Junior High - Sample Questions How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Bishop Mettaous (Last Updated on 7/12/2017) Notes: It should be noted that these are sample questions only. In the past often the questions on the day of the competition were found verbatim in the sample questions offered prior to the competition. This may no longer be the case this year. These questions are meant as a study guide to point you toward areas that you can study, yet there may be questions asked on the day of the competition that are not found or covered in the following sample questions. You should be able and ready to answer questions pulled from anywhere in the book whether they are directly covered in these questions or not.
1. In our Coptic Church, in her essence of group prayer and worship, what is Holy Mass defined as? (pg 6) 2. When does the day in the church rite start? Based on this, when should you start preparing for a Sunday Mass? (pg 11) 3. What does external cleanliness entail? (pg 12) 4. What does internal cleanliness mean? (pg 12) 5. If you have an appointment with your confession father, how do you prepare? What does St. Antonious say about this? (pg 12) 6. Bishop Mettaous writes that it is very dangerous for the believers, especially youth and beginners, to be neglectful in their confessions, and delay the period between confessions. What does this neglect lead to? What is the greatest danger? (pg 12) 7. What should you do upon hearing the bells of the church declaring the beginning of Vespers Prayers, or you know the time at which these prayers begin? (pg 13) 8. How many books should you take with you when going to church? What are they? (pg 13) 9. What are the 3 short psalms you should recite on the way to church? (pg 13-14) 10. Upon reaching the church, what should you do upon reaching the church? How do you enter remembering what the gospel mentioned about Simon the Elder? (pg 15) 11. When you reach the altar, what are the four things to do in order? What do you say during the second step? (pg 15) 12. Why do we touch the hem of the curtain s veil and reverently kiss it? Provide the verse and biblical reference. 13. If you enter the church at the time of the Gospel reading, what should you do during and after the reading? (pg 15) 14. In the book, The Mystery of the Trinity in the Ministry of Priesthood, what is mentioned about approaching church during the Gospel reading? (pg 16) 15. For every Mass there is a Matin and a Vesper Prayer, preceded by the wonderful Tasbeha prayers. What are the two exceptions? (pg 16) 16. The prayer of the Ninth Hour that is commonly said in Vespers. What do we commemorate during the ninth hour? (pg 16-17) 17. What is the Gospel of the Ninth Hour about and why did the church choose it? 18. The Gospel of the Sunset Prayer narrates how the Lord Jesus healed the mother in law of St. Peter from a fever and how He cast out demons. What is this an opportunity for? (pg 21) 19. The Prayer before Sleeping is prayed after the Sunset Prayer. What did the church commemorate through this prayer? What did a particular saint speak to his bed each night? (pg 21). 20. In the absolution we pray, "Lord forgive us for the sins we committed against You this day... Explain what this means to the repentant in order to be worthy of receiving the sacrament. (pg 22) 21. When is the Prayer of the Veil prayed and by whom? And what does it consist of? (pg 22-23) 22. What does the Troparia in the Prayer of the Veil remind us of? (pg 23) 23. After completing the Agbia prayers, the choir starts the Vesper (Tasbeha). How is it different from the Midnight Tasbeha? How does it begin? (pg 25) 24. If you do not know the Coptic language very well, or the Tasbeha praises, what should you do? Why? (pg 26) 25. Bishop Mettaous states that the congregation are to be active participants, and not passive audiences during the Vesper service or Holy Mass. What is the responsibility of the chanter (deacon)? (pg 26) 26. We notice that the priest prays the Prayer of Thanksgiving in the plural form saying, We thank You for You have protected us What is our part in this? (pg 26) 27. During the raising of incense, what does the congregation sing? To who? (pg 28) 28. After the raising of incense, the congregation says the Orthodox Creed, chanting the last sentence, "And we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, Amen." Meanwhile, the priest holds the cross together with three lit candles in his right hand. What does this signify? (pg 28) 29. The priest makes the sign of the cross on the congregation on all sides, three times inaudibly, then says the prayer of God have mercy upon us, making the sign of the cross in all four directions with the cross
