The Liturgical Ritual "Part 5"

The readings of the liturgy (2):

4- The Synaxarium:
- The Synaxarium is the book containing the daily commemoration of saints, the chronicles of the fathers, prophets, patriarchs, bishops and martyrs.
- The objective of reading the Synaxarium is that church urges the people to follow in footsteps of the saints as it is said in the Bible: "Consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7)
- The church celebrates the martyrdom of the martyrs, and the departure day of the saints not their birth days and the church call this day a feast day because in their day of departure they are joined to the heavenly bridegroom who they loved even to their death.
- The Synaxarium includes also the feasts of the church. We celebrate the birthday of St. Mary the Virgin and St. John the Baptist.

Ex: The Commemoration of:
+ Holy Virgin Mary ---> 21 of every Coptic month.
+ Archangel Michael ---> 12 of every Coptic month.

5- The Gospel:
- Before reading the Gospel, the priest prays the litany of the Gospel.
- The Gospel is a reading if the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Mark, Luke or Saint John.
- During the reading of the Gospel, two deacons holding lit candles stand on both sides of the lectern, this symbolizes that Gospel enlightens our path in life

The Book of Katameros:
These daily readings we read in the Liturgy are written in a book named Katameros.
These are 4 different books of Katameros in our church:
1- Annual Katameros ---> • Weekdays • Sundays.
2- Great Lent ---> • John's fast • Great Lent.
3- Holy week. 4- Holy fifth days.
Rules of the annual Katameros:
- For week days: The readings are arranged according to the Saint of the day in the Synaxarium.
- For Sundays: Arranged to show the work of the Holy Trinity with the believers and how the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit works together for our salvation in the manner of " The Love of God the Fther, The Grace of His only begotten son Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Crist and the Gift and Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen".