I extend my warmest congratulations to the Copts of Egypt and the world on the occasion of the feast of Nayrouz which stands as a testament to the strength and bravery of Egyptians that history witnessed on. For it is linked to one of the most painful and agonizing periods of martyrdom in Egypt’s history, under the Roman Empire, particularly during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. It was during this era that the Church established the beginning of the Coptic calendar, the “Calendar of the Martyrs”.
Under Diocletian’s rule, Egypt witnessed periods of time filled with tyranny and oppression. Historians described these times as the most heinous in history, marked by the slaughter of countless people. Diocletian launched a violent persecution of Christians throughout his empire, the likes of which the world had never seen before. Egypt bore the brunt of these persecutions, sacrificing countless martyrs. This wave of persecution began with a series of royal decrees that ordered the destruction of churches, the burning of all holy Christian books, the expulsion of Christians from government positions, and the denial of freedom to slaves who refused to renounce their Christian faith. This tyrant commanded everyone to offer sacrifices and incense to pagan gods, threatening those who disobeyed with the most horrific punishments, even death.
In the face of these harsh decrees, the entire people, men, women, the elderly, and children, rose up as one brave man to confront this tyranny with unwavering faith. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea, who witnessed these persecutions, wrote, “Women were no less courageous than men in defending the teachings of the divine word; they shared with men in the struggle.” The people, in all their strata, refused to abandon their faith. The land of Egypt was drenched with their pure blood. Christians endured various hardships: verbal abuse, dismissal from jobs, confiscation of property, loss of citizenship, deprivation of homes and belongings, denial of the right to litigate in courts, and physical torture such as imprisonment, flogging, burning, drowning, crucifixion, and other forms of cruel torment. Yet, in the face of all this, the tyrants witnessed nothing but the people’s steadfastness and even contempt for death! Everyone welcomed death with bravery and courage, with a firm belief that it was merely a passage to eternal life.
This era came to its end with the martyrdom of Pope Peter, known as “the Seal of the Martyrs”. He was arrested and imprisoned on the orders of Emperor Maximian. When the people heard of this, they gathered around the prison to rescue their shepherd from death. But the Pope was concerned for the lives of his people, so he escaped from another side away from them and reached the place of execution (where Saint Mark the Apostle had been martyred), where he prayed asking God to end the persecutions, concluding his prayer with, “Accept, O God, my life as a ransom for Your people.” And he heard a voice saying, “Amen.” Then he was martyred.
Thus, the lives of the martyrs expressed their deep love for God; they did not love their lives even to the point of death for His sake – blessed be His name. Here, I recall the words of His Holiness the Thrice Beautified Pope Shenouda III: “Many people give, but the one who gives his life is greater than all these; for some offer part of their wealth, and others offer all of it, but the greatest is he who offers his life out of love… Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends!”
As for the word “Nayrouz,” it comes from the Coptic word “Niyaruo” meaning “rivers,” which was transformed into the word “Niroos” during the Greek era in Egypt, and from there it became “Nayrouz.” However, some sources mention that “Nayrouz” is an abbreviation of the phrase “NiaroIsmuRoo” which means “Praise and give blessing to”, referring to the blessing of the rivers; thus, the festival of “Nayrouz” became the “Festival of Blessing the Rivers”
The Coptic calendar is linked to the ancient Egyptian calendar, which was established by the ancient Egyptians based on the cycle of the sun, dividing the year into 13 months. The Coptic Church adopted the names of these months as the names of its months, beginning with the month of Tut on 11/9 and ending with the month of Nasie (6-10/9) known as the “small month”.
May God grant our beloved Egypt and the entire world goodness, peace, and tranquility…
And stories of “Beautiful Egypt” never end!
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
