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Regarding the Holy Divine Liturgy service, I have read in a Coptic Orthodox text that during any incense circuit around the altar, whether it be at Vespers, Matins, or the Divine Liturgy, the deacon who accompanies the priest during the circuit is to only make ONE complete round around the altar, while the priest is to make THREE complete rounds, two of which are made without the deacon holding the cross up on the opposite side of him. I read that this is the way it is actually supposed to be done because the deacon only says three responses with the priest (Peace, Fathers, and Assembly), the inaudible response for Peace when he is first standing facing west, the second response when he is facing east for the first time, and the Assembly response when he is facing West again, having completed a full round around the altar. After this point, it is written in the text that the deacon should leave the altar because his responses have ended, while the priest makes two additional rounds around the altar alone, reciting inaudible prayers as he does this. Are these directions correct? Why or why not?

The incense is a sacrifice that we offer to God and that is why the deacon holds the cross which is the symbol of the sacrifice during the whole procession around the altar.