Chapter 19. Rituals

Priests recommended to pray litanies audibly

Original Arabic Text

The Synod have observed that many of the Priests have become accustomed to praying the litanies inaudibly during the conclusion of the rites of Vespers and Matins, and the Great Litanies before the Prayer of Reconciliation in the Divine Liturgy. The matter that is of concern to us is that the congregation think that these prayers have been deleted from the rituals of the Coptic Church. Likewise, Priests have begun to forget what they have learnt [to recite] by heart. Therefore, it is decided to recommend to the Priests in the dioceses to revert to the practice of these prayers audibly whenever it is possible. Audible prayers are preferred over inaudible prayers, as per the original rituals. It is noted that some dioceses have prohibited the prayer of inaudible prayers in the rite of vespers.