I felicitate all Egyptians with the commencement of the New Islamic Year 1440 AH, as well as the commencement of the Coptic Year 1735 AM, asking God to fill their days with good and peace for Egypt, the Arab World and the rest of the globe.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic Calendar is related to the first migration (Hijra) events carried out by the Prophet of Islam with his companions from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina), which was then in 622 AD, where the first Islamic community was founded. As for the beginning of the Islamic Calendar, it dates back to the time of Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab, nearly 17 years after the migration when Abu Musa al-Ash’ari asked the Caliph to create a new calendar. There were various suggestions until it was decided to start from the year in which Muslims migrated and founded a new community in the city; the calendar months were arranged as a continuing to the order of the months starting from “Muharram”.
The Islamic time is calculated according to the movement of the moon, and not to the solar calendar. It begins on the first day of Muharram month, in which the Islamic Hijri year is divided into 12 months, each of 29-30 days according to the monthly moon cycle around the earth.
The Coptic Calendar
The Coptic calendar is linked to the beginning of the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s rule. It was called the “Calendar of Martyrs” due to the violent Roman persecution unleashed by this tyrant throughout the Roman kingdom, east and west, after shedding the blood of martyrs for almost ten years. Although the persecutions included the entire Kingdom, the East had a greater share of bloody violence, especially Egypt, which Copts martyrs were estimated to be nearly 800 thousands!
The Coptic calendar is associated with the ancient Egyptian year; a solar calendar in which the year is divided into 13 months; 12 of which are 30 days long each, while the thirteenth month is five or six days depending on the sun cycle.
As we celebrate the commencement of two new years, I hope that their days will be filled with peace and mercy.
Peace
Peace is one gift of God – blessed be His name – to humanity, it is fitting for us to care about sowing its seeds in every place we visit in life. Presenting peace to others, one expresses a feature of his deep faith in God because he who makes peace is a child of God “The Lord of peace” It is said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”.
True peace is not just words, but acts and deeds. In peace, societies are built, and they succeed in their every work, achieve prosperity for their members, while hatred causes only destruction and demolition.
Mercy
Mercy is a virtue called for by religions, it is rather considered a trait of God; as the Bible states that God is merciful: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” While the Qur’an we find: “And your Lord is the Self-sufficient one, the Lord of mercy.”
Mercy have in its folds the sense of tenderness, compassion and kindness with which man treats others, and there are many manifestations of mercy in human life: mercy in giving, in words, in tolerance and forgiveness, in appreciating others’ conditions and feelings, in acting gently towards the weak. A merciful man appreciates others’ humanity, realizing that others do have the right to a decent life like him; thus, he supports them, he does not become a reason for their suffering or pain, but rather, he shall be a source of pleasure and comfort. Hence, he is following the example of God who is compassionate and caring for His creation.
May the two new years be our advance towards a positive beginning. As I mentioned before, I wish they would be full of new days in which man accepts those who are different from him on the humane level. We are not required to believe in others’ thoughts or to follow their faith, but to learn how to live together in one homeland that embraces our dreams, hopes and works. Hence, it will be the most beautiful and elevated country.
I wish all the Egyptians renewed good along new days. And… Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt!
General Bishop
Head of Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
