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Yesterday, Copts celebrated the Coptic New Year Eve which is related to the ancient Egyptian year and the horrific martyrdom they went through during the Roman epoch. This martyrdom started with the tenure of Diocletian and Maximian.
The Coptic New Year
First, we should make it a point that the Egyptian Nayrouz is different from the Persian Nairouz.
The Coptic word “nayrouz” derives from “naiiro-oo” which means rivers as the water of the river continues to rise, after which the word continued to metamorphose during the Greek era. From this word derived the “Nayrouz” that was associated with the Persian New Year. According to some sources, the word “nayrouz” is a shortened form of “nairo ezmo raaoo” which means “praise and bless”. It means that “blessed are the rivers”. Thus, the Nayrouz feast is that of blessing the rivers. As for the Persian Nayrouz, it is the spring feast which is celebrated on March 21.
The Link between the Coptic and Egyptian Calendars
Egypt presented the world a calendar whereby ancient Egyptians laid their meticulous calendar about climate and agriculture in Egypt. Egyptian farmers have depended on it for thousands of years in determining the seasons of cultivation. It is a solar calendar which divides the year into 13 months.
When the Egyptian Church decided to have its own calendar, she did not abandon her deeply-rooted origins. Thus, she derived the names of months from those of ancient Egyptian deities:
Tut (Toth): 11/9-10/10
Paopi (Babah): 11/10-10/11
Hatur (Hathor): 11/11-9/12
Koiak (Kiyahk): 10/12-8/1
Tobi (Tubah): 9/1-7/2
Meshir (Amshir): 8/2-9/3
Paremhat (Baramhat) 10/3-8/4
Parmouti (Baramouda): 9/4-8/5
Pashons (Bashans) 9/5-7/6
Paoni (Ba’onah) 8/6-7/7
Epip (Abib) 8/7-6/8
Mesori (Masra) 7/8-5/9
Pi Kogi Enavot (the little month) Nasi: 6-10/9
The Beginning of the Coptic Calendar
Copts made the beginning of Diocletian’s tenure the beginning of the Coptic Calendar, calling it the “Martyrs’ Calendar” which is used by the Orthodox Church in Egypt. That is because Diocletian persecuted Egypt’s Christians terribly and shed a lot of blood, which is why al-Maqrizi wrote, “He killed so many Christians, and was the last pagan Roman Emperor.”
On February, 303, an act was issued decreeing the demolition of churches, burning holy books, deporting all Christians and depriving them from their civil rights and privileges. Whoever disobeyed was to be burnt. Persecution endured throughout all Roman provinces for ten years: 313 A.D.
According to historians, persecution in the East was crueler and more violent than in the West, especially in Egypt which history is full of such incidents. So much so that any Emperor who wanted to torment anybody harshly would send him to one of Egypt’s merciless rulers like Armanius, ruler of Alexandria and Irianus, ruler of Ansana. Copt martyrs amounted to 800 thousand!
Martyrs’ Love
As new Coptic year starts, we remember the martyr’s great love which shows itself in sacrificing his life. Reposed Pope Shenouda III says, “Few people give; but whoever gives his life is the greatest of all. Some give a portion of their money, others give all their money. Yet, those who give their lives lovingly are the greatest. No love is greater than this: to give your life for your loved ones.”
Today, we shall speak about one of the most famous Egyptian martyrs, namely, St. Mina, aka. the wonder worker.
St. Mina’s Life
Mina was born in Nikiu, Menouf, Menoufiya Governorate to a high-ranking family, in 286. His grandfather was the ruler of a province who was succeeded by Mina’s father. Mina’s father, Odoxius, was loved by everybody due to his virtues. As a result, his brother Anatolius reviled him at the king’s to get rid of him. Yet, the king ordered he be appointed a ruler of Africa after its ruler’s death.
Mina’s mother, Euphimiyah, was pious. She was a barren. So, she fasted, and prayed fervently, beseeching God to grant her good children. On St. Mary’s Departure Day, she went to Athribis Church where she prayed wholeheartedly and sought St. Mary’s intercession. So, she heard a voice saying, “Amen”! Shortly afterwards, she conceived and begot a son who she called Mina (Mena) which means “Amen”.
Ever since his early childhood, his parents implanted love and piety in his heart. His father departed when he was eleven. His mother departed when he was fourteen. Thus, he inherited a lot of money. Yet, he was charitable and generous to the needy.
Military Life
One year after his mother’s departure, a royal act was passed decreeing that whoever was fit for military service should be recruited. So, Mina became an officer, and ruler’s deputy at the age of fifteen. He was assigned the leadership of the army after his father’s death. He was loved and respected by everybody.
As persecution started, Mina decided to become a monk and abandon his post. So, he distributed his money amongst the poor and headed to the wilderness, having served in the army for three years. Yet, as persecution increased, Mina headed back to the city. This coincided with a great religious celebration. He proceeded to the celebration venue. The proconsul asked him who he was. When the latter got to know he was Christian, he said, “Are you a stranger? How dare you attend the celebration? Do you want to hinder the annual celebration of the kings’ anniversary by scorning their orders?” At that time, some soldiers recognized Mina. They told the proconsul, “We know this young man quite well. Five years ago, he was the commander of our squad. He was an honorable prince who was respected by everybody.” The proconsul was amazed and asked Mina why he left the military. Mina answered that though he was an officer, he would not accept heathendom, which was why he went to the wilderness. The proconsul ordered that Mina be sent to jail until the celebration ended, after which he would return to be tormented.
Trial and Torture
After the celebration had ended, the proconsul brought Mina, scolded him for his boldness in coming over and declaring his faith, heedless of the ceremony. Mina, however, clung to his faith. Though the proconsul tried to seduce him with gifts, he failed. So, he threatened to torture him. Nevertheless, Mina remained unshaken for his faith was deeply rooted in his heart. This was followed by a series of pains and torture that he might forsake his faith.
Mina was tormented by several means, but he never abandoned Christianity. So, the proconsul sent him to the prince escorted by four sentries. No sooner had they reached the prince than he started threatening him. Yet, he never waived. Thus, he was put in jail only to join many Egyptians. But, he kept comforting and strengthening them.
On the following day, the prince summoned Mina and tortured him a lot until he got bored of his steadfastness. So, he had him beheaded. Mina was martyred on Hatur 15, 309. He was not yet twenty-four years old. Some sentries tried to burn his body, but failed. The faithful came over and enshrouded him in precious cloth and buried him reverently. It came to pass that during one of the wars, a commander called Athanasius escorted St. Mina’s body in his battle against enemies who attacked Marriott. Having defeated them, he tried to return the body, but the camel would not move. So, they moved the body to other camels which would not move either. Hence, they knew that God wanted Mina’s body to remain in Marriott. Athanasius drew St. Mina with camels beside him. He put the picture, along with his body, in a wooden coffin which would not decay when buried in a small tomb. He wrote a memorial with it.
St. Mina, the Egyptian martyr, presents a glamorous image of Egypt’s great martyrs which she continues to offer, thus, remaining a source of blessing for the whole world. Happy New Coptic Year and … Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
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