for the departed soldiers."[1] They have copious indirect invocations of saints in their liturgy. It keeps the archaic form of praying for saints.[2] But so anxious are they not to be misunderstood that the celebrant explains to God: "Not that we, O Master, are worthy to intercede for their blessedness who are there (in heaven), but with intent that, standing before the tribunal of thine only-begotten Son, they may in recompense intercede for our poverty and weakness. Be the remitter of our iniquities for the sake of their holy prayers, and for thy blessed Name's sake whereby we are called."[3] The Coptic Divine Office is full of direct, explicit invocation of saints, addressing them (especially the Blessed Virgin) with exceeding reverence, with a greater accumulation of titles, more superlative praise than can be found in the sober Roman Office. Let anyone take up Mr. O'Leary's translation of the Daily Office;[4] there is hardly a page which is not full of examples. I select one at hazard: "Hail thou who hast found grace, Holy Mary, Mother of God: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Thou hast borne to us the Saviour of our souls. Glory be, etc. Holy John, who baptized Christ, remember our congregations, that we may be set free from our misdeeds. Thou hast received favour to intercede for us. Both now, etc. Our holy fathers, the great Abba Antony, the three Abbots Macarius, our father Abba John, our father Abba Pishoi, our father Abba Pakhom, our father Abba Theodore, and our righteous father the great Abba Samuel: intercede for us, that we may be delivered from trouble and distress: we have you as intercessors before Christ. O Mother of God, we have recourse to the protection of thy mercies: despise not our prayers in need, but save us from destruction, O thou alone blessed. Lord have mercy, etc. (forty-one times)."[5]
Copts keep relics and treat them with great honour. They share the usual Eastern prejudice against solid statues; but their churches are full of pictures of saints. These they treat with great, we should almost say with excessive, respect. Once
2 So the Apostolic Constitutions, viii. x. 7 (Brightman, p. 10): "(
Greek characters)," which word is ambiguous.
