Holy Pope Shenouda points to the repetition of the number seven in the life of the church in terms of rites and doctrine, and presents that this number appears as an organizing and recurring element in many aspects of church worship.

Sacraments and Prayers

He mentions that the church has seven sacraments known (baptism, chrismation/miron, confession, communion, marriage, priesthood, anointing of the sick) and that there are seven daily prayers outlined in the books of the Agpeya, in addition to seven candles and seven Gospels and seven consecrations in the rites.

Fasts and Feasts

He explains that the fasts in the church are also organized around the concept of seven, listing a set of fasts in chronological succession such as the Nativity Fast, Jonah’s Fast, the Forty Days (Great Lent), Holy Week, the Apostles’ Fast and others. He also divides the feasts into seven major feasts and seven minor feasts, enumerating examples of the lordly and minor feasts and linking this to ancient tradition.

Old Testament Heritage and Biblical Symbols

He points out that the Old Testament also knew seven feasts and that these arrangements appear in the Holy Scripture, connecting the system of feasts and church rites and their continuity through ecclesiastical heritage.

Church Functions and Petitions

He briefly addresses priestly petitions where seven petitions and prayers are mentioned concerning the service of the church and those who serve, stressing that the number seven appears also in liturgical and celebratory order.

Spiritual Conclusion

The conclusion is that the number seven is not a mere incidental number but a symbolic, organizational, and spiritual sign in the Coptic church, appearing in sacraments, prayers, fasts, feasts, and liturgical order, and reflecting the unity and order of spiritual life.

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