and the lit candles. What does this symbolize? (pg 29) 30. Our fathers were so fond of the tune, "Evnoti-nay-nan" and "Kyrie-lay-son. What did one state about them? (pg 29) 31. When the priest prays, Those who have already fallen asleep, repose them. Those who are sick, heal them what do we remember and why? What do these contemplations allow us to do? (pg 30-31) 32. The deacon now says, Pray for hearing the Holy Gospel What are two things we pray for during this time? Provide the verse and biblical reference. (pg 31) 33. We must stand reverently to listen to the living word of God. What do we listen for during this time? What can we find during this time? (pg 31) 34. What is the sermon of the Vesper Prayer about? (pg 32) 35. Litanies (plural of litany), is of what origin? What does the work mean? (pg 32) 36. After the Gospel and sermon, the priest prays five litanies. List them. (pg 32) 37. During the litany of peace, what do we ask the Lord? Provide one verse with biblical reference. (pg 33) 38. During the litany for the Fathers, what do we ask the Lord? (pg 34) 39. During the litany for the place, what are we asking of the Lord as we respond Lord have mercy What do we pray for? (pg 34) 40. The priest prays for the waters of the rivers and for the cultivation of the crops, seeds and herbs, and for the air of the heaven and plants of the field. The deacon responds accordingly and the congregation responds with Lord have mercy three times. What are the three responses for? (pg 35) 41. You may pray inaudibly with the deacon's response, and audibly with the congregation to conclude your prayers. For example, when the deacon says Pray for the peace of the one holy, universal, and apostolic Orthodox Church of God what can you pray inaudibly? (pg 37) Why should you do this with the rest of your prayers? (pg 37) 42. When the deacon says, Bow your heads before the Lord, what should you do and what is the significance of this? (pg 38) 43. There are three absolutions that the priest says. What direction are they said in and specify which are inaudible and which are audible? What is the priest asking for? What should you think about during these absolutions? (pg 38) 44. A prayer of repentance from the Agbia - My Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, treasure of mercy and spring of salvation, I come to You confessing my sins. I confess that, insolently, I dared to defile Your Holy Sanctuary with my sins. Now I seek Your mercy and love, for Your mercies sake. During the prayer, what are three points we must contemplate on? (pg 40) 45. After completing the litany, the priest says three absolutions. Who benefit from these absolutions? What and who does it resemble? Provide a biblical reference. (pg 41) 46. What is one of the most important individual roles of a priest? What is done through this role? (pg 44) 47. When our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Lordly supper in the upper room in Zion, Who received communion? No one should partake of the Holy Communion except whom? (pg 44) 48. When the priest starts the confession session, take your turn and wait. While waiting, what should you do and why? (pg 44) 49. Confess all your sins, as the Prophet says, Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. (Lamentations 2:19) Why water? How does this relate to confession? (pg 45) 50. After you finish confessing, kneel before the priest in reverence. Give two examples of prayers to say before concluding with Our Father? (pg 46) 51. Some people are used to confessing during the Liturgy readings. Why is this inappropriate? (pg 49) 52. Some people are used to confessing during the Liturgy readings. What is even more dangerous than this and why? (pg 49-50) 53. If you come between the readings of the Matin Absolution and the Absolution of Servants, and the reading of the Gospel, for what two reasons should you not ask for an individual absolution? (pg 50) 54. Some churches practice midnight prayers and 'Tasbeha' (praise) during its normal ritual time. What is this time? What are they followed by? (pg 51) 55. What is the aim of the midnight prayers? (pg 51) 56. What do the three services in this prayer represent? Provide a biblical reference. (pg 52)
57. In the First Service, Psalm 119 speaks entirely about what? What does the Psalm 119 advise us to do? (pg 52) 58. In the evening incense, the priest prays the litany for the departed, while in the morning incense of Matins, he prays two litanies. What are these two? (pg 61) 59. How does the liturgy of the catechumen begin? How is this done and what does this symbolize? What is prayed in the process? (pg 64) 60. Psalms 29 and 92 embraces many befitting statements for donning priestly vestments and preparation for ministering to the divine Sacraments. In Psalm 29, it is written I will praise you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up What are the servants doing at this time? (pg 64) 61. In Psalm 92, the Psalmist says: The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength When the priest or deacons wear the white vestments for service, what are they confessing? What are they likened to? (pg 65) 62. All altar servants, whether priests or deacons wear the white vestments. Why and what do they resemble? (pg 66) 63. It is important to note that a deacon is not permitted to wear his vestment without a blessing from the priest. What are two meanings behind this? (pg 66) 64. In the past, one deacon asked the saintly Father Barsonofius (Sixth Century saint), Father, as you are