The current Coptic year of 1735 AM is about to finish, and we are now preparing to welcome the new Coptic Year, 1736 AM
The year 1735 is a leap year according to the Coptic calendar, which is divisible by 4 with 3 remaining.
** Here is some essential information about the Coptic calendar:-
** Since it is a leap year, the celebration of Nayrooz will be, God willing, Thursday, September 12 repeated every 4 years) and in every Coptic year which can divide by 4 with 3 remaining ……
** It is not like the normal calendar, which is divisible by 4 without any number remaining.
** Since this year consists of 366 days (The last Coptic month of El-Nasi is 6 days and not 5) .. The celebration of Christmas will be 28 Kiahk (Tuesday, January 7, 2020) ..
** The reason for the 28 Kiahk celebration is:
The duration of the divine conception from the Annunciation till Nativity is fixed at 275 days.
If we count from 29 Baramhat (Annunciation) and add 275 days, it will usually be 29 Kiahk, but because the year 1735 is a leap year it has an extra day. Therefore, Christmas is calculated from 29 Barmahat. From this year until 1736 (2020 AD) you will find that the full 275 days falls on 28 kiahk.
So:
** It is a fixed ritual base that Christmas comes 28 Kiahk in the Coptic year following a leap year.
**We repeat the readings of the feast of Nativity on two consecutive days: 28 & 29 Kiahk (January 7 & 8, 2020), with the celebration being held on Tuesday and Wednesday
**Wednesday, 29 Kiahk (8th Of January 2020 AD) will be not fasting day.
As a general rule:
29 Kiahk is not fasting day even if it comes on Wednesday or Friday and even if Nativity comes on 28 Kiahk (repeated every fourth year)
** Our Feasts celebration has nothing to do with the Western calendar (Gregorian … January February), but the original Coptic calendar
** The period from the feast of El-Nayrooz till the feast of the Cross, we pray with the joyful tune , and we fast on Wednesday and Friday, but without abstaining from food or kneeling down & worship (Matania), as well as from Nativity till Circumcision feast.
Alleluia alleluia, bless the crown of the year, with Your goodness O Lord, the rivers and the fountains, the plants and the fruits, alleluia alleluia.