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The Coptic New Year - Nayrouz

Background

The Coptic year is the extension of the ancient Egyptian civil year, retaining its subdivision into the three seasons, of four months each. The three seasons are commemorated by a special environmental litany in the Coptic Liturgy, which changes with each season. Coptic years are counted from 284 A.D., the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt.

The reign of Emperor Diocletian was considered to be one of the hardest times that the Coptic church faced and became known to believers as "the era of martyrdom". Hence, out of honor for the martyrs of the church, a Coptic year became referenced with the abbreviation A.M. (Anno Martyrum or "Year of the Martyrs"). The abbreviation should not be confused with the same abbreviation used for the unrelated Jewish year, Anno Mundi ("Year of the World").

The Nile-flood season is from Paone 12 - Paope 9 (June 19 to October 19), during which the prayer of supplication for the water is recited in each Liturgy. The start of month of Thoout, which is the beginning of the new Coptic year, falls in the Nile-flood season; therefore, the Coptic New Year was referred to as Ni-Yarouou (Lit. the rivers, or rather the feast of the rivers).

Basilios, Archbishop. “Fasting.” Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia, Claremont Graduate University. School of Religion

 Ni-Yarouou, now known as Ney-rouz, is a feast where martyrs and confessors are commemorated within the Coptic Orthodox Church on the First of Thoout or September 11 of each year (September 12 on a leap year). The word “Ney-rouz,” thought to be of Persian origin because of its traditional use in Iran, was originally derived from the ancient Egyptian word Ni-Yarouou which was adopted by the Persians during their occupation of Egypt. Ignorant of the Persian language for the most part, the Arabs confused the Egyptian New Year's celebration “Ni-Yarouou” to the Persian celebration, Ney-rouz, and hence the name Ney-rouz stuck on for centuries to come.  

“The Coptic Syndrome of Trying to Find Coptic Origins to Arab Words”, Dioscorus Boles on Coptic Nationalism, September 14, 2015

Spiritual Application 

"Christians have a glory and a beauty and a heavenly wealth which is beyond words, and it is won with pains, and sweat, and trials, and many conflicts, and all by the grace of God"

St. Macarius the Great

Out of love for the martyrs, the church marked the first day of the Coptic calendar to begin on August 29, 284 A.D, which is the First of Thoout. The year of an event is referenced by the number years from the year of the martyrs to the date of the event. For example, in 2019, the Feast of the Apostles was on July 12, 2019 AD or Epep 5, 1735 AM, and the Coptic New Year was on September 12, 2019 (leap year) or Thoout 1, 1736.

A new year in the Coptic Orthodox Church is a time of renewal. We celebrate this renewal by praising the reposal of the saints and rejoicing in their entry into the eternal life. The church reminds us of the martyrs who died for Christ and to set them as examples for us to live by in the new year, as role models in our spiritual struggle.

St. John Chrysostom expresses the blessing of the martyrs of the church in such a manner: “The death of martyrs is encouragement to the faithful, daring of the Church, confirmation of Christianity, destruction of death, proof of the Resurrection, mocking at demons, condemnation of the devil, teaching of true wisdom and a pious way of life, instillation of disdain for present material benefits and the path of striving for the good to come, comfort in the face of the misfortunes which befall us, an inducement to patience, instruction in courage, the root and fount and mother of all blessings…The blood of martyrs nourishes the Church much much more than the moisture of dew brings gardens in bloom.”

Spiritual exercise

Let us start the spiritual journey of another Coptic year, with all of its seasons, struggles, and spiritual practices with a renewed and inspired heart. Rather than only admiring them, take the lives of the saints who persevered and died for Christ as motivation and inspiration for you to fight the good fight throughout your spiritual journey on Earth. Beyond inspiration, get familiar with the saints of the church by building a close relationship with them as helpers and supporters that walk with you day-to-day in your spiritual path.

Rites

Overview

The joyful tune and hymns of the New Year are used from the day of the feast to the start of the three day Feast of the Cross. Then the joyful tune continues to be used for the three day Feast of the Cross, but with the hymns of the Cross.

Vespers & Matins

After the priest prays the prayer “God have mercy upon us” with 3 candles, the bodies of the martyrs are covered with spices, they are carried for a procession around the church, and the congregation sings their venerations.​

Divine Liturgy

The spices, procession, and venerations may also be performed during the liturgy after the reading of the Synaxarion.

Hymns

Doxology

  • Sing to the Lord a new song, O people who love Christ our God. For He visited us with His salvation, as the Good One and Lover of mankind. 

  • We ascribe praise unto You, with voices of glorification, O our good Savior, confirm us unto the end.

  • Grant us O Lord your Peace, and save us from the hands of our enemies. Humiliate their counsel, and heal our sicknesses.

  • Bless the crown of the year, with Your Goodness O Lord: the rivers and the springs, the plants and the fruits.

  • Bless us in our work, with Your heavenly blessings, and send unto us from on high, Your grace and Your goodness.

  • The afflicted save them, the travelers return them, the bound loosen them, and those who have slept repose them.

  • Lift away Your wrath from us, and deliver us from inflation, and from the snares of demons, O Giver of good things.

  • We praise and glorify Him, and exalt Him above all, as the good One and Lover of mankind, have mercy on us according to Your great mercy.

    Acts response

  • Bless the crown of the year with your goodness, O Lord: the rivers, the springs, the plants and the fruits.​

Psalm Trailer

  • Saturate her furrows, multiply her fruits; the crop springing up shall rejoice in its drops.

  • You will bless the crown of the year because of your goodness; and Your plains shall be filled with fatness.

psalm response

  • Alleluia, Alleluia. Bless the crown of year with Your goodness, O Lord: the rivers, the springs, the plants and the fruits. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Gospel Response

  • Behold the Spirit of the Lord anointed Me, to the poor He sent Me, and to the broken-hearted and wretched, to preach an acceptable year for salvation.

  • Alleluia (4) Bless the crown of the year with your goodness, O Lord.

  • This is He to whom is due glory, with His Good Father, and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever.

O Lord, God of Hosts

  • O Lord, God of Hosts, return and behold from heaven, and look and visit this vine. Restore and establish her, this which your right hand has planted.

  • Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, bless the waters of the river. May Your mercy and peace be a fortress to Your people.

  • Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your holy Glory.

Conclusion Hymn

  • ...We proclaim and say, O our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Bless the crown of the year with Your Goodness, O Lord: the rivers, the springs, the plants and the fruits. Save us and have mercy on us...