Language and Chant
What does “Amen” mean?
What The Prayers Teach About Amen
Amen means "truly," "so be it," or "let it be." In the service, it is the people's way of receiving a prayer as their own.
Why The People Say It
The Liturgy is not a private prayer performed by clergy while everyone watches. The priest prays, the deacons lead, and the people answer. Amen is one of the clearest signs that the faithful are participating.
How will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks?
How To Use It
When you hear the faithful answer Amen, you can join softly if you are comfortable. Even before you know every prayer, Amen teaches you to listen for the movement of blessing, thanksgiving, and confession of faith.
- The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, CopticChurch.net. Service text and introduction for the most commonly used Coptic Divine Liturgy.
- Coptic Liturgies, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Overview of the Divine Liturgy, the three Coptic liturgies, and the principal parts of the Eucharistic service.
- Coptic Rites (4): Liturgy of the Believers, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Teaching slides on the Anaphora, institution narrative, invocation of the Holy Spirit, consecration, litanies, and Communion.
- The Divine Liturgy, CopticChurch.net. Introductory explanation of liturgy as the life and worship practiced by the Church in Christ.
Amen: A word of assent meaning truly or let it be so, by which the faithful receive and affirm the prayer being offered.
Confession: The sacrament of repentance in which a person confesses sins before God in the presence of the priest and receives absolution and guidance.