Koiak
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Koiak (Coptic: Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ[pronunciation?]), also known as Kiahk, is the fourth month of the Coptic calendar. It lies between December 10 and January 8 of the Gregorian 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 of Egypt; they have not done so since the construction of the High Dam at Aswan.
Etymology
The name of the month of Koiak comes from *Kuʔ ḥar Kuʔ 'Soul upon Soul', a name of the Ancient Egyptian sacred 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 Marian 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 Theotokias (glorifications of Saint Mary).
It was at the beginning of the month of Koiak that Virgin Mary appeared in churches all over Egypt in 2009.[1]
References
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