The Verses of the Cymbals and Doxologies

concerning the Raising of the Incense

translated by

Anthony Alcock

1

2

3

4

The Coptic-Arabic text translated below was prepared by Demetrius, Bishop of Mellawi,

Ansina (Antinoe) and Ashmunein. The three foregoing pages are the cover (recto and verso)

and page one of the 36-page book.

The third printing, from which this version has been made, was made in 1990 and published

by the Metropolitanate of Mellawi. It seems to be an abbreviated version of much longer

texts.

The text is presented in two columns, Coptic on the left and Arabic on the right. Above the

Coptic are handwritten Arabic letters so that congregation members not familiar with the

Coptic script can speak the words or at least recognize them when they are spoken. Below

the Coptic is an Arabic translation of each individual Coptic word.

Italic text in brackets is a translation of Arabic text. Capitalization has been done in

accordance with the standard rules of English: proper names are capitalized, but pronouns

are not.

5

A topographical note

Mellawi is not attested in ancient texts, the name maNlau probably meaning 'place of lau (textile)', but isnow the only one of the three places that continues to exist as a town; Antinoe (Ar. Ansina), is the Greco-Roman city founded by the Emperor Hadrian in honour of Antinous, who drowned there, and known inantiquity as Antinoopolis, but is now not much more than a village named in honour of Sheikh Ibada, whois thought to have been martyred for his conversion from Islam to Christianity; Ashmunein, also now avillage, is the ancient Khmounou (known in Greek as Hermopolis), the origin of one of the majorcosmogonic systems in Pharaonic Egypt involving eight (¥moun) creator gods.

A calendrical noteCoptic months (W. Till Koptische Grammatik p.87). It should be noted that the forms in the Latin alphabetare approximations and that the Coptic forms below are only the 'standard' Sahidic forms. The dates mark hebeginning of each period.

Thoth 28.08 coout

Paope 28.09 paope

Hathor 28.10 xacwr

Koiahk 27.11 koiaxk

Tôbe 27.12 twbe

Emshir 26.01 M¥ir

Paremhotep 25.02 paremxotep

Parmoute 27.03 parmoute

Pashons 26.04 pa¥ons

Paône 26.05 pawne

Epip 25.06 ephp

Mesore 25.07 meswrh

Epagomenal days (epagomenh) 24.08

6

The Verses1 of the Cymbals2 after the Prayer of Thanks in Raising the Evening and

Morning Incense.

(On the Adam days:3 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. It begins with the following verses)

Come, let us worship the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are

Christians, for he is the true God. Our hope is in the Blessed Mary. God has mercy on us

through her intercession. There is holiness in this world from the prayer of the blessed one,

the Virgin Mary.

(As for the days of Watos: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it begins with the

following two verses)

We worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity of the same nature.

Hail to the Church, the house of the angels. Hail, Virgin who gave birth to our Saviour.

(Completed on the days of Adam and Watos according to what follows) (The Virgin)

Hail to you, Mary, the beautiful dove, the one who gave birth to God the Logos for us.

Hail to you, Mary, in holy peace.

Hail to you, Mary, the Mother of the one who is holy.

1 These 'verses' can be heard on the internet, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOfJVbnUds.The Coptic is 'those of the four'. The Arabic word seems to be the plural form of the word for 'quarter, fourthpart'

2 Small hand-held ones. The Arabic word seems to mean principally 'bell'.3 The terms Adam and Batos (Watos) refer to the days of the Theotokia, hymns in praise of the Mother of God. Adam is the first word of the Monday Theotokia. The Adam days are Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.Batos ('bush') is the first word of the Thursday Theotokia.

7

(The angels)

Hail. Michael, the great archangel.

Hail, Gabriel, the chosen messenger.

Hail, Cheroubim.

Hail, Serpahim.

Hail, all celestial ranks.

(The apostolic fathers)

Hail, my lord apostolic fathers

Hail, the disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Hail, the evangelist

Hail, the apostle,

Mark, the one who sees God4

(The martyrs)

Hail, Stephen, the first martyr.

Hail, the archdeacon who is blessed.

Hail to you, martyr, hail to you, the courageous champion

Hail to you, the victor, my lord king George

4 The word cewrimos is not attested as such, but the Arabic clearly understands the word in the way I havetranslated as a word that incorporates the two words 'God' and 'see' (qeÒj and Ðr©n)

8

Saint Mena, the new martyr of the cross.

We beg you, Son of God, to protect the life of our Patriarch Abba [--- ---], the High Priest.

Strengthen him on his throne. Together with his companions in service, our holy and just

father Abba [--- ---], the bishop. Strengthen him on his throne. Through the intercessions of

the holy Mother of God Mary, Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins that we may praise

you and our good Father and the Holy Spirit that you may come and save us. Have mercy on

us.

So that we may praise (But on the feast days of Our Lady the last fourth is replaced by the

following verse)

Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, he is forever, in a single substance, we worship him and

give glory to him. The king of peace.

