Origins

•      The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by special prayers in the Liturgy.

•      Coptic years are counted from AD 284, the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt.

•      It was during the Council of Nicaea that it was determined that the pope of Alexandria decides when Resurrection feast is. It was not implemented until Pope Demetrius’ time.

•      Identified  by the abbreviation A.M. (for Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs“)

Three Seasons

•        Season of Inundation (flood)- Akhet

–        From Thout to Kiahk

•        Season of Emergence- Pioyet

–        From Toba-Barmouda

•        Season of Harvesting-Shomu

–        From Bashans- Mesra

•        Little Month (Nisea)

Division

•      The Coptic calendar has 13 months,

•      12 of them have 30 days each

•      The inserted month at the end of the year has 5 or 6 days depending whether it is a leap year or not

The First Day

•      Feast of Nayrouz marks first day of year (It is usually September 11).

•      It is the first day of Thout (the first month)

•      Nayrouz-origin of word and what it means in Persian.

•      Niiarro-oo –means rivers, oz is a suffix in Greek

•      Mid September is the rising of Nile and prayers are lifted up to God for waters to rise and irrigate the crops and a prayer also for the blessing of God in the beginning of the New Year.

•      The Persian ruled Egypt from 524-405 BC and took the word and incorporated it in their language so now in Persian it means New Year.