View source for Koiak

{{Contains special characters|Coptic}}
{{Infobox month
| native_name = {{langx|cop|Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ}}
| calendar    = [[Coptic calendar]]
| num         = 4
| days        = 30
| season      = 
| gregorian   = December–January
| holidays    = 
| prev_month  = [[Hathor (month)|Hathor]]
| next_month  = [[Tobi (month)|Tobi]]
}}
'''Koiak''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɔː|j|æ|k}}; {{langx|cop|Ⲕⲟⲓⲁⲕ}}, [{{IPA|ˈkɔjak|}}]), also known as '''Choiak''' ({{langx|grc|Χοιάκ}}, ''Khoiák'') and '''Kiyahk'''<ref name=a2z>{{citation |last=Gabra |first=Gawdat |title=The A to Z of the Coptic Church |contribution=Coptic Calendar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UaYdpfAZDBMC |contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UaYdpfAZDBMC&pg=PA70 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UaYdpfAZDBMC&pg=PA70 70–1] |series=''A to Z Guide Series'', No. 107 |date=2008 |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |location=[[Plymouth, England|Plymouth]] |isbn=978-0-8108-7057-4 }}.</ref> ({{langx|cop|Ⲕⲓⲁϩⲕ}}, ''Kiahk'', [{{IPA|ˈkijahk|}}]; {{langx|ar|كياك}} or {{lang|ar|كيهك}}), is the fourth month of the ancient [[Egyptian calendar|Egyptian]] and [[Coptic calendar]]s. 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 ''[[Season of the Inundation|Akhet]]'' (Inundation) in [[Ancient Egypt]], when the [[Nile]] floods historically covered the land. They have not done so since the construction of the [[Aswan High Dam|High Dam]] at [[Aswan]].

{{anchor|Etymology|Names}}

==Name==
The name of the month of Koiak comes from the [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] phrase ''kꜣ ḥr kꜣ'' "Soul upon Soul", a name of the sacred ancient Egyptian [[Apis (god)|Apis Bull]]. It is attested in cuneiform with the pronunciation {{Script/Cuneiform|𒆪𒄿𒄴𒆪}} ''ku-i-iḫ-ku'', likely representing /kɔʔ-iḥ-kɔʔ/ with an o-vowel as in later Coptic.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/PEUST1999EgyptianPhonologyAnIntroductionToThePhonologyOfADeadLanguageOCR |title=PEUST 1999 Egyptian Phonology An Introduction To The Phonology Of A Dead Language OCR |language=English}}</ref> It is also attested in [[Imperial Aramaic]] in the letters of Ananiah in the Jewish colony of [[Elephantine]], Egypt as {{lang|arc|כיחך|}} {{smallcaps|kyḥk}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon: TAD B3.11 |url=https://cal.huc.edu/get_a_chapter.php?file=23303&sub=311&cset=H |website=cal.huc.edu}}, cf. ''[[Textbook of Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt]]''</ref>

==Coptic tradition==
The month of Koiak holds a special place in the rite of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Church]]. It is known as the "Mariam Month" ("Month of Mary") because the [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity]] according to the [[Coptic calendar]] falls on 29 Koiak. The month is characterized by beautiful midnight praises that commemorate the Lord's [[Incarnation (Christianity)|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 [[Canticle]]s and 7 Theotokias (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 [[Marian apparitions|appeared]] in churches all over Egypt.<ref name="Zeitun">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zeitun-eg.org/warraq.htm|title=Apparitions of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary at El-Warraq Coptic Orthodox Church, Greater Cairo, Egypt, December 2009|website=www.zeitun-eg.org|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref>

The [[Liturgy|liturgies]] and other services are held in the Kiahky tune. Notable seasonal hymns include "O Mary" and "Efemepsha Ghar."

==Coptic Synaxarium of the month of Koiak==

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Coptic
! style="width:5%;"| Julian
! style="width:5%;"| Gregorian
! style="width:50%;"| Commemorations
|- valign="top"
|Koiak
1
|November	
27
|December
10
|
* Departure of [[Peter the Iberian|Peter of Raha (Edessa)]], Bishop of [[History of Gaza|Gaza]]
* Consecration of the Church of [[Shenoute]] at the [[White Monastery]]
|- valign="top"
|2
|28
|11
|
* Departure of Saint Hor the Monk
* Commemoration of St. Hermina the Anchorite 
* Martyrdom of the church of St. Peter & St. Paul
|- valign="top"
|3
|29
|12
|
* [[Presentation of Mary|Entrance of St. Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem]].
* Martyrdom of St. Salib
|- valign="top"
|4
|30
|13
|
* Martyrdom of [[Andrew the Apostle]], the Brother of [[Saint Peter]].
|- valign="top"
|5
|December
1
|14
|
* Departure of [[Nahum]], the Prophet.
* Martyrdom of St. Victor (Boctor) of [[Asyut]]
* Martyrdom of St. Isidore (Isidorus)
|- valign="top"
|6
|2
|15
|
* Martyrdom of St. Anatolius (Anatole)
* Martyrdom of St. Batalus
|- valign="top"
|7
|3
|16
|
* Martyrdom of St. Banina & St. Banau
* Departure of [[Pope Abraham of Alexandria|St. Abraham]], the 62nd Pope of Alexandria.
* Departure of [[Matta El Meskeen|St. Matthew the Poor]].
* Enthronement of [[Pope John XIX of Alexandria|St. John XIX]], the 113th Pope of Alexandria.
|- valign="top"
|8
|4
|17
|
* Martyrdom of the [[St. Barbara]] & St. Juliana
* Martyrdom of the St. Paisus (Isi) & His Sister St. Thecla
* Departure of [[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|St. Heraclas (Theoclas)]], the 13th Pope of Alexandria.
* Departure of [[St. Samuel the Confessor]], Abbot of [[Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor|El-Qualamon Monastery]].
* Departure of [[Yostos El Antony]], the Silent Monk. 
|- valign="top"
|9
|5
|18
|
* Departure of St. [[Poemen]], the Confessor
|- valign="top"
|10
|6
|19
|
* Martyrdom of St. Shura of Shinshif
* Departure of [[Pope Theophilus II of Alexandria|St. Theophilus II]], the 60th Pope of Alexandria.
* Relocation of the Body of [[Severus of Antioch|St. Severus]], [[Patriarch of Antioch]].
* Departure of [[Saint Nicholas]], the Confessor, Bishop of [[Myra]].
|- valign="top"
|11
|7
|20
|
* Departure of the [[Pijimi|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.
|- valign="top"
|12
|8
|21
|
* Commemoration of [[Archangel Michael|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 [[Pope Mark VIII of Alexandria|St. Mark VIII]], the 108th Pope of Alexandria.
|- valign="top"
|13
|9
|22
|
* Commemoration of the Honourable [[Archangel Raphael]].
* Martyrdom of St. Barsanuphius
* Departure of [[Aprax|St. Apraxios]] (Abracius).
* Consecration of the Church of [[Misael the Anchorite|St. Misael]], the Anchorite.
* Departure of St Elias the [[Anchorite]].
* St. Zali, disciple of St. Matthew
|- valign="top"
|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 [[Pope Christodolos of Alexandria|St. Christodolos]], the 66th Pope of Alexandria.

