Coptic Centre, UK


The Official Website of the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre, United Kingdom Under the care of H.G. Bishop Angaelos

By Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malty

LAITY	* Collective name meaning the people i.e. members of the church apart from the ordained: clergy
LAMB	* The lamb is a young sheep that reminds us of the sacrifice used to be presented to God in the Old Testament. * The Lord Jesus Christ became a Sacrifice for our sake. * The Holy Bread that is picked out in the Eucharist is called "the Lamb," for it is trans ferred to Christ's Body.
LAMP	* A lamp that is lit with oil, it is hanged in front of the icons, as a reference that Christ is the Light Who illuminates the inside of His saints. * This lamp is not put in front of Christ's icon for He is the world's Light. * There is a lamp in the niche that is permanently lit, called "Perpetual." It reminds us of the eastern star that led the Wisemen to where the Lord Jesus Christ was born.
LAMPSTAND	* See "Altar Lights."
LAQQAN	* See "Blessing of the Water." * It is a small basin sunk slightly into the floor in the western part of the nave. It is covered with a wooden lid when not in use. In old days it was made of light-colored marble, as for the form of the lid it is strikingly uniform.
LAYING-ON OF HANDS.	* See "Imposition of Hands."
LECTERN	* The Latin word "legere" means "to read." * A four-legged wooden or metal book stand, on which the lectionary (the book for the Scriptural readings in the liturgy of the Eucharist) and other liturgical books are placed for reading. It is often in the form of an eagle with outstretched wings. The lower part is customarily used as a storage container for books and musical instruments employed in the services, such as cymbals and triangles. * There are two lecterns in every Coptic church. * Most oftenly it is decorated with ivory designs of the cross and on it verses of the holy Bible is written down.
LECTIONARY	* The book of church readings quoted from the Holy Bible, appointed to be read at public worship. * There is an annual lectionary, another for the great lent, a third for the Holy Week or the Pasch, and one for the Pentecost, i.e. the fifty days following Easter.
LECTIONS	* The Church had selected certain chapters of the Holy Bible to be read out in the first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. These chapters are recorded in a book called the Lectionary. These readings (Bible quotations) are linked together and matches church occasions, i.e. feasts and fastings.
THE HOLY LIGHT, THE CEREMONY OF	* Every year on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter, the four Orthodox churches in the Holy Land (Greek, Armenian, Coptic, and Syrian) participate in the celebration of the Apparition of the Holy Light. A large number of people attend, each holding thirty-three candles, symbolic of the thirty-three years of Christ's life on earth.
LITANIES	* The Greek word "litania" means "supplication." * The litanies are "prayers" that are recited or sung by the priest, deacons and people, during the liturgies, such as: Clergymen and Fathers' litany. Deceased litany. Location litany. Water, plants or fruits litany. Sick litany. Oblation litany. Travelers litany. * The church asks her Christ on behalf of everyone, (and every thing,) in need to Him, and for all the world's needs. * As an example, when the deacon asks the people to pray for the sick persons, every person has to remember the names of the sick and pray for them secretly.
LITURGY	* It is derived from two Greek words "lios" means "people" and "ergon" means "work." The original Greek word was used to express a public work of any kind, not only religious, but by the time of the Septuagint it had come to be applied particularly to the services of the Temple. * Now the word is used for all church worship, especially the Eucharist as the chief act of public worship. * The main church liturgies are: Eucharist liturgy (Holy Mass). Baptismal Liturgy. Marriage liturgy (Matrimony). Blessing of the water. Ordinance of bishops, priests, and deacons. Consecration of the churches.
LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS	* The catechumens can participate in the first part of the liturgy, where readings and sermons are given. However they don't participate in the liturgy of the believers. * Eucharistic service is comprised of two distinct, inseparable, and complementary sections: the Liturgy of the Catechumens * and that of the Faithful.
LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL	* It comprises the major section of the Eucharistic service, during which the oblations are consecrated and the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is preceded by the Liturgy of the Catechumens.
LORD'S DAY	* Sunday, the first day of the week, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ; not the Jewish Sabbath, which is the seventh day.
LORD'S PRAYER	* The prayer which Christ taught His disciples ("Our Father who art in heaven" Matt.6:9; Luke 11:12.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, V, W

