Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

The Readings During Koiahk

December 6, 2006

COLLEYVILLE, TX. December 6, 2007 -- This year, the Nativity Feast falls on Monday, Koiahk 28 and Tuesday, Koiahk 29 meaning that the Paramoun will be three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; Koiahk 25, 26, and 27, respectively.

Koiahk will only have three Sundays other than the Paramoun; Koiahk 6, 13, and 20. The fifth Sunday of Hathor, Hathor 29, will be the first Sunday of Koiahk. Although it is the 29th day of the Coptic Month, which we usually celebrate the commemoration of the three feasts (Annunciation, Nativity, and Resurrection), the readings of the first Sunday of Koiahk and the tune of Koiahk will supersede the readings of Paremhotep 29 and the joyful tune. Since it is not the actual feast but just the commemoration, these readings will not be read.

Thus the order of the readings and the tune will be as follows:

  • Sunday, December 9 / Hathor 29:
    - the readings of the first Sunday of Koiahk
    - the Koiahk tune
    - the midnight praises will follow the full rite of Koiahk

  • Monday, December 10 / Hathor 30:
    - the readings of Hathor 30
    - the Koiahk Tune

  • Sunday, December 16 / Koiahk 6:
    - the readings of the second Sunday of Koiahk
    - the Koiahk tune
    - the second week of Koiahk midnight praises

  • Sunday, December 23 / Koiahk 13:
    - the readings of the third Sunday of Koiahk
    - the Koiahk tune
    - the third week of Koiahk midnight praises

  • Sunday, December 30 / Koiahk 20:
    - the readings of the fourth Sunday of Koiahk
    - the Koiahk tune
    - the fourth and last week of Koiahk midnight praises

  • Friday January 4 / Koiahk 25 (the first day of Nativity Paramoun):
    -
    abstinence till sunset and no seafood
    - the readings of Koiahk 28
    - the annual tune
    - in the Divine Liturgy, pray from the third hour to the twelve hour of the Agpyea
    - in the monasteries, the Prayer of the Veil is added

  • Saturday, January 5 / Koiahk 26 (the second day of Nativity Paramoun):
    - no abstinence and no seafood
    - the readings of Koiahk 28
    - the annual tune
    - in the Divine Liturgy, pray the third hour and the sixth hour of the Agpyea

  • Sunday, January 6 / Koiahk 27 (the third day of Nativity Paramoun):
    - no abstinence and no seafood
    - the readings of Koiahk 28
    - the annual tune
    -in the Divine Liturgy, pray the third hour and the sixth hour of the Agpyea

  • Monday, January 7 / Koiahk 28 (the first day of Nativity Feast):
    - the celebrations begin with Vespers:
    - Agpyea: from the ninth hour to the twelve hour
    - in the monasteries, the Prayer of the Veil is added
    - followed by the vespers praises and raising of incense
    - the midnight praises according to the rite of the Nativity Feast
    - the the Matins
    - the Divine Liturgy according to the rite of Nativity Feast
    - the readings of Koiahk 29
    - the joyful tune

  • Tuesday, January 8 / Koiahk 29 (the second day of Nativity Feast):
    - the readings of the Koiahk 29
    - the joyful tune