the Hiǵrah, or by our Calendar. The ecclesiastical year begins on Tūt (September) 1. Feasts are divided into three classes. Seven greater feasts of our Lord,[1] seven lesser feasts of our Lord,[2] and saints' days. There are many of these. They keep the birth (September 10) and falling asleep (August 16) of the holy Theotókos, the apostles, "St. Antony the Great, star of the desert" (February 22), "St. Athanasius the Apostolic, Patriarch of Alexandria" (May 7), "St. Michael Archangel, and prayer for the rising of the Nile" (June 12), the "Four incorporeal animals" (in Ezechiel, November 8), the "twenty-four elders sitting around the throne of God" (November 24). They also keep feasts of many Monophysite leaders — Severus, Dioscor, and a number of Alexandrine Patriarchs who have little title to canonization other than their opposition to Chalcedon. They have four chief fasts: The great fast (Lent), beginning fifty-two days before Easter, the fast of the Apostles (about forty days before July 5, St. Peter and St. Paul), the fast of the Mother of God (fifteen days before August 16), and the little fast (Advent), from December 1 till Christmas. The fast of Nineveh (in memory of Jonas) lasts three days, about a fortnight before Lent. The fast of Heraclius[3] now coincides with the first week in Lent. Their fasting is a very serious matter. Like Ramaḏān it involves complete abstinence from any food between sunrise and sunset, and when they do eat, abstinence from many things besides flesh-meat.[4]
Throughout the year they have various special rites which occur on special days. On the feast of our Lord's Baptism (the Epiphany, but January 11) they bless the waters — the Nile or
- ↑ Annunciation, Nativity (December 29), Baptism (January 11), Palms, Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost.
- ↑ Circumcision (January 6), first miracle (January 13), Presentation (February 8), Last Supper (Maundy Thursday), Sunday of Thomas (first after Easter), Entry into Egypt (May 24), Transfiguration (August 13).
- ↑ According to their legend, because the Christians in Jerusalem promised the Emperor Heraclius (610-641) that, if only he would massacre all the Jews in the city, they would fast for one week every year, till the end of the world, for his benefit. Lured by this bait he carried out their pious wish (Vansleb: op. cit. 74-75).
- ↑ But delicate people get some slight dispensation. An idea of the Coptic Calendar may be had from Nilles: Kalendarium manuale, ii. 690-724; but what he gives is the Calendar of the Uniates. For fast-days cf. Vansleb: Hist. de l'Église d'Alex. pp. 71-77.