|- valign="top"
|15
|11
|24
|
* Martyrdom of St. Asbah
* Martyrdom of St. Amsah al-Qifti
* Departure of [[St. Gregory the Illuminator]], the [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Patriarch of Armenia]].
* Departure of St. Lucas the Stylite.
* Departure of the Saint Abba Ezekiel, a native of Armunt.
|- valign="top"
|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
|- valign="top"
|17
|13
|26
|
* Departure of St. Luke the Stylite and the Relocation of His Holy Relics
* Commemoration of St. Elisa the Anchorite
|- valign="top"
|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
|- valign="top"
|19
|15
|28
|
* Departure of St. John, Bishop of El-Borollos, who gathered the Biographies of the Saints (The Synaxarion)
|- valign="top"
|20
|16
|29
|
* Departure of [[Haggai]], the Prophet.
* Commemoration of St. Elias, Bishop of al-Muharraq
|- valign="top"
|21
|17
|30
|
* Commemoration of the [[Virgin mary|Holy Virgin Saint Mary]], the Mother of God ([[Theotokos]]).
* Martyrdom of [[St. Barnabas]], one of the [[Seventy Apostles]].
|- valign="top"
|22
|18
|31
|
* Commemoration of [[Archangel Gabriel|Gabriel]], the Archangel.
* Departure of [[Pope Anastasius of Alexandria|St. Anastasius]], the 36th Pope of Alexandria
|- valign="top"
|23
|19
|January
1
|
* Departure of [[David]], the Prophet and King
* Departure of St. Timothy, the Anchorite
|- valign="top"
|24
|20
|2
|
* Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch|St. Ignatius]], [[Patriarch of Antioch]].
* Departure of St. [[Philogonius]], Patriarch of Antioch
* Commemoration of the Nativity of [[Tekle Haymanot|St. Takla Haymanot]], the Ethiopian.
|- valign="top"
|25
|21
|3
|
* Departure of St. John Kama (Khame)
|- valign="top"
|26
|22
|4
|
* Martyrdom of [[Anastasia of Sirmium|St. Anastasia]].
* Commemoration of [[Juliana of Nicomedia|St. Juliana]] the Martyr.
|- valign="top"
|27
|23
|5
| 
* Martyrdom of [[Psote|St. Psote]], the Bishop of [[Ptolemais Hermiou|Ebsay]]
|- valign="top"
|28
|24
|6
|
* [[Nativity of Jesus|The Glorious Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas)]].
* Martyrdom of 150 Men and 24 Women from [[Ansena]]
|- valign="top"
|29
|25
|7
|
* [[Nativity of Jesus|Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas)]].
|- valign="top"
|30
|26
|8
|
* [[Biblical Magi|The Adoration of the Magi]].
* Departure of St. John, Archpriest of [[Scetis]]
|- valign="top"
|}

== Rituals ==
During the month of Koiak, many rituals and festivals are performed in Egypt to celebrate [[Osiris]], [[Isis]], and [[Nephthys]].<ref>Assmann, Jan (2005) [German edition 2001]. Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt. Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8014-4241-4}}.</ref> These rites have been prominent as early as the New Kingdom.<ref>Lesko, Barbara S. (1999). The Great Goddesses of Egypt. University of Oklahoma Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8061-3202-0}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fairman|first=H. W.|date=July 1934|title=Le Temple d'Edfou. ParEmile Chassinat. Tome 7me. Mission Archéologique Française au Caire. 13¾ × 9¾, pp. x + 356. Cairo: L'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1932.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0035869x00075948|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society|volume=66|issue=3|pages=592–593|doi=10.1017/s0035869x00075948|s2cid=163725012 |issn=1356-1863|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Egyptian calendar|Egyptian]], [[Coptic calendar|Coptic]], and [[Islamic calendar]]s

==References==
{{Contains special characters|Coptic}}

===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* [http://st-takla.org/Full-Free-Coptic-Books/Coptic-Synaxarium-or-Synaxarion_English/Eng_Senexar-Senksar-04-Kiahk-Coptic-Month.html   Synaxarium of the month of Kiahk]

{{Coptic months}}

[[Category:Months of the Coptic calendar]]
[[Category:Egyptian calendar]]