Divine Liturgy
What is the Offertory?
When The Gifts Are Offered
The Offertory is the part of the Liturgy when the bread and wine are presented for the Eucharist. In the Coptic rite, the priest selects the Lamb from the holy bread prepared for the service and prepares the gifts that will be offered in thanksgiving.
This is the beginning of the Church's visible movement toward Holy Communion. The bread and wine are not ordinary supplies once they are set apart for the holy service.
What You May See
The priest inspects the holy bread, chooses the Lamb, blesses and prepares the gifts, and places them on the altar. Deacons and people respond with prayers and hymns. The service then moves toward the readings, Creed, Eucharistic prayers, and Communion.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Why It Matters
The Offertory teaches that worship is offering. The Church brings bread, wine, prayer, repentance, and thanksgiving before God. God receives the offering and gives the faithful a gift beyond anything they could produce: communion in the Body and Blood of Christ.
- 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.
- Eulogia and Holy Bread, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Q&A. Pastoral answer describing the holy bread that may be chosen to become the Lamb of the Eucharist.
- 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 of St. Basil, CopticChurch.net. Service text and introduction for the most commonly used Coptic Divine Liturgy.
- Liturgies of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles. Diocesan introduction describing the Liturgy as the Eucharistic remembrance and celebration of Christ's sacrifice.
Offertory: The early part of the Liturgy when the bread and wine are selected, prepared, and offered to God for the Eucharistic prayer.
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.
Korban: The holy bread prepared for the Coptic Liturgy. During the Offering of the Lamb, one is selected to be offered and consecrated as the holy Body of Christ.
Holy Communion: The faithful receiving the true Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, after baptismal life, repentance, confession, fasting, reconciliation, and pastoral preparation.
Altar: The holy table in the sanctuary where the Eucharistic gifts are offered and consecrated, treated with reverence as the center of liturgical worship.
Creed: The Church's shared confession of faith, proclaimed in the Liturgy before the Eucharistic prayer as the faithful stand together in apostolic belief.