The Great Lent

I. Switching Over to Great Lent on Last Sunday

Teaching I:

According to the sourian monastery:

1- readings are from lent katameros "specific readings for that day".
2- Mostly annual tune except for the following.
3- Gospel reply is "je peniot" in sunday lent tune.
4- Lent fraction.
5- Psalm 150 "sunday-lent tune"
6- Madeeha of first lent sunday
7- End of service hymn in lent sundays.

Teaching II:

Others will just "switch" starting from Psalm 150 or some will not switch at all and it will be a completely annual liturgy.

II. Je Efmevi/Ti Shouri vs. Fai Pe Pi/Tai Shouri

Here is the controversy---Ibrahim Ayad says to say Tai Shoree on Sat's and Sundays of Great Lent. But seeking clarification on this, I had someone call him and tape the conversation. On the tape, he replied that you may say Teeshoree instead of Taishoree.

Teaching I:

It is definitely Tai Shouri. We also say Alleluia Fai Pe Pi.

Tai Shori and Alleluia Fai Pe Pi are theories of mu'allimeen and not officially agreed upon. I have heard the Fai Pe Pi argument with regard to sunday being the Lord's Day hence 'This is the day the Lord has made'. Again with the alleluia fai pe pi argument, even if we say it holds for sunday as it is the lords day etc etc whats the reason that it should be said on saturday? the fact that there is no strict abstinence fasting is not enough.

In Mu'allim Farag Abdelmessih's 'Kedmet el Shammas' book (4th ed, 1990, Arabic/Coptic, page 3 of the introductory notes) he says the following:

"In all the 'fetar' (non-fasting) days, and Joyous Saturday and Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year - INCLUDING SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS OF THE 40 (LENT) DAYS - the following is prayed: '3rd and 6th hours (from the Agpia) and ALLELUIA FAI PE PI and TAI SHOURI' because Sunday is a feast day for the Lord."

+ Higher Institute of Coptic Studies
-- In an otherwise complete 2-tape set, no mention of Je Efmevi/Tishouri

+ Mu'allim Faheem
-- Does not record Je Efmevi/Ti Shouri as Lent hymns
-- Records Tishouri as hymn "for fasting days and Feasts of the Cross.
-- Records Je Efmevi as hymn "for fasting days."

+ Mu'allim Farag
-- Does not record Je Efmevi/Ti Shouri in his Lent collection; no mention of them at all.
-- Records Tishouri as hymn "for fasting days and Feasts of the Cross.
-- Records Je Efmevi as hymn "for fasting days."

+ Mu'allim Tewfik
-- Does not record Je Efmevi/Ti Shouri in his Lent collection; no mention of them at all.
-- Records Tishouri as hymn "for fasting days and Feasts of the Cross.
-- Records Je Efmevi as hymn "for fasting days."

Teaching II:

Book Wise you say Ti Shori and Je efmevi as you will have noticed that Je efmevi noramlly associated with Fridays and Wednesdays is not followed during lent as Mon - Fri the hymn of ENTHO TE TI SHORI is said.

HG Bishop Mattaos writes in his book concerning the rites and orders of the church to say Teeshoree and Al Je efmevi on Saturday's and Sunday's of Great Lent.

Also, HG Bishop Youssef writes in his new liturgy book to say Al. Je efmeve on Saturdays and Sundays of Great Lent and Teeshoree as well.

Ibrahim Ayad also mentions an additinal source on his tapes for Great Lent justifying Al Je efmevi on Saturdays and Sundays.

The majority of references agree to say Teeshoree and Al Je efmevie on Saturdays and Sundays of Great Lent.

III. Alleluia for Lent weekdays

Teaching I:

Only weekdays.

Teaching II:

Modern practice has seen it used for weekends as well.

IV. Verses of Cymbals

1: Apenchois isos piekhristos
2: Anon hon marenernestevin
3: Je peniot