If you're visiting a Coptic Orthodox Parish to celebrate Holy Week in the Coptic Orthodox Rite, here are some terminology to keep in mind:
"Parmoun" or "Paramon", is the eve of a particular day. So "Paramoun of Monday" or "Monday Paramoun" are equivalent to the "Eve of Monday".
Pascha is the Feast of Resurrection, however in most Coptic Orthodox parishes the term "Pascha" refers specifically to the "Paschal Week" or "Holy Week". So you might find us Copts referring to "Tuesday of the Pascha" or "Eve of the Wednesday of Pascha". We mean the specific days of the Holy Week services.
Although you might encounter some Copts using the term Pascha and meaning "Resurrection", most will call the Holy Feast of Feasts "The Feast of Resurrection" or "Easter".
Sometimes because of Arabic accents and phonetic translations from Arabic you might see or hear "Pascha" (Holy Week) written or pronounced as "Baska", "Bascha" or "Paska".
Bright Saturday (or Saturday of Light) refers to a Vigil that begins on the evening of Great Friday and finishes at dawn on Saturday. Among the many prayers and hymns sung during the Vigil, the entirety of the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse is read. Some Copts will call this Vigil, "Apokalapsees" or "Apocalypse Night". This Vigil of Holy Saturday or Bright Saturday is crowned by a Divine Liturgy.
The Holy Fifty (or the Holy Fifty Days of Resurrection), refers to a period similar to Bright Week in other Orthodox Traditions, but the Festal Season is a whole 50 days, till the Feast of Pentecost. Like Bright Week, there is no fasting permitted during this time.
Although there are slight caveats in how the terms Pascha and Holy Week are commonly used in the Coptic Orthodox Church, by the time Resurrection/Pascha is in our midst the same words of the Paschal Troparion are sung and the same Paschal Greeting is shared...
May we take inspiration from the Paschal Canon that is sung in the Byzantine Orthodox Rite:
As we are in the midst of Holy Week, my heart awaits in anticipation to proclaim with all of you:
"Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!"
May you have a beautiful, prayerful and deep Holy Pascha Week.
Asking for your prayers.
"Parmoun" or "Paramon", is the eve of a particular day. So "Paramoun of Monday" or "Monday Paramoun" are equivalent to the "Eve of Monday".
Although you might encounter some Copts using the term Pascha and meaning "Resurrection", most will call the Holy Feast of Feasts "The Feast of Resurrection" or "Easter".
Sometimes because of Arabic accents and phonetic translations from Arabic you might see or hear "Pascha" (Holy Week) written or pronounced as "Baska", "Bascha" or "Paska".
Bright Saturday (or Saturday of Light) refers to a Vigil that begins on the evening of Great Friday and finishes at dawn on Saturday. Among the many prayers and hymns sung during the Vigil, the entirety of the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse is read. Some Copts will call this Vigil, "Apokalapsees" or "Apocalypse Night". This Vigil of Holy Saturday or Bright Saturday is crowned by a Divine Liturgy.
The Holy Fifty (or the Holy Fifty Days of Resurrection), refers to a period similar to Bright Week in other Orthodox Traditions, but the Festal Season is a whole 50 days, till the Feast of Pentecost. Like Bright Week, there is no fasting permitted during this time.
Although there are slight caveats in how the terms Pascha and Holy Week are commonly used in the Coptic Orthodox Church, by the time Resurrection/Pascha is in our midst the same words of the Paschal Troparion are sung and the same Paschal Greeting is shared...
"Christ is Risen from the Dead, Trampling down death by death, and to those in the Tombs bestowing Life."
"Pikhristos Aftonf! Khen oumethmi aftonf!"
"al-Masīḥ qām! Ḥaqqan qām!"
"Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!"
May we take inspiration from the Paschal Canon that is sung in the Byzantine Orthodox Rite:
"It is the Day of Resurrection! Let us be radiant, O people! Pascha! The Lord's Pascha! For Christ our God has passed us from death to life, and from earth unto heaven, as we sing triumphant hymns!"
As we are in the midst of Holy Week, my heart awaits in anticipation to proclaim with all of you:
"Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!"
May you have a beautiful, prayerful and deep Holy Pascha Week.
Asking for your prayers.
