The Midnight PraisesThe Midnight Praises

Saint Basil the Great said that the work of Saint Basil the Great said that the work of praising attracts the service of the angels praising attracts the service of the angels because this is part of their job and they because this is part of their job and they come closer to those who do the same as come closer to those who do the same as them.them.

The Psalmody is a deep spiritual The Psalmody is a deep spiritual monumentmonument based in the order of the Holy Liturgy. It was based in the order of the Holy Liturgy. It was placed through the guidance of the Holy placed through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is clear from the words of the Spirit. This is clear from the words of the Psalmody, which are taken from the Holy Psalmody, which are taken from the Holy Bible, the Book of Psalms, and from the Bible, the Book of Psalms, and from the accurate and deep theological accurate and deep theological understandings. understandings.

The Psalmody starts with the prayer of the The Psalmody starts with the prayer of the psalms of the midnight hour which are found psalms of the midnight hour which are found in the in the AgpeyaAgpeya (the book of prayers). Then (the book of prayers). Then follows the tune of follows the tune of "Ten Theno…" "Ten Theno…" which is which is composed of the parts said in the midnight composed of the parts said in the midnight prayers and those which are said after prayers and those which are said after Psalm 50 ("Have mercy upon me O Psalm 50 ("Have mercy upon me O God…"). God…"). "Ten Theno…""Ten Theno…" mean "Arise O mean "Arise O children of the light to praise the Lord of children of the light to praise the Lord of hosts."hosts."

After this, After this, "Tennav""Tennav" is sung, which means is sung, which means "Let us look at the resurrection of Christ." "Let us look at the resurrection of Christ." And it is said from the feast of the And it is said from the feast of the Resurrection and during the 50 days after it, Resurrection and during the 50 days after it, then after that only on Sundays until the end then after that only on Sundays until the end of the month of of the month of HatourHatour..

Then the Praises continue with the first Then the Praises continue with the first "hos""hos" (canticle). The word (canticle). The word hos hos means praise. The First means praise. The First HHosos consists of the praises of Moses and we can consists of the praises of Moses and we can find it in the book of Exodus, Chapter 15. "And it find it in the book of Exodus, Chapter 15. "And it was said when he and Israel crossed the Red was said when he and Israel crossed the Red Sea, they were saved from the hands of the Sea, they were saved from the hands of the Egyptians." It also symbolizes every person who Egyptians." It also symbolizes every person who has come out of the strict slavery of the devil and has come out of the strict slavery of the devil and from the bondage of this hard world. from the bondage of this hard world.

Following the First Following the First HosHos, the , the "Lobsh""Lobsh" is sung. is sung. The The LobshLobsh is an explanation or a praise is an explanation or a praise about the previous about the previous hos,hos, and it is a poetic and it is a poetic piece to be sung in an initial long tune and piece to be sung in an initial long tune and continued with a beautiful melody.continued with a beautiful melody.

Then follows the Second Then follows the Second Hos Hos which consists of which consists of Psalm 135. In the Second Psalm 135. In the Second Hos,Hos, we thank God for we thank God for He is good and beneficent and the Doer of great He is good and beneficent and the Doer of great wonders, we thank Him for His creation, and we wonders, we thank Him for His creation, and we say "for His mercy endures forever." This phrase is say "for His mercy endures forever." This phrase is repeated after every verse of the Psalm. Following repeated after every verse of the Psalm. Following the Second the Second HosHos is another is another LobshLobsh with its beautiful, with its beautiful, easy tune and whose beginning verse is, "Let us easy tune and whose beginning verse is, "Let us thank Christ our Lord with the psalmist David the thank Christ our Lord with the psalmist David the prophet…"prophet…"

The Third The Third HosHos is the praise of the three is the praise of the three saintly youths [Prayer of Azariah], which we saintly youths [Prayer of Azariah], which we find in the Deutero-Cannonical Books which find in the Deutero-Cannonical Books which are mistakenly called the "lost books." And are mistakenly called the "lost books." And in it the three youths ask all the creation to in it the three youths ask all the creation to join with them in the praise of God and the join with them in the praise of God and the blessing of His mightiness. blessing of His mightiness.

