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The 2026 new books will be announced here by early June 2026. Please check the published important dates schedule for updates.

Pre-K - Kindergarten

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Kindergarten

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  • May their Holy Blessing (Erepo Esmo) 
    • Chanted at the conclusion of the diptych (commemoration of the departed patriarchs)

Grades 1-3

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 1 to 3

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  •  Conclusion of Midnight Praises 
    • Chanted during all days of the midnight psalmody after the Orthodox Creed.

  • Resurrection Psalm 150 Medium Intro and Response 
    • Chanted at the beginning of the distribution of the Holy Mysteries during the first 40 days of the Holy 50 season.

  • Tee Shouri (The Golden Censer) Great Lent Saturdays and Sundays 
    • Chanted at the beginning of the liturgy of the word on all fasting weekdays and weekends of Great Lent.

     

Grades 4-5

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grade 4 and 5

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

  • Sunday Theotokia Part 10 (Teoi)-Short 
    • Part 10 of the Sunday Theotokon, may be chanted in this abbreviated tune year round.

  • Intro to the Doxologies for Great Lent Saturdays and Sundays 
    • Chanted after “Hail to you, we ask…” during vespers or matins of Great Lent weekends.

Grades 6-8

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 6 to 8

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

Level 1
  • Ten Ouosht (The hymn of Blessing) 

Chanted during the vesting of the priests, deacons and minor orders. Also chanted during bright Saturday as the introduction to the book of revelation, although the paralex is unique to the season (Ⲉ̀ⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ).

  • Long Festive Agios 

Chanted during all major and minor feasts, as well as the feasts of the cross, coptic new year (Nayrouz), and the crowning ceremony.

  • Share Efnouti (Lent Weekday Acts Response) 

Chanted after the reading of the Catholic Epistle during the weekdays of lent.

Level 2
  • Hosanna Psalm 150 Intro 

Chanted at the beginning of the distribution of the Holy Mysteries during the Feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem

  • Tenoweh Ensok Annual Tune

The second psali for the three saintly youth, chanted after the third canticle on all annual days.

 

Grades 9-12

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

Grades 9 to 12

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

Level 1
  • Atai Parthenos (Today this virgin) 5 strings 

A hymn of veneration to the theotokos, may be chanted at all her feastal liturgies after the reading of the synaxarion or during the distribution of the Holy Mysteries. Also may be chanted during all veneration services prior to the melody of St. Mary.

  • Je Efesmarout for Kiahk Sundays 

Chanted after Psalm 150 on Sundays of Kiahk.

  • Entho Tee Tishouri 

Chanted after the absolution of the servants during Lenten weekday liturgies.

Level 2
  • Long Annual Acts Response 
    • May be chanted during any annual liturgy after the reading of the Catholic Epistle.

  • Long Singary Psalm for the Feast of Resurrection 

Chanted after the litany of the Gospel during the Feast of the Resurrection. Note: The hymn begins with “Ⲯⲁⲗⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲱ Ⲇⲁⲩⲓⲇ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅.”

Adults

To obtain your copy, please contact your church’s Mahragan representative

College and Adults

spiritual, coptic, & hymns

Hymns

Level 1
  • Zefte Pentees GK (O Come all you People) 
    • A Greek hymn of veneration to the theotokos, may be chanted during all veneration services after “Seven times everyday…” (Part 8 of the Sunday Theotokon).

  • Kiahk Second Sunday Psalm 

Chanted during the liturgy of the second of the month of Kiahk, after the litany of the gospel. Note: The hymn begins with “Ⲯⲁⲗⲙⲟⲥ ⲧⲱ Ⲇⲁⲩⲓⲇ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅ ⲁ̅ⲗ̅.”

  • Golgotha 
    • Chanted during the 12th hour of Good Friday, after the congregation has completed chanting Lord Have Mercy 400 times and the procession around the church has returned to the altar. 

Level 2
  • Alleluia El Qorban 
    • Chanted at the beginning of the Offertory prayers during all liturgies throughout the year. Note: See Holy Synod June 2019 decisions, committee on Rites and Hymns.

  • Teoi Enhikanos (Medium) 
    • Part 10 of the Sunday Theotokon, may be chanted in its minor tune year round. Note: The melisma for this hymn is reserved for the midnight praises of Advent and Great Lent.

 

Hymns Curriculum

Welcome to our Hymns Competition!

