# Eucharistic Preface

Source: https://coptic-lore-forge.lovable.app/wiki/eucharistic-preface — Coptic Orthodox Wiki (updated 2026-10-02)

The opening Eucharistic thanksgiving follows the dialogue between priest and people, praises God for creation, and concludes with the Sanctus, the hymn of the heavenly hosts.[^1][^2]

## Liturgical setting

In *Understanding the Liturgy*, the opening thanksgiving of the Anaphora is described as the “First Eucharistic Prayer”: it follows the priest’s dialogue with the people and gives thanks for God’s creation of the universe and all creatures, visible and invisible.[^1] It concludes with the Sanctus, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts.”[^2]

## Introductory dialogue

The following exchange takes place between the priest and congregation:[^3]

- **Priest:** “The Lord be with you all.” **Congregation:** “And with your spirit.”[^3]
- **Priest:** “Lift up your hearts.” **Congregation:** “They are with the Lord.”[^3]
- **Priest:** “Let us give thanks to the Lord.” **Congregation:** “It is meet and worthy.”[^3]

*Understanding the Liturgy* cites Saint John Chrysostom’s explanation that the greeting and response express mutual prayer: the priest prays for the people, and the people pray for the priest.[^4]

## Thanksgiving for creation

The priest affirms that giving thanks is fitting and right, then begins the first Eucharistic Prayer with “O Thou Who art.” The commentary interprets this address as an acknowledgment of God’s underived being and connects it with God’s revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:14.[^5]

The prayer recalls the heavenly powers created by God, who worship Him unceasingly, and includes the Cherubim and Seraphim.[^6] During this section, the deacon exhorts the congregation to look toward the East; the commentary associates this direction with Paradise and expectation of Christ’s coming.[^6]

## The Sanctus and the following prayer

The people sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thine holy glory.” The commentary connects this hymn with Isaiah 6:3 and, citing Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, explains its recitation as participation in the praise of the heavenly hosts.[^7]

The priest then repeats the threefold “Holy” and begins the second Eucharistic Prayer, a thanksgiving for salvation.[^7] Thus, the commentary distinguishes the first prayer’s thanksgiving for creation from the second prayer’s remembrance of God’s saving acts after humanity’s fall.[^1][^2]

## Sources
[^1]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 43)
[^2]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 44)
[^3]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 5, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 536)
[^4]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 44)
[^5]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 46)
[^6]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 49)
[^7]: Understanding the Liturgy, Father Athanasius Iskander (p. 50)