Nayrouz

Nayrouz

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, September 11 is the feast of Nayrouz or Neyrouz, when martyrs and confessors are commemorated. This day is also the start of the Coptic new year and its first month (Thout).

The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic year. Ignorant of the Egyptian language for the most part, the Arabs confused the Egyptian new year's celebrations, which the Egyptians called the feast of Ni-Yarouou (the feast the rivers), with the Persian feast of Nowruz[1]. The misnomer remains today, and the celebrations of the Egyptian new year on the first day of the month of Thout are known as the Neyrouz. Its celebration falls on the 1st day of the month of Thout, the first month of the Egyptian year, which for AD 1901 to 2098 usually coincides with 11 September, except before a Gregorian leap year when it begins September 12.

The Coptic year

The chronology of the Coptic Orthodox Church begins when Diocletian became Roman emperor in 284 AD. His reign was marked by torture of Christians to force them to deny their faith, as well as by mass executions, especially in Egypt. It is believed this time was one of the worst times that the Coptic church faced, known to believers as "the martyrdom era". Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs"). It should not be confused with the A.M. abbreviation used for the unrelated Jewish year, which is Anno Mundi ("year of the world").

See also

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • El-Nayrouz Feast — Celebrating the new Coptic year. We offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for He gave us a new year. On this occasion we remember our beloved martyrs. Moreover we thank God for the blessings He gave us in the previous year …   Dictionary of church terms

  • Al-Muizz Lideenillah — Gold coin of Caliph al Muizz, Misr, Cairo, 969 CE …   Wikipedia

  • Neyruz — may refer to the following: Nayrouz, a Coptic celebration on Sep. 11 Neyruz, Switzerland, a district of Fribourg Neyruz sur Moudon, a municipality in Switzerland See also Nowruz This disambiguation page lists articles associated w …   Wikipedia

  • Nowruz (disambiguation) — Nowruz is the celebration of the Persian new year. Nowruz may also refer to: Bahá í Naw Rúz, the celebration of the Bahá í new year. Nawrūz (Mongol emir) (d. 1297), of the Ilkhanid era Nawruz Beg, 14th century Khan of the Blue Horde Nayrouz,… …   Wikipedia

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