Following the Third Following the Third HosHos is the “ is the “Batos Psali”Batos Psali” for the for the three saintly youths. All its words are in the Coptic three saintly youths. All its words are in the Coptic and Greek languages. This and Greek languages. This psalipsali (hymn) has a (hymn) has a charming tune. It does not differ in its meaning charming tune. It does not differ in its meaning from the meaning of the from the meaning of the HosHos itself. And then itself. And then follows another praise for the three saintly youths, follows another praise for the three saintly youths, sung in a long and meditative tune, “sung in a long and meditative tune, “Tenoweh Tenoweh ensok khen pen heet tirfensok khen pen heet tirf,” meaning, “We follow ,” meaning, “We follow You with all our hearts…”You with all our hearts…”

Following these hymns is the Following these hymns is the Commemoration of the Saints. When we Commemoration of the Saints. When we have become involved in praising God and have become involved in praising God and glorifying Him, we have the participation of glorifying Him, we have the participation of the victorious church with us. It is the souls the victorious church with us. It is the souls of the saints who have preceded us to the of the saints who have preceded us to the Paradise of Joy, that come to support us Paradise of Joy, that come to support us and to accompany us in our continuous and to accompany us in our continuous struggle against the world, sin, and the struggle against the world, sin, and the weaknesses of the body. weaknesses of the body.

After the Commemoration of the Saints, is After the Commemoration of the Saints, is the Doxologies (from the Greek word the Doxologies (from the Greek word doxadoxa, , meaning glory). The Doxologies are the meaning glory). The Doxologies are the hymns in which we honor the Virgin Mary hymns in which we honor the Virgin Mary and all the saints. We remember also their and all the saints. We remember also their virtues and their struggles in their spiritual virtues and their struggles in their spiritual lives and this is also in conjunction with the lives and this is also in conjunction with the teachings of the church and the Holy Bible teachings of the church and the Holy Bible where the Lord said, “Honor those who where the Lord said, “Honor those who honor Me.” honor Me.”

After we have gained blessing from the After we have gained blessing from the victorious church and the heavenly hosts we victorious church and the heavenly hosts we return once again to the praise God that is return once again to the praise God that is sweet and blessed in the mouths of His sweet and blessed in the mouths of His saints. This is in the Fourth saints. This is in the Fourth Hos,Hos, which is which is composed of three Psalms. And these composed of three Psalms. And these Psalms express the state of joy, victory, and Psalms express the state of joy, victory, and rejoicing from all the heart and from all the rejoicing from all the heart and from all the soul.soul.

All that has been mentioned here starting from All that has been mentioned here starting from "Ten Theno" (“Arise O children of the light…”) until "Ten Theno" (“Arise O children of the light…”) until the end of the Fourth the end of the Fourth HosHos, are sung the same set , are sung the same set way in every prayer of the Sunday Midnight way in every prayer of the Sunday Midnight Praise. However, during the weekday praises, a Praise. However, during the weekday praises, a small change in order is to be observed. small change in order is to be observed. Immediately after the First Hos, we shift to the Immediately after the First Hos, we shift to the seventh part of the Sunday Theotokia with the seventh part of the Sunday Theotokia with the Gospel reading from St. Luke and we pray from Gospel reading from St. Luke and we pray from the Sunday Theotokia from part 7 till the end of the Sunday Theotokia from part 7 till the end of part 9 and then shift back to the Second Hos and part 9 and then shift back to the Second Hos and continue as before.continue as before.

