Divine Liturgy
What is Matins?
Morning Prayer
Matins is morning prayer. In the Coptic Church, Sunday Matins is commonly joined with the Raising of Morning Incense before the Divine Liturgy. It prepares the Church to begin the day in worship and to approach the Eucharist with attention.
The rites curriculum lists the Raising of Morning Incense before the Offering of the Lamb, the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Believers. That order helps explain why Sunday can feel like it begins before the Eucharistic Liturgy itself.
What Happens During Matins
Matins includes prayer, incense, litanies, praise, and readings according to the day. The priest and deacons serve at the altar while the people respond in prayer. The Church asks for mercy, gives thanks, and prepares for the service that follows.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
How To Participate Around Matins
If you arrive during Matins, enter quietly and stand or sit respectfully. If a deacon or servant is nearby, you can ask whether the parish has already begun the Liturgy or is still in Matins.
Matins is a good place to learn the rhythm of the service because it introduces the incense, litanies, responses, and posture that continue throughout the morning.
- Coptic Rites (1): Raising of Incense, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Teaching slides on incense, prayer, liturgical order, and reverent participation.
- 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 (3): Liturgy of the Word, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Teaching slides on the Pauline, Catholic Epistle, Praxis, Synaxarium, Gospel litany, Creed, and related rites.
- The Agpeya, Mighty Arrows Magazine, SUSCopts. Introductory article on the Book of Hours and daily prayer.
Matins: The morning prayer service, often joined to the Raising of Incense before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning.
Incense: Fragrant offering used in worship as a biblical sign of prayer rising before God, especially around the altar, Gospel, icons, clergy, and faithful.
Divine Liturgy: The Church's central Eucharistic worship, where Scripture, Creed, offering, thanksgiving, consecration, and Communion are gathered into one prayer before God.
Eucharist: A Greek word meaning thanksgiving. In Orthodox worship it names the sacrament in which bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
Lamb: The holy bread selected during the Offering of the Lamb, named in relation to Christ the Lamb of God who gives Himself for the life of the world.
Altar: The holy table in the sanctuary where the Eucharistic gifts are offered and consecrated, treated with reverence as the center of liturgical worship.
Deacon: An ordained servant who assists the bishop or priest and leads parts of the people's liturgical response, reading, order, and service.