THE HOLY PASCHA

Passion Week is the peak season of the Coptic Orthodox calendar. It is considered a Spring time, where love and affection intensifies between Coptic Christians and Their Christ who through this Holy week took Himself and the Church through the pilgrimage of Salvation, crossing the sea of Death with His people, drowning the devil and His forces. The Tunes of this week are sombre and sad. This sadness is not due to the fact that we are conducting a funeral, but rather because we are sad for the sin which caused the incarnate Son of God to pass through pain, suffering and death.

The music and chant are refreshing, leading one’s soul to repentance and closeness with God. They display a sense of strength and hope, where the Church never forgets that Passion Week is always crowned with a mighty and victorious resurrection.
Dr Ragheb Meftah, the director of the Church Music section of the higher institute of Coptic Studies, has been successful in recording this treasure, and ornamenting it with the blessed voices of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and His Grace Bishop Gregorious. We are indebted to him for his kind written permission for the Coptic Orthodox Sunday School in NSW to reproduce his wonderful labour of love on CD. While the recording technology of the original vinyl records goes back to the 1970s, Mr Don Bartley has succeeded in converting this valuable material to CD without losing any of its original beauty. Such work shows his artistic and technological talent.

This recording commemorates the occasion of the enthronement of the first Coptic Orthodox Bishop for Victoria, Southern and Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, His Grace Bishop Suriel, may the Lord grant His Grace strength and wisdom, through the prayers and supplications of the Virgin Saint Mary the Theotokos.

 The Holy Pascha VOLUME I - Introductions

1.   Introduction - English 2:02

2.   Introduction - Arabic 2:20

3.   Introduction - German 2:35

4.   Introduction - French 2:05

   The Eleventh Hour Of Tuesday Of The Holy Pascha

5.   The Prophecy - Coptic 1:36

6.   The Prophecy - Arabic 2:11

7.   Introduction to Homily - Coptic 4:04

8.  Conclusion to Homily - Coptic 3:23

9.  Introduction To The Paschal Doxology - Coptic/Arabic 0:39

10.  Thok Te Ti Gom Doxology - Coptic 3:04

11. Ke Epertou - We Beseech - Coptic  11:11

12. The Holy Gospel - Coptic 2:03

13. The Holy Gospel - Arabic  15:01

14. Khen Ephran - In The Name - Coptic   6:12

15. Morning Litanies - Arabic 15:30

16. Epouro - O King of Peace - Coptic   3:18

The Holy Pascha VOLUME II

The First Hour Of The Great Thursday Of The Holy Pascha

1. Ephnouti Nai Nan - O God, Have Mercy - Coptic 3:03

2.  Kyrie Eleison - Processional Tune - Coptic 1:48

3.  Phai Etafenf - He Who Was Presented - Coptic 6:10

4. The Praxis (Acts of the Apostles) - Coptic 13:49

5. Ioudas - Judas- Coptic 5:25

6. Ioudas - Judas- Arabic 5:00

7. Khen Ephran - In The Name - Coptic 5:07

The Sixth Hour Of The Great Friday Of The Holy Pascha

8. The Prophesy - Coptic 1:22

9. The Prophesy - Arabic 0:53

10. Introduction To The Paschal Doxology - Coptic/Arabic 0:18

11. Thok Te Ti Gom Doxology - Coptic 3:10

12. Taishouri - This Golden Censor - Coptic 10:08

13.  Tenwosht - We Worship - Coptic 0:43

14. Pauline (Epistle of St Paul) - Coptic 9:08

15. Pauline (Epistle of St Paul) - Arabic 1:03

16. Litanies of the 6th hour - Lord, who in the 6th day - 4:46 Coptic/Arabic

    TOTAL 72:10

The Holy Pascha VOLUME III

The Sixth Hour Of The Great Friday Of The Holy Pascha (Cont.)

1.   Omonogenis - O Only begotten Son - Coptic 14:09

2.   Omonogenis - O Only begotten Son -Arabic 1:31

3.   Trisagion - Holy God - Coptic 7:40

4.   A Psalm of David - Coptic 10:10

5.  The Holy Gospel - Coptic 2:04

6.  The Holy Gospel - Arabic 8:13

7. Aripamevi - Remember me - Coptic 2:34

8. Aripamevi - Remember me - Arabic 9:18

   The Ninth Hour Of The Great Friday Of The Holy Pascha

9.  The Prophesy - Coptic 0:57

10.  The Prophesy - Arabic 0:52

11.  Introduction To The Paschal Doxology - Coptic/Arabic 0:19

12. Thok Te Ti Gom Doxology - Coptic 3:11

13. Tishouri - The Golden Censor - Coptic 6:12

14. Tenwosht - We Worship - Coptic 0:45

    TOTAL 68:09

The Holy Pascha VOLUME IV

The Ninth Hour Of The Great Friday Of The Holy Pascha (Cont.)

1. Ethve Tianastasis - For the Resurrection - Coptic 8:45

2. Epistle of St Paul - Arabic 1:15

3. Litanies of the 9th hour (O Who tasted death) - Coptic 1:31

4. Litanies of the 9th hour (O Who tasted death) - Arabic 1:26

5. The Holy Gospel - Arabic 4:12

   The Twelfth Hour Of The Great Friday Of The Holy Pascha

6. Pekethronos - Thy throne O God - Coptic 18:43

7. The Holy Gospel - Coptic 1:29

8. The Holy Gospel - Arabic 3:11

9. Kyrie Eleison - Lord Have Mercy - Coptic 2:36

10. Kyrie Eleison - Processional Tune - Coptic 1:58

  11. The Burial Song - Golgotha - Coptic 10:59