Divine Liturgy
What is the Offering of the Lamb?
The Offering of the Lamb is the opening Eucharistic movement of the Coptic Divine Liturgy. The priest examines the holy bread, chooses one Lamb, prepares the wine and water, and places the gifts before God. In ordinary English this movement is sometimes called the Offertory, but the Coptic liturgical focus is the Lamb because the offering points directly to Christ.
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.
What Happens In The Rite
The priest and deacons prepare the altar and vessels, the canonical hours are prayed, and the priest washes his hands before the holy service. The priest then examines the holy bread, chooses the Lamb, blesses the gifts, and processes with the selected offering. The bread and wine are placed on the altar and covered according to the rite.
This is the beginning of the visible movement toward Holy Communion. The gifts are still bread and wine at this point, but they have been set apart for the Eucharistic service. The whole Church is being taught to offer what God has given and to wait for Him to sanctify it.
Why The Lamb Is Offered
The Offering of the Lamb teaches that worship is offering, thanksgiving, and surrender to God. Bread and wine are brought from creation and placed before the Creator. The chosen Lamb points to Christ, the Lamb of God, who offers Himself for the life of the world and gives Himself back to the faithful as holy Communion.
The Church therefore begins the Liturgy by giving, not by taking. She brings the gifts, prayer, repentance, and thanksgiving before God. God receives the offering and gives the faithful a gift beyond anything human beings could produce: communion in the holy Body and precious 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.
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.
Divine Liturgy: The Church's central Eucharistic worship, where Scripture, Creed, offering, thanksgiving, consecration, and Communion are gathered into one prayer before God.
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.
Offertory: The early part of the Liturgy when the bread and wine are selected, prepared, and offered to God for the Eucharistic prayer.
Altar: The holy table in the sanctuary where the Eucharistic gifts are offered and consecrated, treated with reverence as the center of liturgical worship.
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.