Frequently asked questions
Anything not covered here, the priest of your parish will gladly answer.
Can I attend a service if I am not a Copt?
Yes. The liturgy is public and guests are welcome. Communion is for the Orthodox baptised; everything else is open to everyone. If it is your first time, do speak to someone — there is always somebody happy to explain what is happening.
What language is used?
Usually Arabic and German, with Coptic parts — above all in the hymns and the prayers at the altar. In Grafstal a German liturgy is celebrated once a month; the Sunday liturgy there is multilingual.
How long does a liturgy last?
Two to three hours, depending on the church and the occasion. You do not have to stay from beginning to end, and nobody minds if you arrive late or leave early.
What does fasting mean?
More than 210 days of the year are fast days, kept by abstaining from all animal products. Fasting is a spiritual exercise, not a diet — and it always begins and ends in prayer.
How do I enrol my child in Sunday school?
Through your own parish. Teaching is weekly after the Divine Liturgy, classes are grouped by age, and enrolment is informal — simply speak to the servants there.
I would like to help. Where do I start?
In your parish. Almost every ministry — service to the poor, the elderly and the sick, and Sunday school — is carried by volunteers, and care of the sick has a chaplaincy course of its own.