This year, the Coptic Orthodox Church, under the leadership of Pope Tawadros II, pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the See of St Mark, will observe Christmas on 7 and 8 January, departing from its annual tradition of marking the occasion on 7 January, or 29 Kiahk, the Coptic month.
“The Church establishes the timing of Christmas based on the duration of the Virgin Mary’s pregnancy, which is 275 days. Although this duration is speculative, the Church adheres to it consistently,” Father Moussa Ibrahim, the Church spokesperson, told Al-Ahram Weekly.
Father Moussa said that the 275-day calculation begins with the Feast of the Annunciation, marking the moment when the Virgin Mary proclaimed Christ — from 29 Ramhat to 29 Kiahk. Like its Gregorian counterpart, the Coptic calendar designates a leap year, extending by one day — 29 February — every four years.
“In a leap year, the 275-day span culminates on 28 Kiahk,” Father Moussa said. “To avoid confusion, the Church observes 28 Kiahk, corresponding to 7 January in the Gregorian calendar, and also recognises 29 Kiahk as the official date of Christmas according to the Coptic calendar, falling this year on 8 January.”
In Egypt, several churches commemorate 25 December annually following the Western calendar, led by Coptic Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, the Episcopal Church, and the Maronite denomination.
Other churches observe Christmas on 7 January, adhering to the Eastern calendar, such as the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Evangelical community.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 January, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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