LAITY * Collective name meaning the people i.e. members of the church apart from the ordained: clergy
LAMB * The lamb is a young sheep that reminds us of the sacrifice used to be presented to God in the Old Testament.
* The Lord Jesus Christ became a Sacrifice for our sake.
* The Holy Bread that is picked out in the Eucharist is called "the Lamb," for it is trans ferred to Christ's Body.
LAMP * A lamp that is lit with oil, it is hanged in front of the icons, as a reference that Christ is the Light Who illuminates the inside of His saints.
* This lamp is not put in front of Christ's icon for He is the world's Light.
* There is a lamp in the niche that is permanently lit, called "Perpetual." It reminds us of the eastern star that led the Wisemen to where the Lord Jesus Christ was born.
LAMPSTAND * See "Altar Lights."
LAQQAN * See "Blessing of the Water."
* It is a small basin sunk slightly into the floor in the western part of the nave. It is covered with a wooden lid when not in use. In old days it was made of light-colored marble, as for the form of the lid it is strikingly uniform.
LAYING-ON OF HANDS. * See "Imposition of Hands."
LECTERN * The Latin word "legere" means "to read." * A four-legged wooden or metal book stand, on which the lectionary (the book for the Scriptural readings in the liturgy of the Eucharist) and other liturgical books are placed for reading. It is often in the form of an eagle with outstretched wings. The lower part is customarily used as a storage container for books and musical instruments employed in the services, such as cymbals and triangles.
* There are two lecterns in every Coptic church.
* Most oftenly it is decorated with ivory designs of the cross and on it verses of the holy Bible is written down.
LECTIONARY * The book of church readings quoted from the Holy Bible, appointed to be read at public worship.
* There is an annual lectionary, another for the great lent, a third for the Holy Week or the Pasch, and one for the Pentecost, i.e. the fifty days following Easter.
LECTIONS * The Church had selected certain chapters of the Holy Bible to be read out in the first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. These chapters are recorded in a book called the Lectionary*.
* These readings (Bible quotations) are linked together and matches church occasions, i.e. feasts and fastings.
THE HOLY LIGHT, THE CEREMONY OF * Every year on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter, the four Orthodox churches in the Holy Land (Greek, Armenian, Coptic, and Syrian) participate in the celebration of the Apparition of the Holy Light. A large number of people attend, each holding thirty-three candles, symbolic of the thirty-three years of Christ's life on earth.
LITANIES * The Greek word "litania" means "supplication."
* The litanies are "prayers" that are recited or sung by the priest, deacons and people, during the liturgies, such as:

Clergymen and Fathers' litany.
Deceased litany.
Location litany.
Water, plants or fruits litany.
Sick litany.
Oblation litany.
Travelers litany.
* The church asks her Christ on behalf of everyone, (and every thing,) in need to Him, and for all the world's needs.
* As an example, when the deacon asks the people to pray for the sick persons, every person has to remember the names of the sick and pray for them secretly.
LITURGY * It is derived from two Greek words "lios" means "people" and "ergon" means "work." The original Greek word was used to express a public work of any kind, not only religious, but by the time of the Septuagint it had come to be applied particularly to the services of the Temple.
* Now the word is used for all church worship, especially the Eucharist as the chief act of public worship.
* The main church liturgies are:

Eucharist liturgy (Holy Mass).
Baptismal Liturgy.
Marriage liturgy (Matrimony).
Blessing of the water.
Ordinance of bishops, priests, and deacons.
Consecration of the churches.

LITURGY OF THE CATECHUMENS * The catechumens can participate in the first part of the liturgy, where readings and sermons are given. However they don't participate in the liturgy of the believers.
* Eucharistic service is comprised of two distinct, inseparable, and complementary sections: the Liturgy of the Catechumens * and that of the Faithful.
LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL * It comprises the major section of the Eucharistic service, during which the oblations are consecrated and the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is preceded by the Liturgy of the Catechumens.
LORD'S DAY * Sunday, the first day of the week, commemorating the Resurrection of Christ; not the Jewish Sabbath, which is the seventh day.
LORD'S PRAYER * The prayer which Christ taught His disciples ("Our Father who art in heaven" Matt.6:9; Luke 11:12.