ordaining me to serve around the holy altar, tell me what to think about while standing in front of God and helping serve with the priest, especially if I am holding the Holy Chalice? And should I have a specific garment for the altar service? What was the saint s response? Paraphrasing is acceptable. (pg 67) 65. The Gospel of the Third Hour speaks about what? What does the Lord call Himself? How do we grow in Him and through what? (pg 70) 66. Father Antonious Ragheb parallels the Canonical hours to a wedding feast by saying what? (pg 76) 67. What is the tunic? What does it signify? (pg 76) 68. What does the belt or girdle signify? What do we declare through it? (pg 76) 69. What do the shoes symbolize? (pg 76-77) 70. If we repeated Lord have mercy all our life, it would not be enough to ask for God s compassionate mercy. Let its repetition be as spiritual incense, not a mere recitation. Ask mercy for yourself and others. Relay to God all matters that are in need of God s mercy. What examples does Bishop Mettaous give to pray for God s mercy? (pg 78) 71. During the offertory, the congregation chants Lord have mercy 41 times, fervently until the celebrant priest chooses the Lamb. Why is this done and what does the congregation ask for? (pg 79) 72. After completing the Choice of the LAMB the priest baptises the LAMB with some water. What does it symbolize? (pg 79) 73. Bishop Mettaous calls on all to come reverently and give your name to the priest. He also calls on you to include others. Like who? What will the priest do with these papers and what will he ask for? (pg 80) 74. What does Bishop Mettaous say happens the more you participate in the prayers? (pg 80) 75. After completing the Prayer of Thanksgiving, what does the priest do before going out of the sanctuary with the deacons to pray the Absolution of Ministers? (pg 82) 76. After completing the absolution, when the priest comes out with the censor and proceeds to raise incense toward the entire congregation to bless them, what prayer should be recited and where was it said before? (pg 82) 77. Repent to God with all your heart, so that you benefit from the prayers said by the priest as he is offering incense and blessing the congregation. What is this called? How many times is it repeated and when? Incense is not raised in which reading? (pg 83) 78. What does the Hegumen Antonious Ragheb say about the readings? (pg 88) 79. What do the readings and the sermon prepare the soul, body and spirit for? What does the church say about those who miss them? (pg 89) 80. St. Sawinis Ibn El Moqagaa likens those who miss the readings and the Prayer of Reconciliation to who and why? (pg 89) 81. After the sermon, the priest starts praying the three major litanies: of Peace, the Fathers and the
Gatherings. These litanies are full of strong pleadings for what? (pg 91) 82. What does Bishop Mettaous believe is the most important part of the Mass. What is it considered and why? (pg 91) 83. Reciting the Orthodox Creed at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Believers is of utmost importance to ensure that we please God. What do we declare by reciting it? (pg 92) 84. In the second part of the Prayer of Reconciliation, what does the priest ask God for? What happens to us when this request is answered? Provide a biblical reference. (pg 96) 85. What does the Prayer of Reconciliation refer to? Provide a biblical reference. 86. As long as Christ reconciled us with God and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, let us reconcile with each other and greet one another with a holy, loving kiss, while standing in the presence of God. What does this prove? (pg 97) 87. In the Anaphora, the priest turns and blesses the congregation with the sign of the cross saying, The Lord be with you all and the congregation responds, And with your spirit. What does the priest ask for? What does he warn the congregation about? (pg 100) 88. When the priest says Let us give thanks to the Lord, the congregation responds by saying He is worthy and righteous. What is this in reference to and why? What are we thanking God for? (pg 101) 89. The deacon asks the congregation Look towards the East. Who is this a warning for? (pg 102) 90. The congregation says this hymn of the Seraphim, The Cherubim worship You and the Seraphim glorify You proclaiming and saying, Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts. Heaven and Earth are full of Your Holy Glory. Who heard this praise and where? What do we prove by singing it? (pg 104) 91. Bishop Mettaous describe the prayer of Agios? What is it to the devil? What does it mean in the Syrian language? (pg 105) 92. The rank of the Seraphim is the highest of heavenly hosts. What does this prove about their praise? (pg 106) 93. The priest prays, He was incarnated and became man, while placing one spoonful of incense into the censer. What does this complete and what is the contemplation Bishop Mettaous provides? (pg 107) 94. Bishop Mettaous tells us to meditate on the incense ascending from the censer as one spoonful is placed in it. What does this symbolize? What should we try to do? (pg 107)