Koiak


Koiak, also known as Choiak and Kiyahk, is the fourth month of the ancient Egyptian and Coptic calendars. It lasts between 10 December and 8 January of the Gregorian calendar, or between 11 December and 9 January of the Gregorian calendar in Coptic calendar years immediately following a Coptic calendar leap year. The month of Koiak is also the fourth month of the Season of Akhet 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.

Name

The name of the month of Koiak comes from *Kuʔ ḥar Kuʔ 'Soul upon Soul', a name of the sacred ancient Egyptian 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" 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.
It was at the beginning of the month of Koiak in Coptic calendar year 1726 that the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared in churches all over Egypt.

Coptic Synaxarium of the month of Koiak

CopticJulianGregorianCommemorations
Koiak
1		November
27		December
10
  • Departure of St. Peter Elrahawy, Bishop of Gaza
  • Consecration of the Church of St. Shenouda
22811
  • Departure of the St. Hor, the Monk
  • Commemoration of St. Hermina the Anchorite
  • Martyrdom of the church of St. Peter & St. Paul
    • 32912
  • Entrance of St. Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem.
  • Martyrdom of St. Salib
    • 43013
  • Martyrdom of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Brother of St. Peter.
    • 5December114
    • Departure of Nahum, the Prophet.
    • Martyrdom of St. Victor of Asyut
    • Martyrdom of St. Isidore
    6215
  • Martyrdom of St. Anatolius
  • Martyrdom of St. Batalus
    • 7316
  • Martyrdom of St. Banina & St. Banau
  • Departure of St. Abraham, the 62nd Pope of Alexandria.
  • Departure of St. Matthew the Poor.
  • Enthronement of St. John XIX, the 113th Pope of Alexandria.
    • 8417
  • Martyrdom of the St. Barbara & St. Juliana
  • Martyrdom of the St. Paisus & His Sister St. Thecla
  • Departure of St. Heraclas, the 13th Pope of Alexandria.
  • Departure of St. Samuel the Confessor, Abbot of El-Qualamon Monastery.
  • Departure of St. Yostos el-Antony, the Silent Monk.
    • 9518
  • Departure of St. Poemen, the Confessor
    • 10619
  • Martyrdom of St. Shura of Shinshif
  • Departure of St. Theophilus II, the 60th Pope of Alexandria.
  • Relocation of the Body of St. Severus, Patriarch of Antioch.
  • Departure of St. Nicholas, the Confessor, Bishop of Myra.
    • 11720
  • Departure of the St. Pijimi.
    • 12821
  • 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 the Priest
  • Departure of St. Mark VIII, the 108th Pope of Alexandria.
    • 13922
  • Martyrdom of St. Barsanuphius
  • Departure of St. Apraxios.
  • Consecration of the Church of St. Misael, the Anchorite.
  • St. Zali, disciple of St. Matthew
    • 141023
  • 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. Christodolos, the 66th Pope of Alexandria.
    • 151124
  • Martyrdom of St. Asbah
  • Martyrdom of St. Amsah al-Qifti
  • Departure of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Patriarch of Armenia.
    • 161225
  • 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
    • 171326
  • Departure of St. Luke the Stylite and the Relocation of His Holy Relics
  • Commemoration of St. Elisa the Anchorite
    • 181427
  • Commemoration of the Relocation of the Relics of St. Titus to Constantinople.
  • Commemoration of St. Heracleas the Martyr and St. Philemon the Priest
    • 191528
  • Departure of St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos, who gathered the Biographies of the Saints
    • 201629
  • Departure of Haggai, the Prophet.
  • Commemoration of St. Elias, Bishop of al-Muharraq
    • 211730
  • Commemoration of the Holy Virgin Saint Mary, the Mother of God.
  • Martyrdom of St. Barnabas, one of the Seventy Apostles.
    • 221831
  • Commemoration of Gabriel, the Archangel.
  • Departure of St. Anastasius, the 36th Pope of Alexandria
    • 2319January1
    • Departure of David, the Prophet and King
    • Departure of St. Timothy, the Anchorite
    24202
  • Martyrdom of St. Ignatius, Patriarch of Antioch.
  • Departure of St. Philogonius, Patriarch of Antioch
  • Commemoration of the Nativity of St. Takla Haymanot, the Ethiopian.
    • 25213
  • Departure of St. John Kama
    • 26224
  • Martyrdom of St. Anastasia.
  • Commemoration of St. Juliana the Martyr.
    • 27235
  • Martyrdom of St. Psote, the Bishop of Ebsay
    • 28246
  • The Glorious Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Martyrdom of 150 Men and 24 Women from Ansena
    • 29257
  • Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
    • 30268
  • The Adoration of the Magi.
  • Departure of St. John, Archpriest of Scetis

    • Citations