¥bl5

(Arabic) and so on

The Watos Doxologies spoken at the Raising of the Evening Incense

(In the evening) Lord, make us worthy (In the morning, be gracious, Lord) Let us praise

(After the glorification of the angels) 'Our Father (And the Lord's Prayer) Holy is God (The

Trisagion). In Jesus Christ Our Lord Amen. Alleluia.

[The Arabic text seems to be a set of instructions, but I do not understand what they refer to

Anthony Alcock]

Hail to you, we beg you (Say the preface)

5 May be an abbreviation of ¥abol

9

Hail to you, we beg you, holy one full of glory who are a Virgin at all times, the one who

gave birth to God, the Mother of Christ. Arise and let us pray to your beloved son that he

may forgive our sins.

Hail to the one who bore for us the light of the truth, Christ our God, Holy Virgin. Beg the

Lord for us that he may have mercy on our souls and forgive our sins. Virgin Mary, the holy

Mother of God, the faithful champion of humanity. Intercede for us before Christ, the one to

whom you gave birth so that he may grant us the forgiveness of our sins.

Hail to you, Virgin, the true Queen of truth.

Hail, the glory of humanity. You gave birth to Emmanuel for us.

We beg you, remember us, our faithful champion, before Our Lord Jesus Christ that he may

forgive us our sins.

(Doxology of the Virgin)

The adornment of Mary in the heavens above, on the right hand side of her beloved,

pleading with him on our behalf. As David said in the Psalm: 'The Queen is on your right

side, King.'6 Solomon calls her in the Song of Songs: 'My sister and my companion, the true

city of Jerusalem.'7

He gave a sign about her that there were many elevated names: 'Come from your garden,

choice of aromas. Hail to you, Virgin ... We beg you ...

(Doxology of all Heavenly Creatures)

Seven archangels stand singing hymns before the Pantokrator and worshipping the hidden

mysteries.

Michael is the first. Gabriel is the second. Raphael is the third. Like the Trinity.

Suriel, Sedakiel, Sarathiel and Ananiel are the great holy luminaries, who entreat him on6 Ps. 45,97 I cannot identify these as quotations from the the Song of Solomon, but there are passages in 4 and 5 to which

they may be allusions.10

behalf of creation.

The Cherubim and Seraphim, the thrones of the Lord of Powers, the four bodiless creatures

that carry the chariot of God. The twenty-four elders in the Church of the First Born,

praising him unceasingly, calling out: 'Holy is God. Those who are sick, cure them, holy

strong one. Those who have lain down, give them rest, holy immortal one. Bless your

inheritance. Let your mercy and peace be a wall for your people. For you are holy, holy, holy

Lord Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of your glory and honour.'

When they say the Alleluia, those of heaven follow them8: 'Holy. Amen. Alleluia. Glory

belongs to our God. Intercede for us9, angelic armies and celestial ranks that he may

forgive ..10

(Doxologies of our apostolic fathers)

Lord Jesus Christ, he chose his apostles, Peter, Andrew, John, James, then Philip, Matthew,

Bartholemew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Cannanite, Thaddeus and

Matthias, Paul and Mark and Luke, and the rest of the disciple who followed our Saviour.

Matthias who replaced Judas and the completion and the rest who followed the Lord. Their

voice came forth upon the face of the whole earth, and their voices reached the ends of the

inhabited world.

Entreat,11 my lord apostolic fathers and the 72 disciples12 that he may ...

(Doxology of Mark, Apostle and Evangelist 30th Paope and 30th Parmoute)

Mark the Apostle and Evangelist, the witness to the tribulations of the Only-Begotten13 (Son

of) God. You came and brought light to us through your gospel. You taught us the Father,

8 The Coptic has to be emended: ouwx nswou.9 The Coptic is an abbreviation: aripr(esbeuein) exrhi ejwn10 Abbreviated in the Arabic: 'that he may forgive' and in the Coptic to 'that he ...'

11 Only the first letter is written: t(wbx)12 Lk. 10: 1ff. 'seventy'13 Coptic. The Ar. reads 'the only God'.

11

the Son and the Holy Spirit. You brought us from darkness to the light of truth. You fed us

with the bread of life which came down from heaven. All the peoples of the earth were

blessed by you, and your words reached the ends of the inhabited world. Hail to you, Martyr.

Hail, Evangelist. Hail, Apostle, Mark, the one who sees God. Entreat, you Evangelist who

see God, Mark the Apostle, that he may ...

(Doxology of Saint George, spoken on 7th Hathor and 23rd Parmoute)

Seven years Saint George completed, the seventy lawless kings passing judgement on him

every day. They were unable14 to change his reasoning or his upright faith or his great love

for Christ the King.

He was singing hymns with David: 'All the nations have surrounded my, but in the name of

Jesus my God, I took up the struggle with them.'15

Your honour is great, my lord king George.Christ rejoices with you in heavenly Jerusalem.

Hail to, martyr. Hail, noble champion. Hail, victor, my lord king George.

I entreat, victorious martyr, my lord king George, that he ...

