Indeed, those who have the right to rise with the sons of light are those who shine their lamps. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation (1Thess 5:4-8). We are not of the night nor of the darkness. And concerning this the Apostle goes on saying, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. Thus, the Lord Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) “who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor 4:6). In the light of Christ, Christ’s person is revealed to us, so we praise Him. Watchfulness is standing in the light of Christ in order to praise the Lord of powers, because in His light, we shall see light. The Midnight Praise begins with the hymn ten theenou, “Arise, O you sons of light so we may praise the Lord of powers.” Here the mystery of watchfulness is disclosed. Then it concludes the appointed times of the Lord for the little flock separated from the world whom the Lord became their share (Luke 12:32-46). It begins with the Agpeya prayer in which the gospel of the meeting with the virgins who lit their lamps (Mat 25:1-13) is read, then the gospel of repentance out of love for Christ, offering feelings of their love with the fragrant oil which the woman poured (Luke 7:36-50). This article explains the parts of the Midnight Praise during Kiahk. Eventually, it contacts the dawn of eternity, whose sun never leaves, because the Lord Jesus, the true Light, the Sun of Righteousness, will be its light. Let us spend this season with a spirit of prayer and praises to receive the Word of God into our hearts and to present Him to the whole world as the blessed Theotokos Saint Mary did in the mystery of the Incarnation.The praise of Kiahk (also called “7 and 4”) on the Eve of Sunday is the praise of every eve of Sunday all year, since Sunday is the day of the Resurrection when the Church stays awake until daybreak. Saint Mary is the Mother of God, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit first confessed this saying, “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (Luke 1:42). She is more honored than the cherubim and more glorious than the seraphim. We remember this every time we chant “Shere Ne Maria” (“Hail to You Mary, the beautiful dove, who bore for us God the word”). Saint Mary is our model for the Christian Life, a model of obedience, a model of purity and holiness. She gave her life to Him in prayer and devotion, she sought Him with all her heart. She found favor in the sight of God (Luke 1:30). She is the first person in all of history to receive and accept Christ as her Savior. “Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28). Saint Mary is the greatest woman who ever lived.
#From coptic reader for kiahk hymns full#
Mary, the pure virgin full of grace, whose virginity is perpetual she is the true vine, the mother of mercy and salvation, the able, compassionate, and mother of Light. She is our mother and lady she is the pride of humanity.
Saint Mary’s way of life, purity of heart, and humility allowed her to become the mother of our Savior. Kiahk month reminds us why the Lord chose Saint Mary to be His mother.
The reason for this honor is evident in what one may call the “theme” hymn of the Kiahk rite (from the gospel response hymn chanted during the first two weeks of the month): “We give unto you greeting, with Gabriel the angel saying, ‘Hail to you O full of grace, the Lord is with you.’ Wherefore we glorify you as the Mother of God…” The Coptic month of Kiahk is one such time in which the Church venerates Saint Mary in the context of commemorating our Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation and glorious birth. The Coptic Orthodox Church honors the Holy Theotokos Saint Mary many times throughout the year.
The Coptic month of Kiahk is called the Marian month. “Praise Him, all His angels Praise Him, all His hosts” (Psalm 148:2), and “Praise God in all His saints” (Psalm 150:1). Praise is the work of the angels and saints, and in praising God, we participate with them. It is a cooperative function between the Church of Christ on earth and the Church of Christ in heaven. Praise is an important part of the life of the Church. “Raise, O you sons of lights so we may praise the Lord of powers.” In this blessed season of the fast of the Holy Nativity we spend the Coptic month of Kiahk in praises and in watchfulness preparing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28)
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