COPTIC CALENDAR Meaning and
Definition
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The Coptic calendar is a solar calendar used by the Coptic Orthodox Church, an ancient Christian denomination in Egypt. It is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar and is primarily used to determine the dates of religious observances and festivals within the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Coptic calendar consists of 12 months, each with 30 days, and followed by an additional period of 5 or 6 "epagomenal days" to align the calendar with the solar year. This additional period is added at the end of the year and, in a leap year, includes a sixth day. The months are named after saints and, unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Coptic calendar does not have fixed dates for Easter or Christmas, as their dates are determined by a complex set of astronomical calculations.
The Coptic calendar originated during the reign of Julius Caesar and the Romans in Egypt, with its starting point set at the year of his arrival in Egypt (45 BCE). It is characterized by a fixed starting date, where the year always begins on August 29th of the Gregorian calendar, coinciding with the ancient Egyptian New Year's Day.
The Coptic calendar has played a significant role in preserving the traditions and culture of the Coptic Orthodox Church, as well as in determining the liturgical cycle of the church, including the celebration of feasts, fasting periods, and the commemoration of saints.
Etymology of COPTIC CALENDAR
The word "Coptic" refers to the Coptic Orthodox Church, an Oriental Orthodox Christian church based in Egypt. The Coptic calendar, also known as the Alexandrian calendar, is a calendar used by the Coptic Church.
The term "Coptic" itself is derived from the Greek word "Aigyptios", meaning "Egyptian". This term was used to distinguish the native Egyptian population and their language from the Greco-Roman rulers and society that dominated Egypt during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The Coptic calendar has roots in the ancient Egyptian calendar, which evolved over centuries, incorporating influences from various cultures and religions. The current form of the Coptic calendar is believed to have been introduced around the 4th century CE, during the early days of Christianity in Egypt.
