In commenting on the expression “the smoke of the incense

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III



In commenting on the expression “the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God”, we say that the whole life of the Church is incense. The Church is resembled to incense in the Book of the Song of Solomon, in which the Divine Inspiration says: “Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the merchant‘s fragrant powders?” (Song 3: 6)