This Is My Body: The Rite of the Liturgy Explained

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'”(Luke 22:19)

The Liturgical rite in the Coptic Orthodox Church is a rich and deeply symbolic one. It combines Old Testament and New Testament elements seamlessly to ultimately tell the salvific story. Despite St Mark instituting the liturgy almost two millenia ago, the rite of the liturgy is largely unchanged, making the Orthodox Church unique in that sense.

However, the beauty of the mosaic of the liturgy can at times go largely unappreciated, especially the inaudible prayers said by the priest and the subtle gestures inside the altar. This book by H.G. Bishop Raphael explains each segment of the liturgy exploring the reason and the meaning behind it with Biblical proof and spiritual contemplation.