St. Marks Coptic Church Melbourne

How come we chant, sing and use cymbals and triangles, but no stringed instruments?

In the bible didn't David play a harp? And praise God (Psalms) with it?

Good question!

Ok, just try to bring a harp and play with it one of the coptic chants! Every tradition has its own way of worship. Also David used to used these intruments for general praise. I haven't heard that it was used for religious a**emblies in Jewish synagogues thereafter. In any case, the use of Cymbals and Triangle became like a type of tradition in the Coptic Church, used also to add a basic musical touch, as well as a means to coordinate the tune. In our services we try to focus on the spirituality of the hymns, rather than on the musical instruments used.