Divine Liturgy
What is the Pauline Epistle reading?
The Pauline Epistle is a reading from the letters of St. Paul. It is part of the Liturgy of the Word, where the Church listens to apostolic teaching before moving toward the Eucharistic prayers.
The reading may teach doctrine, repentance, church life, holiness, humility, endurance, or the meaning of salvation in Christ. In the Coptic order, it is heard before the Catholic Epistle, the Praxis, the Synaxarium, the Psalm, and the Gospel.
Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Why St. Paul Is Read In The Liturgy
The Eucharistic assembly is formed by teaching before it approaches Communion. Acts describes the first believers continuing in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. The Pauline reading keeps that apostolic pattern before the Church: doctrine, prayer, and Communion belong together.
St. Paul's letters also teach how the Gospel becomes life in the Church. They speak about the Body of Christ, the Cross, repentance, spiritual struggle, humility, marriage, service, suffering, and the hope of the Resurrection. The reading is therefore not a detached Bible lesson. It is apostolic instruction addressed to the people who are about to confess the Creed and approach the altar.
How To Listen
Hear the Pauline Epistle as instruction for the whole Church. It may correct sin, strengthen faith, explain salvation, or call the faithful to love and endurance. The Liturgy reads Scripture so that the people can repent, believe, and receive Communion with understanding.
The place of the reading also matters. Before the Eucharistic prayer, the Church submits herself to the apostolic word. St. Paul is read because the same apostolic faith that teaches the Church also prepares the faithful to receive Christ.
- 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.
- Why are there multiple readings during the Liturgy?, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Q&A. Pastoral answer naming the Pauline Epistle, Catholic Epistle, Praxis, Synaxarium, and Holy Gospel as the five readings.
- 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.
- The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, CopticChurch.net. Service text and introduction for the most commonly used Coptic Divine Liturgy.
Praxis: The Acts reading in the Coptic Liturgy, showing the life and witness of the apostolic Church after the Resurrection and Pentecost.
Synaxarium: The liturgical book of saints' lives and commemorations read in church so the faithful remember the witnesses who lived the Gospel before them.
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.
Creed: The Church's shared confession of faith, proclaimed in the Liturgy before the Eucharistic prayer as the faithful stand together in apostolic belief.
Altar: The holy table in the sanctuary where the Eucharistic gifts are offered and consecrated, treated with reverence as the center of liturgical worship.