# Koiak

Koiak (/ˈkɔːjæk/; Coptic: Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ, [ˈkɔjak]), also known as Choiak (Ancient Greek: Χοιάκ, Khoiák) and Kiyahk (Coptic: Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ, Kiahk, [ˈkijahk]; Arabic: كياك or كيهك), 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 (which occur every four years, in Coptic calendar years immediately preceding those that are divisible by 4 to produce an integer; i.e., 1719, 1723, 1727, 1731, etc. are all examples of leap years in the Coptic calendar).
The month of Koiak is also the fourth month of the Season of Akhet (Inundation) 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 the Egyptian phrase kꜣ ḥr kꜣ "Soul upon Soul", a name of the sacred ancient Egyptian Apis Bull. It is attested in cuneiform with the pronunciation 𒆪𒄿𒄴𒆪 ku-i-iḫ-ku, likely representing /kɔʔ-iḥ-kɔʔ/ with an o-vowel as in later Coptic. It is also attested in Imperial Aramaic in the letters of Ananiah in the Jewish colony of Elephantine, Egypt as כיחך kyḥk.

## 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" ("Month of Mary") 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 (glorifications of Saint Mary).
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

| Coptic | Julian | Gregorian | Commemorations |
| Koiak 1 | November 27 | December 10 | Departure of Peter of Raha (Edessa), Bishop of Gaza Consecration of the Church of Shenoute at the White Monastery |
| 2 | 28 | 11 | Departure of Saint Hor the Monk Commemoration of St. Hermina the Anchorite Martyrdom of the church of St. Peter & St. Paul |
| 3 | 29 | 12 | Entrance of St. Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem. Martyrdom of St. Salib |
| 4 | 30 | 13 | Martyrdom of Andrew the Apostle, the Brother of Saint Peter. |
| 5 | December 1 | 14 | Departure of Nahum, the Prophet. Martyrdom of St. Victor (Boctor) of Asyut Martyrdom of St. Isidore (Isidorus) |
| 6 | 2 | 15 | Martyrdom of St. Anatolius (Anatole) Martyrdom of St. Batalus |
| 7 | 3 | 16 | 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. |
| 8 | 4 | 17 | Martyrdom of the St. Barbara & St. Juliana Martyrdom of the St. Paisus (Isi) & His Sister St. Thecla Departure of St. Heraclas (Theoclas), the 13th Pope of Alexandria. Departure of St. Samuel the Confessor, Abbot of El-Qualamon Monastery. Departure of Yostos El Antony, the Silent Monk. |
| 9 | 5 | 18 | Departure of St. Poemen, the Confessor |
| 10 | 6 | 19 | 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 Saint Nicholas, the Confessor, Bishop of Myra. |
| 11 | 7 | 20 | Departure of the St. Pijimi. Martyrdom of St. Abtelmaos (Ptolemy), a Native of Denderah. The Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St. Claudius the Soldier, in the city of Baqour, district of Abu-Tig. |
| 12 | 8 | 21 | 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 (Novatus) the Priest Departure of St. Mark VIII, the 108th Pope of Alexandria. |
| 13 | 9 | 22 | Commemoration of the Honourable Archangel Raphael. Martyrdom of St. Barsanuphius Departure of St. Apraxios (Abracius). Consecration of the Church of St. Misael, the Anchorite. Departure of St Elias the Anchorite. St. Zali, disciple of St. Matthew |
| 14 | 10 | 23 | 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. |
| 15 | 11 | 24 | Martyrdom of St. Asbah Martyrdom of St. Amsah al-Qifti Departure of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Patriarch of Armenia. Departure of St. Lucas the Stylite. Departure of the Saint Abba Ezekiel, a native of Armunt. |
| 16 | 12 | 25 | 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 |
| 17 | 13 | 26 | Departure of St. Luke the Stylite and the Relocation of His Holy Relics Commemoration of St. Elisa the Anchorite |
| 18 | 14 | 27 | Commemoration of the Relocation of the Relics of St. Titus to Constantinople. Commemoration of St. Heracleas the Martyr and St. Philemon the Priest |
| 19 | 15 | 28 | Departure of St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos, who gathered the Biographies of the Saints (The Synaxarion) |
| 20 | 16 | 29 | Departure of Haggai, the Prophet. Commemoration of St. Elias, Bishop of al-Muharraq |
| 21 | 17 | 30 | Commemoration of the Holy Virgin Saint Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos). Martyrdom of St. Barnabas, one of the Seventy Apostles. |
| 22 | 18 | 31 | Commemoration of Gabriel, the Archangel. Departure of St. Anastasius, the 36th Pope of Alexandria |
| 23 | 19 | January 1 | Departure of David, the Prophet and King Departure of St. Timothy, the Anchorite |
| 24 | 20 | 2 | Martyrdom of St. Ignatius, Patriarch of Antioch. Departure of St. Philogonius, Patriarch of Antioch Commemoration of the Nativity of St. Takla Haymanot, the Ethiopian. |
| 25 | 21 | 3 | Departure of St. John Kama (Khame) |
| 26 | 22 | 4 | Martyrdom of St. Anastasia. Commemoration of St. Juliana the Martyr. |
| 27 | 23 | 5 | Martyrdom of St. Psote, the Bishop of Ebsay |
| 28 | 24 | 6 | The Glorious Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). Martyrdom of 150 Men and 24 Women from Ansena |
| 29 | 25 | 7 | Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). |
| 30 | 26 | 8 | The Adoration of the Magi. Departure of St. John, Archpriest of Scetis |

## Rituals

During the month of Koiak, many rituals and festivals are performed in Egypt to celebrate Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys. These rites have been prominent as early as the New Kingdom. Two women will take the roles of the goddesses, Isis and Nephthys, to mourn for their dead brother Osiris. The main festival was over a length of ten days, ending at the day of Osiris's resurrection. This day also marked the beginning of the new agricultural season, when the Egyptians began to plant new crops for the year. Each day of the festival also featured a scene of purifications, feasts, and constructions of memorials associated with Osiris's resurrection.