Mu'aqqub, al-

              (CE: 1687a-1687b)
MU‘AQQUB, AL-, Arabic term, meaning "the repeated," used for a metrical rhymed Coptic composition called erm/nia (ermenia) or ermenia (ermenia), a TAFSIR, or explanation, attached to the Saturday THEOTOKIA. It is so called because each stanza begins by repeating the last line of the preceding stanza. Each stanza is composed of four lines. The first three lines rhyme, and the fourth line is repeated as the first verse of the following stanza and rhymes with the two succeeding lines, as in the following:

ainahwc nak p[c nounai:
aikw] nca pekoujai:
maka] n/i kata peknai:
jw n/i ebol ntametath/t.

jw n/i ebol ntametath/t:
ariouwini mpah/t:
eyr ijw mntaio nte taiselet :
]atywleb ncemne.

ainahos nak pcs nounai:
aikoti nsa pekoujai:
makati nei kata peknai:
jo nei ebol ntametathet.

jo nei ebol ntametathet:
ariouoini mpahet:
ethrijo mptaio nte taishelet:
tiatholeb insemne.

A mu‘aqqab, like the Saturday theotokia, is composed of nine sections. An alphabetical order is followed in the beginning of each section. Thus, the first section of a mu‘aqqab begins with the letter a (a/alpha), the second with the letter b (b/beta), and so on.

A mu‘aqqab is sung together with the other tafasir at the Saturday theotokia in the PSALMODIA before the service of the evening offering of incense performed on Saturdays in the month of Kiyahk and optionally during Lent.

EMILE MAHER ISHAQ