Koiak

Koiak /ˈkʰɔjæk/ (Coptic: Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ Koiak /ˈkɔjak/ or Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ Kiahk /ˈkijaxk/), is the fourth month of the Coptic calendar. It lasts between 10 December and 8 January of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Koiak is also the fourth month of the Season of Akhet (Inundation) in Ancient Egypt, when the Nile floods historically covered the land. They have not done so since the construction of the High Dam at Aswan.

Etymology

The name of the month of Koiak comes from *Kuʔ ḥar Kuʔ 'Soul upon Soul', a name of the Ancient Egyptian sacred Apis Bull.

Coptic tradition

The month of Koiak holds a special place in the rite of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It is known as the Mariam month (The month of Mary) because the Nativity according to the Coptic calendar falls on 29 Koiak. The month is characterized by beautiful midnight praises that commemorate the Lord's Incarnation and venerate His mother the Virgin Mary. The name of the Koiak midnight praise translates into Seven and Four, describing the outline of the praise that consists of 4 Canticles and 7 Theotokia (glorifications of Saint Mary).

It was at the beginning of the month of Koiak that Virgin Mary appeared in churches all over Egypt in Coptic calendar year 1726.[1]

Coptic Synaxarium of the month of Koiak

Coptic Julian Gregorian Commemorations
Koiak

1

November

27

December

10

  • Departure of St. Peter Elrahawy, Bishop of Gaza
  • Consecration of the Church of St. Shenouda
2 28 11
  • Departure of the St. Hor, the Monk
3 29 12
4 30 13
5 December

1

14
  • Departure of Nahum, the Prophet.
  • Martyrdom of St. Victor (Boctor) of Asyut
  • Martyrdom of St. Isidore (Isidorus)
6 2 15
  • Martyrdom of St. Anatolius (Anatole)
  • Martyrdom of St. Batalus
7 3 16
8 4 17
  • Martyrdom of the St. Barbara & St. Juliana
  • Martyrdom of the St. Paisus (Isi) & His Sister St. Thecla
  • Departure of St. Heraclas (Theoclas), the 13th Pope of Alexandria.
  • Departure of St. Samuel the Confessor, Abbot of El-Qualamon Monastery.
  • Departure of St. Yustus, the monk of the monastery of St. Anthony
9 5 18
  • Departure of St. Poemin, the Confessor
10 6 19
11 7 20
12 8 21
  • Commemoration of Michael, the Archangel.
  • Commemoration of St. John the Confessor
  • Departure of St. Hedra, Bishop of Aswan
  • Assembly of the Council at Rome in 249 AD. Against Benates (Novatus) the Priest
  • Departure of St. Mark VIII, the 108th Pope of Alexandria.
13 9 22
  • Martyrdom of St. Barsanuphius
  • Departure of St. Apraxios (Abracius).
  • Consecration of the Church of St. Misael, the Anchorite.
  • St. Elias of Samhud
  • St. Zali, disciple of St. Matthew
14 10 23
  • Martyrdom of St. Ammonius, Bishop of Esna
  • Martyrdom of St. Behnam & His Sister St. Sarah
  • Martyrdom of Sts. Simeon of Menouf, Abba Hor, and Abba Mina the Elder
  • Departure of St. Christodoulos of Heliopolis
  • Commemoration of St. Christodolos, the 66th Pope of Alexandria.
15 11 24
16 12 25
  • Departure of the Righteous Gideon, One of the Judges of Israel.
  • Martyrdom of Sts. Harouadi, Ananias & Khouzi of Akhmim
  • Martyrdom of St. Eulogius & St. Arsenius
  • Consecration of the Church of St. James the Persian
17 13 26
18 14 27
  • Commemoration of the Relocation of the Relics of St. Titus to Constantinople.
  • Commemoration of St. Heracleas the Martyr and St. Philemon the Priest
19 15 28
  • Departure of St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos, who gathered the Biographies of the Saints (The Synaxarion)
20 16 29
  • Departure of Haggai, the Prophet.
  • Commemoration of St. Elias, Bishop of al-Muharraq
21 17 30
22 18 31
23 19 January

1

  • Departure of David, the Prophet and King
  • Departure of St. Timothy, the Anchorite
24 20 2
25 21 3
  • Departure of St. John Kama (Khame)
26 22 4
27 23 5
28 24 6
29 25 7
30 26 8
Preceded by
Hathor
Coptic calendar
days: 30 days
Succeeded by
Tobi

References

  1. St. Mary's Appearance in Warraq

Synaxarium of the month of Kiahk


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