2024-07-19 KPNIT99
Questions: Ethos
My name is Morcous Wahba, I am first and foremost a Coptic Orthodox Christian. I am a husband and a father. I serve as a Subdeacon in my parish in Orlando, FL, and I'm a Software Engineer by trade. Of course, growing up in the Southern Diocese, we had the great model of HG Bishop Youssef - when he visited our churches and prayed tasbeha with us, when he encouraged the chanting of hymns during liturgy, etc. When he would release a press release about the rites of the church like "this Sunday we will be celebrating the 29th of the Coptic month instead of the fifth Sunday of the month." When he would integrate the rites and hymns and prayers of the Church in all of his sermons.
I remember when I was in elementary school or middle school, HG wanted the Aspasmos Adam and Aspasmos Watos to be learned and chanted in the churches in English. So he sent out a note to all the churches that for the first half of the year, every church should sing Rejoice O Mary every Sunday and for the second half of the year, every church should sing O Lord God of Hosts. And I remember the servants teaching us these two hymns and chanting them every Sunday until everyone learned them.
I had great servants in my church, who encouraged us to learn hymns. When I was in elementary or middle school is when websites like coptichymns.net and tasbeha.org started to appear - and they had recordings of hymns for all occasions. They had forums where people would discuss the rites of the Church.
What do you say to people who have the mindset of “who cares” about Church Rites?
I think the most important thing to consider is that God cares.
How do you see Church Rites evolving or adapting to contemporary cultural and societal changes? Are there any challenges or opportunities you foresee in this regard?