Frequently Asked Questions

1. Agpeya (Coptic book of hours)

   1.

   What is the Agpeya?

   • •The Agpeya (also spelled Agbea, in Arabic الأجبية) is the Coptic Orthodox book of hours.
   • •Its name comes from the Coptic word for hour.
   • •Each hour has fixed psalms, a Gospel reading, litanies and an absolution.
2. 2.

   What are the seven canonical hours?

   • •Prime, the First Hour, at daybreak.
   • •Terce, the Third Hour, recalling the descent of the Holy Spirit.
   • •Sext, the Sixth Hour, at noon.
   • •None, the Ninth Hour, remembering the death of Christ.
   • •Vespers, the Eleventh Hour, at sunset.
   • •Compline, the Twelfth Hour, before sleep.
   • •Midnight Prayer, with its three watches.
   • •Monks and many of the faithful add the Prayer of the Veil before rest.
3. 3.

   How do I pray the Agpeya?

   • •Pray the hour that matches the time of day; you do not have to pray all of them.
   • •Begin with the Lord's Prayer and the Thanksgiving Prayer, then the psalms of the hour, the Gospel, the litanies and the absolution.
   • •Open any hour in the Agpeya and simply read down the page.
4. 4.

   Can I pray the Agpeya in Arabic and English together?

   • •Yes, open an hour and choose two or more languages.
   • •Every line faces its counterpart, so you can follow a prayer you know in a language you are learning.
   • •Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Thai and Chinese are available.