[nofkayalk]

Does anyone know what the Coptic Orthodox terms for the following are?

-Antidoron
-Prosphora
-Theosis
-Presbytera
-Iconostasis
-Icon
-Trisagion

Also, I've seen Copts make the sign of the cross on their chest, without touching there forehead. Is that the Coptic custom for making the sign of the cross, or were they simply trying to be inconspicuous?


Thank you in advance,
Mikhail R.

[kathy]

Does anyone know what the Coptic Orthodox terms for the following are?

-Antidoron
-Prosphora
-Theosis
-Presbytera
-Iconostasis
-Icon
-Trisagion

Also, I've seen Copts make the sign of the cross on their chest, without touching there forehead. Is that the Coptic custom for making the sign of the cross, or were they simply trying to be inconspicuous?

I don't know what these words are in Coptic (although they might well be the same since Coptic tends to simply use Greek loan-words for theological concepts), but the Arabic words you're likely to hear are:

-Antidoron - Qurban
-Prosphora - Qurban
-Theosis - There is no Arabic word to accurately translate this word. The Arabic word frequently used in translations implies a union of essence, rather than energies, and therefore presents a distorted understanding of the Orthodox concept. For this reason, Pope Shenouda III has condemned its usage.
-Presbytera - Tissoni
-Iconostasis & Iconostasis - I've only heard the Greek being used.
-Trisagion - This hymn is always sung in Greek in the Coptic Church, but with the additions of Peter the Fuller.

As for the sign of the Cross, most Copts seem to do it as you described. But if you go into many (most?) Greek Orthodox parishes, you will find people doing the exact same thing - a pet hate of many priests I know.