(Doxology of Saint Mena the admirable, to be said on 15th Hathor and 15th Paoune)

If a man has the benefit of the whole word and loses his soul, what is this vain life ?16 Saint

Mena heard the voice of God. He left the whole world behind him and its transient glory. He

gave his soul over to death and his body to the fire. He received many punishments for the

son of the Living God. He became worthy of high honours, the chosen one who died for the

truth. He cane like a beacon illuminating the earth. Therefore Our Saviour took him uo to his

kingdom and gave him good things which no eye had seen.

Your honour is great, Abba Mena17, Christ rejoicing with you in heavenly Jerusalem.14 The Coptic is 8pou¥vwnx, and to guide the reader Demetrius has put the Arabic letters اش above the Coptic

letter ¥. 'be able'15 Ps. 118,1016 Mt. 16,26 etc.17 The Gk word for 'saint' precedes 'Abba'.

12

Hail to you, martyr, the brave champion. Hail, victorious Saint, Abba Mena. Entreat,

victorious martyr and saint, Abba Mena, that he may ...

(Doxology of Saint Bistauros the new martyr18

To be said on 3rd Koiahk)

You have confessed the good confession before the king of Egypt and his soldiers and

judges. You were nailed to a cross like Christ above the tall camel, Saint Bistauros. That

which you asked for from Mary the Virgin, she did it for you in her revered memory. You

bore the crown of martyrdom. You were extolled with the martyrs in the land of the living.

You came in the eleventh hour 19and received the wage of the full day, Saint Bistauros, the

martyr of God. Your honour is great, new martyr, Bistauros, the Lord rejoicing with in

heavenly Jerusalem.

Hail to you, martyr. Hail, noble champion Hail victor, the new martyr Bistauros. Entreat,

new martyr Bistauros, that the may ...

(Doxology of the current Patriarch)

You have received the grace of Moses, the priesthood of Melchisedek. You have received

the honour of our father Mark, the one who evangelized us.

Christ raised his right hand upon your head. He confirmed you in the faith in the keys of the

kingdom of heaven that you might be a guide over the Church, that you might look after

your people in purity and truth. As Paul the apostle said: Like Melchisedek, this is the way

of Christ.20

So we extol you and the hymnodist David, for you are the eternal priest, like Melchisedek.

18 From Ebshadat, a village near Mellawi. Martyred in 1512 AD. His body was placed in the Church of St Maryin Haret Zuweila, a small Coptic quarter of the essentially Islamic part of Cairo. In 1987 part of his body wastaken to the church in the village of his birth. He was sentenced to death by the Mameluk Emir because he hadbeen trying to convert Muslims to Christianity

19 The number is written using letters of the alphabet, Below is the number written in full as a word. 20 Heb. 7:11-28

13

Entreat, lord father Patriatch, out holy father Abba [NN] that he may ...

(Doxology of the Diocesan Bishop )

With our holy and just father, the Christ-loving Bishop of the town [NN] . Entreat the Lord

for us, our goly just father Abba [NN], the bishop, that he may forgive us our sins.

(The Conclusion of the Doxologies - For Our Lady the Virgin Mary)

Be like one looking down on us in the high places in which you are.21 Our Lady, Mistress of

us all, Mother of God, ever a Virgin. Beg the one you gave birth to, our good Saviour, that

he may take away these tribulations from us and establish peace for us.

Hail to you, Virgin, the true Queen. Hail, glory of mankind. You gave birth to Emmanuel.

We beg you, remember us, faithful champion, before Our Lord Jesus Christ, that he may ...

(Also for Our Lady the Virgin to be said in the Hymn of Praise at Midnight)

Your greatness, Mary the Immaculate Virgin, who are like the tall date palm about which

Solomon sang. You are the spring of the water of life which flows from the Lebanon,22 from

which the grace of the godhead flows to us.

You gave birth to Emmanuel for us, Virginal Womb. He has made us heirs in the kingdom

of heaven.

21 Demetrius has thoughtfully broken up the relative construction et - are- yh for ease of reading andunderstanding.

22 Echo of Song of Songs 4:1514

According to the promise our Father23 the Patriarch made, he who is King David, and

fulfilled it for us. Hail to you, Virgin ...We beg you ...

(Also for Our Lady the Virgin to be said at the Raising of the Morning Incense)

Your blessedness, Mary the wise and chaste, the second cupola, the spiritual treasure.24

The pure turtledove, who was called on our earth and brought forth for us a spiritual fruit,

the spirirt of the Paraclete, which came upon your son on the waters of the Jordan, like

Noah.25

For that dove has brought good news to us, the peace of God which happened to mankind.

You, our hope, the spiritual turtledove, you brought mercy to us, you bore it in your belly,

that is Jesus, the one born of the Father. He was born to us through you and set mankind

free. For this, let us say it first with our heart; then with our tongue, crying out saying: Our

Lord Jesus Christ, make for yourself from us a temple of your Holy Spirit, they giving a

doxology to you. Hail to you, Virgin ... We beg ...

23 Coptic has to emended to nje24 I cannot find these as epithets of the BVM.25 Gen. 8:8ff.

15