Liturgical language question

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Greetings to all the Oriental Orthodox faithful,

I know that the Antiochian Orthodox Church has a "Western Rite" and that the Russians are behind the Orthodox Church in America, both of which offer the Divine Liturgy in English.
My question is whether the Coptic Orthodox or any of the other OO Churches that have parishes in the US are beginning to conduct liturgies in English or if they continue to be in Arabic, Syriac, etc.

I appreciate any information, thank you.

 

[GalaxyQuest]

Greetings to all the Oriental Orthodox faithful,

I know that the Antiochian Orthodox Church has a "Western Rite" and that the Russians are behind the Orthodox Church in America, both of which offer the Divine Liturgy in English.
My question is whether the Coptic Orthodox or any of the other OO Churches that have parishes in the US are beginning to conduct liturgies in English or if they continue to be in Arabic, Syriac, etc.

I appreciate any information, thank you.

My I haven't posted here in a LONG time but it's nice to be back!

Anyways, yes OO do use English in the united states. The Coptic Church I've attended used about 35-45% English (maybe more it's been some time). The priest there is a good man, and when he saw a us (there were 3 of us) come in during Matins, he sent a couple Altar servers (or as they call them "deacons") out and took our names, asked where we were from etc....After Liturgy we talked and he said he tried to do MORE English when he saw us come in, but admitted it was hard to balance because there were a lot of true immigrants at this parish. Granted that's just one Church, but I know many Coptic Churches at least do use English as the Copts seem to be the most mission minded Orthodox Church in this country, probably second only to the OCA.

Truthfully you'll have a MUCH harder time getting English in many EO Churches than you will in a Coptic Church. (I'm EO and so I say that with sadness) I've never been to any other OO Churches, and usually only watch Coptic services online so I can't say anything about them, but the Copts are really good about this. Granted they still use a LOT of Arabic and Coptic, but like I said, they are still a reall immigrant Church and they seem to TRY to use English, where as many Greek Churches are no longer immigrant churches and haven't been for decades, yet they still use 99% Greek. which is just rediculous. (I pick on the Greeks because I'm in a Greek parish...even though my parish ises 90% English...lol!)

Hope that helps.....

 

[CopticGirl]

The amount of English/Arabic/Coptic used during the liturgy and various church services often depends on the priest conducting the service and the congregation. On Sundays we have an am Arabic liturgy and an English Liturgy a few hours later. We have some priest that prefer to do the whole liturgy in English and others that favor Arabic. Other services they'll pray in the language that best suits the crowd or do a combination of it. There are plenty of church though...especially the more established ones, that use mostly English. There's one Coptic Orthodox Church in St. Thomas that is 100% English. Even some of the tradition responses that we would say in Coptic, that you assume everyone knows, they still say in English.

God Bless

 

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Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

 

[Coptic.Ray]

I second CopticGirl in what she said.
I find a nice balance between Arabic and English in my church (the same church CopticGirl goes to). If you are an English speaker you will find services that will suit you.

It seems that the Coptic Church has a good history of assimilating languages in its liturgy without offending people.
The first Egyptian Church was a Greek speaking Church (the Church founded by St Mark in Alexandria) thus you still find Greek hymns in the Coptic Church. When the Coptic (Egyptian) language become the dominent in Church, Greek was still kept despite the conflict with the Byzintine churches after Chalcedon. When the Arabic replaced Coptic as the tongue of the people, Coptic and Greek remained in the liturgy without offending people who don't understand neither.
I think the Coptic Church in US is in the same path with Arabic. It seems that the liturgy will be eventually in English with Greek, Coptic and Arabic traces.

 

[Coptic.Ray]

mmm The reason why the Coptic Church is embracing English fast and abandoning Arabic could be the fact that Arabic is not our language anyway. We use Arabic for practical reasons only, but it doesn't have to do with our identity or nationality. Just a thought!

 

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mmm The reason why the Coptic Church is embracing English fast and abandoning Arabic could be the fact that Arabic is not our language anyway. We use Arabic for practical reasons only, but it doesn't have to do with our identity or nationality. Just a thought!

A very good point.