Then we come to the Psali, which changes every Then we come to the Psali, which changes every day. There are seven Psalis, and each day of the day. There are seven Psalis, and each day of the week has one Psali specifically for that day. The week has one Psali specifically for that day. The word Psali means “hymn” and, in the Psalmody, is word Psali means “hymn” and, in the Psalmody, is organized around the name of the Lord Jesus, organized around the name of the Lord Jesus, which is always repeated in almost every which is always repeated in almost every paragraph (verse). Sunday has two Psalis. The paragraph (verse). Sunday has two Psalis. The first Psali is a hymn for the Virgin Mary and the first Psali is a hymn for the Virgin Mary and the second is about the name of the Lord Jesus. second is about the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Psali concludes with an introduction to The Psali concludes with an introduction to the the TheotokiaTheotokia. In the days of the ". In the days of the "AdamAdam", ", ""Lipon anshan tho ootiLipon anshan tho ooti" is sung, which " is sung, which means, “And whenever we gather for means, “And whenever we gather for prayer, let us bless the name of my Lord prayer, let us bless the name of my Lord Jesus." And in the days of “Batos", the Jesus." And in the days of “Batos", the ending of the Psali or the beginning of the ending of the Psali or the beginning of the Theotokia is "Eshop an shan erepsalin" and Theotokia is "Eshop an shan erepsalin" and it means when we sing hymns let us say it means when we sing hymns let us say with… with…

Then the Theotokia which is a Greek word Then the Theotokia which is a Greek word meaning, “The Mother of God” is chanted. In the meaning, “The Mother of God” is chanted. In the “Theotokias” are all the symbols and allusions “Theotokias” are all the symbols and allusions which are in the Old Testament about the Holy which are in the Old Testament about the Holy Virgin Mary. And in them also are the deep Virgin Mary. And in them also are the deep theological understandings about the essence of theological understandings about the essence of the divine Incarnation which is beyond the divine Incarnation which is beyond comprehension and about the nature of the holy comprehension and about the nature of the holy Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Holy Spirit Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary.and of the Virgin Mary.

For each day of the week, there is a specific For each day of the week, there is a specific TheotokiaTheotokia. Also, the way or tune of singing . Also, the way or tune of singing the the TheokiasTheokias in the days of in the days of AdamAdam is different is different from the tune of the from the tune of the BatosBatos days. So is the days. So is the case with the case with the PsalisPsalis as well. The as well. The TheotokiasTheotokias end with the end with the LobshLobsh, with a different way than , with a different way than that of the that of the TheotokiasTheotokias with the exception of with the exception of Sunday which does not have a “Sunday which does not have a “LobshLobsh" "

There is a replacing piece instead of the There is a replacing piece instead of the LobshLobsh on Sundays called: " on Sundays called: "Nim ghar ni Nim ghar ni nootinooti" which means, "Who is likened unto " which means, "Who is likened unto You, O Lord among the gods…" This piece You, O Lord among the gods…" This piece is sung during the Fifty Days after Easter, is sung during the Fifty Days after Easter, then only on Sundays until the last Sunday then only on Sundays until the last Sunday of the month of of the month of HatourHatour. .

Then the "Antiphonarium“ (El Difnar) of the Then the "Antiphonarium“ (El Difnar) of the day is read and in it is the shortened story of day is read and in it is the shortened story of the saint of the day in which the Praises are the saint of the day in which the Praises are offered and it has a Coptic beginning that is offered and it has a Coptic beginning that is specific to it, then the saint’s story is read. specific to it, then the saint’s story is read.

Then the end of the Then the end of the Theotokias,Theotokias, " "Nek nai o Nek nai o panootipanooti" which means, "Your mercies O my " which means, "Your mercies O my God are countless.." is sung in the days of God are countless.." is sung in the days of AdamAdam or “ or “O pen chois Isos Pikhristos…O pen chois Isos Pikhristos…”, ”, which means “Our Lord Jesus Christ” which which means “Our Lord Jesus Christ” which is sung in the days of is sung in the days of BatosBatos. .

And after the ending of the “And after the ending of the “TheotokiaTheotokia" we say, " " we say, " We exalt you, O mother of the true Light…" until We exalt you, O mother of the true Light…" until the end and the the end and the creedcreed also in full. After that we ask also in full. After that we ask for God's mercies and we say, "for God's mercies and we say, "Kirie eleysonKirie eleyson" " meaning "Lord have mercy" along with the meaning "Lord have mercy" along with the different requests. At its end we pray, "Holy, holy, different requests. At its end we pray, "Holy, holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth…" followed by "Our Father Holy, Lord of Sabaoth…" followed by "Our Father who art in heaven”. Finally, the morning psalms who art in heaven”. Finally, the morning psalms are recited with their praise as an introduction to are recited with their praise as an introduction to the morning raising of incense. the morning raising of incense.