Introduction to the Mahragan Hymns Competition

Coptic hymns hold a special place in the heart of our Orthodox Christian church and prayers. These sacred songs have been passed down through generations, preserving the theological richness and spiritual depth of our faith. They are not merely songs but expressions of our communal prayer and devotion, connecting us with Christ and with each other. The core competitions of the Mahragan are designed to reinforce our Coptic identity and foster a deeper connection among our youth.

Which Hymns: A preliminary list of the hymns for this year is available HERE

Soon, separate hymns for each age group will be published online here.  Each hymn includes the following supplemental resources:

  • Brief Introductions: Each section starts with a short introduction to the hymn, explaining its history, liturgical purpose, and key details.
  • Educational Resources: For each hymn, links are provided to:
    • Lyrics: Available in multiple languages.
    • Audio Recordings: Listen to how the hymn is sung.
    • Hazzat Visualizations: Visual guides to the hymn’s melody.
  • Inspirational Imagery: Icons and images are included to connect learners visually with the spiritual themes of each hymn.

Our goal is to build a foundation of knowledge and appreciation for our hymnal traditions among the youth, teaching them the significance and context of each hymn beyond just the melody.

Pre-k – Kindergarten
Grades 1 – 3
Grades 4 – 5
Grades 6 – 8
Grades 9 – 12
Adults

 

Submission Guidelines
  • Hymns Submission: Participants in each age group and church should submit links for recorded videos of chanting each hymn (singing as a group).
  • Submission Deadline: The due submission date of recorded hymns is Sunday, August 16
  • Languages: Hymns can be recited in any language (Coptic/Greek, English, Arabic) or a mix of languages (for hymns with multiple verses).
  • Video Recording: For each participating age group, a video recording of all participants praying together (as a group), without any external help, should be uploaded to the mahragan portal submission system no later than Sunday 08/16/2026, 11:59 PM.
    • The video should show all participants in the frame.
    • If the file size of the recording is large, the video may be compressed.
  • Competition Levels:
    • Level 1 and Level 2: For each age group: middle school, high school, and adults. Level 2 consists of relatively harder hymns than Level 1.
    • Churches can choose to participate in Level 1 and/or Level 2 (if qualified).
    • Participants can participate in Level 1 and/or Level 2.
    • Minimum number of participants per team is 4 for Level 1 and 2 for Level 2 competitions.
  • Team Participation: Every church is allowed to participate with only one team for each age group and level.
  • Joining different age groups: Younger age groups are allowed to join older age groups (e.g. a middle schooler may join the high schooler if they are motivated and encouraged to learn HS hymns). However, the opposite is NOT allowed (older kids can not participate with younger age groups)
  • Reading Allowed: Participants are allowed to read the lyrics of the hymns, including charts (Hazzat), while reciting them (i.e., they are not expected to memorize the lyrics).
Evaluation Criteria
  • Participation: Ensure that all members of the group are participating. Larger groups can have a few members lip-syncing, but smaller groups should have all members actively participating.
  • A team that doesn’t meet the minimum requirement of participants (4 for Level 1 and 2 for Level 2) should get 90% of the score they would have gotten assuming they are complete. In exceptional cases (specially for small churches with low number of registered participants), the minimum requirement can be relaxed (eg. if registered kids < the minimum)
  • External Help: Performances should be unaided by external help, but guidance and support for Angels/ younger elementary kids is permitted. External help from attending servants will be penalized with 50% penalty of the final score!.
  • Singing Together (20 points): All participants should sing together (within reason, especially for younger ages).
  • Accuracy and Mastery of the tune (30 points)
  • Tempo (20 points)
  • Pronunciation and Clarity (20 points)
  • Reverence and Spirituality (10 points) 
Not Considered for Evaluation
  • Video Production Quality: The quality of video production will not be considered.
  • Settings: The location of the recording (in front of the altar vs. in a Church basement) will not affect the evaluation.
  • Uniforms: Wearing a uniform or not will not be graded.
  • Language: All languages are graded equally. Different versions of the hymns in various languages will not incur penalties.
  • Number of Participants: As long as the team meets the minimum requirement, the number of participants is not a factor. Different numbers of kids reciting different hymns is acceptable.
Finalists Selection System:

The top 3 churches in each age group will be declared qualified for the final round on September 12 to compete in person.

Thank you for your participation in the Hymns Competition. We look forward to your beautiful hymns!

Servants Books

Servants

Please contact your church coordinator for either the Arabic or English book. Participating servants can take the exam in either language. However, each book has different content (i.e. study material is different and exam questions will be different).

Copyright © 2026. Mahragan El Keraza Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. All rights reserved.