The Coptic Orthodox Liturgy

Introduction

One Accord

The Church lives through the liturgy. The liturgy is one of the collective prayers that we pray together in the Church. We’re obliged to pray together in collective prayers with one accord.

In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-14

This substantiates the existence of communal prayers that believers pray with one accord using the words known to all.

In the Greek — ὁμοθυμαδόν (homothymadon) —, “with one accord” means with one word, one melody, one agreed-upon text, one heart. It expresses the nature of prayer in the Church. No one speaks with their own words, but we pray with one accord.

In the liturgy, we have a promise from the Lord Jesus Himself that we obtain what we desire when we stand before Him to pray in His name.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 1:14
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