The Theotokia (Coptic Psalmody)

A theotokion (Greek Θεοτοκίον, from Θεοτόκος, "God-bearer") is a hymn to Mary, chanted in the canonical hours and Divine Liturgy of the Eastern churches and also used in Oriental Orthodox devotions^[2]. In the Coptic Church the singular is "theotokia" (English plural "theotokias")^[2].

Coptic Heritage gives two unconfirmed accounts of authorship: popularly that they were written by St Cyril the Great or continue the tradition of his writings, and, citing the priest Abu al-Barakat ibn Kabar, that they were attributed to Athanasius the Apostolic, which "is not supported by any evidence", being composed instead by a pious potter^[1]. It gives no composition date, only early printings (Rome 1764; Claudius Labib, 1911), and attributes the Greek parts of the Saturday Theotokia to the priest Sarkis^[1]. The sources consulted do not contain the text or specific attribution of the second piece of the Thursday and Friday Theotokia quoted on the site.