Divine Liturgy
Why does the priest wash his hands during the service?
A Gesture Of Purity
The priest washes his hands as a sign of purity and preparation before serving at the altar. The act echoes the Psalm prayed in the Church's worship: the priest asks to approach the altar with a clean heart and faithful service.
I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord.
The washing is not a claim that the priest has no sin. It is a liturgical sign of repentance, humility, and readiness. The priest stands before God on behalf of the people, and the rite teaches that holy service should be approached with sobriety.
What The Gesture Teaches
Small actions in the Liturgy often carry theological meaning. This one says that the altar is holy, that service requires preparation, and that the priest approaches the mystery by prayer rather than personal confidence.
- 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 of St. Basil, CopticChurch.net. Service text and introduction for the most commonly used Coptic Divine Liturgy.
- Church Architecture and Priests' Vestments, Servants Preparation Program, SUSCopts. Servants-prep lesson on Coptic church architecture, sanctuary meaning, altar space, and priestly vestments.
Altar: The holy table in the sanctuary where the Eucharistic gifts are offered and consecrated, treated with reverence as the center of liturgical worship.
Mysteries: The Orthodox name for the sacraments, calling attention to God's grace given through visible rites such as Baptism, Chrismation, Confession, and the Eucharist.