiful characteristics. beautiful characteristics. [H.H. Pope Shenouda III][H.H. Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?





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• When you say, at the end of your When you say, at the end of your prayers of every hour: prayers of every hour: “Christ our “Christ our good Lord, the long suffering, good Lord, the long suffering, exceedingly merciful, and extremely exceedingly merciful, and extremely compassionate, who loves the compassionate, who loves the righteous and is merciful to the righteous and is merciful to the sinners…’sinners…’, you are, in this instance, , you are, in this instance, meditating upon God’s beautiful meditating upon God’s beautiful characteristics. [H.H. Pope Shenouda characteristics. [H.H. Pope Shenouda III]III]



we pray using it?





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It contains beautifully important It contains beautifully important details:details:

•Who of us remembers to pray, on his Who of us remembers to pray, on his own, for the remission of sins: own, for the remission of sins: “those “those committed intentionally and committed intentionally and unintentionally, in knowledge and in unintentionally, in knowledge and in ignorance, in secret or openly?”ignorance, in secret or openly?” All All these, however, are included when we these, however, are included when we sue the Agpeya to assist us in our sue the Agpeya to assist us in our prayers. [H.H. Pope Shenouda III]prayers. [H.H. Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?





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• Who of us, upon offering thanks in his Who of us, upon offering thanks in his personal prayers, remembers to offer personal prayers, remembers to offer thanks such as those included in the thanks such as those included in the Agpeya which teaches us to say: Agpeya which teaches us to say: “for He “for He has sheltered us, helped us, preserved has sheltered us, helped us, preserved us, received us, defended us, had us, received us, defended us, had compassion upon us and brought us to compassion upon us and brought us to this hour?!”this hour?!” [H.H. Pope Shenouda III] [H.H. Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?





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• Who of us remember to mention all the Who of us remember to mention all the details that the Agpeya helps us to say by details that the Agpeya helps us to say by including in its contents in the concluding including in its contents in the concluding prayer for every hour: prayer for every hour: “Sanctify our souls, “Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, straighten our cleanse our bodies, straighten our thoughts, purify our intentions, heal our thoughts, purify our intentions, heal our sicknesses, forgive our sins, deliver us sicknesses, forgive our sins, deliver us from every destructive grief, distress, from every destructive grief, distress, and heartache, surround us by Your holy and heartache, surround us by Your holy angels, that, guided and guarded within angels, that, guided and guarded within their camp, we may attain the unity of their camp, we may attain the unity of faith…”faith…” [H.H. Pope Shenouda III] [H.H. Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?





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• Who of us asks, in his personal prayers, Who of us asks, in his personal prayers, that he that he may be surrounded by holy may be surrounded by holy angels to protect and guide him?angels to protect and guide him? … … When we are assisted by the Agpeya, we When we are assisted by the Agpeya, we remember all these details besides our remember all these details besides our intercessions for our basic needs…[H.H. intercessions for our basic needs…[H.H. Pope Shenouda III]Pope Shenouda III]



we pray using it?




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we pray using it?



Why do we pray using the Agpeya?Why do we pray using the Agpeya? • Who ofWho of


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• Have your own personal AgpeyaHave your own personal Agpeya. Always keep it . Always keep it

within your reach and keep with you everywhere within your reach and keep with you everywhere you go and whenever you travel. Why not install it you go and whenever you travel. Why not install it on your phone?. on your phone?.

• With the advice of your father of confession, With the advice of your father of confession, select select certain parts to use in your prayer according to certain parts to use in your prayer according to your spiritual levelyour spiritual level. As a start, for instance: . As a start, for instance:

• You may want to choose a part of Matins and a You may want to choose a part of Matins and a part of Vespers or Compline. The selected part part of Vespers or Compline. The selected part should include: The introduction, two psalms, the should include: The introduction, two psalms, the Gospel, the litanies, the absolution, and the Gospel, the litanies, the absolution, and the conclusion. Then you may conclusion. Then you may gradually grow in gradually grow in your prayer your prayer by incorporating a psalm and a litany by incorporating a psalm and a litany from each hour and so on…from each hour and so on…

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• Types of Prayer


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• Stand up in prayer with the Agpeya at Stand up in prayer with the Agpeya at

least least twice a day, one in the morning twice a day, one in the morning and another in the evening. and another in the evening.

• Pray with understanding and don’t Pray with understanding and don’t be hastybe hasty. You may even pause when . You may even pause when you come across some of the beautiful you come across some of the beautiful meanings. Ponder upon them and meanings. Ponder upon them and repeat them several times from your repeat them several times from your heart. It is important to offer our love heart. It is important to offer our love and longing to God without formalities.and longing to God without formalities.

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• Types of Prayer


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• You may incorporate a part of a You may incorporate a part of a

song or a hymn in your prayer to song or a hymn in your prayer to help you focus better help you focus better and to use and to use different forms of prayer. different forms of prayer.

• Use different Use different body posturesbody postures with with different forms of prayer. Prostate, bow different forms of prayer. Prostate, bow down, raise hands …down, raise hands …

• Pray with a soft but audible voice Pray with a soft but audible voice and with a subtle tuneand with a subtle tune. This will also . This will also help you to focus and to bring fervor help you to focus and to bring fervor for prayer in your heart. for prayer in your heart.

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• Types of Prayer


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• Relate the meaning of the psalms Relate the meaning of the psalms

and the passages to your own lifeand the passages to your own life. . Ask the Lord to give you strength to Ask the Lord to give you strength to overcome your weaknesses and sins. overcome your weaknesses and sins.

• Start with three MetanoiasStart with three Metanoias, , prostrations to the ground, before each prostrations to the ground, before each hour prayer and say: “Lord, give me hour prayer and say: “Lord, give me grace and help to stand before you grace and help to stand before you and complete the prayer so I may and complete the prayer so I may gladden your heart.”gladden your heart.”

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• Types of Prayer


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• Do not worry if your thoughts go Do not worry if your thoughts go

astray. Quickly, refocus and keep astray. Quickly, refocus and keep your eyes on the Agpeya again your eyes on the Agpeya again and and continue to follow the text to be more continue to follow the text to be more focused and attentive, even if you focused and attentive, even if you have memorized the psalms. have memorized the psalms.

• After praying using the Agpeya, give After praying using the Agpeya, give yourself an opportunity to open up yourself an opportunity to open up your heart to God. You may want to your heart to God. You may want to talk to Him, thank him, and present to talk to Him, thank him, and present to him your simple needs.him your simple needs.

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• Types of Prayer


How to Pray the AgpeyaHow to Pray the Agpeya• This open ended and quite time is This open ended and quite time is

what is known as “what is known as “spontaneous spontaneous prayerprayer” or “” or “impromptu Prayerimpromptu Prayer.” Give .” Give great significance to this type of prayer great significance to this type of prayer and, as much as you are able to, make and, as much as you are able to, make an effort to give it more time so that an effort to give it more time so that you may be filled with peace and you may be filled with peace and enlightenment. enlightenment.

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• Types of Prayer


praying the agpeya

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benumber of psalms

agpeya format

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total number of psalms

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