Coptic Calendar

The coptic calendar is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar and is used by the Coptic Orthodox Church for its liturgical readings and determination and commemoration of dates for fasts and feasts. The calendar has 13 months, 12 months of 30 days each and and one month of  5-6 days, depending on whether the year is a leap year or not. The coptic year starts on 11th September in the Gregorian Calendar or on the 12th in the year before (Gregorian) leap years. The coptic leap year follows the same rules as the Gregorian, so that the extra month always has 6 days in the year before a Gregorian leap year.

Coptic Feasts and Fasts

Everyday, we celebrate our salvation and the life of victory in Christ our Good Savior. Every Sunday, the Church celebrates Christ’s birth, suffering, death, and Resurrection. The Church has 14 Feasts for the Lord, 7 major ones and 7 minor ones. On average the Church commemorates 3 martyrs every day of the year.  

The Seven Major Feasts of the Lord:

1. Annunciation (Barmahat 29)
2. Nativity / Christmas (Koiak 29/ January 7)
3. Epiphany (The Revelation of the Divinity of the Lord) (Tobi 11/January 19)
4. Palm Sunday (Floats)
5. Resurrection (Easter – Floats)
6. Ascension (40 days after resurrection)
7. Pentecost (50 days after Resurrection)

The Seven Minor Feasts of the Lord:

1. Circumcision (Tobi 6/January 14)
2. Entering the Temple (Meshir 8)
3. Visit to Egypt (Pashons 24)
4. The Wedding at Canna of Galilee (Tobi 13)
5. Transfiguration (Mesori 13)
6. Maundy / Covenant Thursday (Floats)
7. Thomas Sunday (First Sunday after Easter Sunday)

The Feasts of the Cross:

1. The Discovery of the Cross (Thout 17,18,19)
2. The Appearance of the Cross (Baramahat 10)

Other prominent Feasts include:

1. The Virgin Mary’s Entrance to the temple (dedication) (Koiak 3)
2. The departure / dormition of the Virgin Mary (Tobi 21)
3. The Ascension of the Virgin Mary’s body (Mesori 16)
4. Archangel Michael (Hathor 12) 
5. Archangel Gabriel (Koiak 22)
6. Archangel Rafael (Nessi 3)
7. The Four Incorporeal Beasts (Hathor 8)
8. The 24 Priests (Hathor 24)
9. The Martyrdom of John the Baptist (Thout 2)
10. Apostles / Peter and Paul (Epip 5, July 12)
11. Nayrouz / the Coptic New Year (Thout 1st, September 11th/12th)
12. St. Mark (Baremoude 30) 

The Church commemorates the Annunciation, Nativity and Resurrection of our Lord on the 29th day; the Virgin Mary on the 21st day; and the Archangel Michael on the 12th day of each coptic month.

These are the dates for the Feasts and Fasts of the Coptic Orthodox Church that change every year. 

How it came to be – Egypt and Christianity

The Universal Church and Schisms

The Creed of Faith

Sacraments

Church of Martyrs

What you will find in a Coptic Orthodox Church

Monasticism and the Priesthood

Prayer and Worship

H.H. Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark

The Late Thrice Blessed Pope Shenouda III

Coptic Calendar

The Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom

Doctrine and Ethics