Why do we use another calendar, and why are our Easter and Christmas not in line with Europe?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The reason the Coptic Orthodox Church follows a different calendar and celebrates feasts like Christmas and Easter on different dates from those in the Western world (Europe and America) is rooted in both astronomical accuracy and our commitment to Apostolic tradition.

1. The Coptic (Alexandrian) Calendar

We do not use the Gregorian calendar (the standard Western calendar) for our liturgical life. Instead, we use the Coptic Calendar, which is the ancient Egyptian calendar refined by the Church.

• Ancient Roots: Our calendar is based on the solar year and consists of 13 months: 12 months of 30 days each and a small month of 5 or 6 days called Pi Kogi Enavot.
• The Era of Martyrs: Our years are dated from 284 AD, the year Diocletian became Emperor. This is known as Anno Martyrum (A.M.) or the "Year of the Martyrs," honoring those who died for the faith.
• Christmas (Nativity): We celebrate Christmas on 29 Koiak. On the Gregorian calendar, this currently falls on January 7th.

2. Why Christmas Is "Different"

In the early Church, the whole world celebrated Christmas on December 25th. However, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII of Rome modified the calendar (creating the Gregorian calendar) because the old "Julian" calendar was slightly inaccurate, causing the solar year to drift.

The Coptic Church, along with other Eastern Orthodox churches, maintained the original Julian/Alexandrian calculation. Because of the mathematical drift between the two systems, the date that was once December 25th on the old calendar now aligns with January 7th on the Gregorian calendar. We have not "changed" our day; the Western world moved its calendar forward.

3. The Calculation of Easter (Resurrection)

The difference in Easter is more complex and relates to the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). The Council gave the Patriarch of Alexandria the responsibility of calculating the date of Easter for the entire world because of the city's expertise in astronomy. This system is called the Epact.

According to the Nicene decree, Easter must be:

1. After the Vernal Equinox (spring).
2. After the Jewish Passover.
3. On the Sunday following the first full moon of spring.

Why we are not in line with Europe on Easter:

• The Equinox: The Western church uses a fixed date (March 21) for the equinox based on the Gregorian calendar. We use the Julian/Alexandrian calculation.
• The Jewish Passover: According to the ancient tradition and the canons of the Apostles, the Christian Passover (Easter) must come after the Jewish Passover. This is because the fulfillment (Christ) must follow the type (the Old Testament lamb). The Western church often celebrates Easter before or during the Jewish Passover, which we consider a violation of the historical and biblical sequence of events.

4. Fidelity to Truth over "Political Correctness"

While it might be more "convenient" to align with the Western holidays for social or business reasons, the Coptic Church prioritizes the preservation of the Holy Tradition passed down by our Fathers.

St. Peter and the early Fathers of Alexandria (like St. Athanasius and St. Cyril) were very strict about maintaining the purity of the faith and its rites. To change our calendar to match Europe would be to abandon a system that was established by the Martyrs and the Great Councils. We stand by the truth of the Alexandrian calculation as the most spiritually and historically accurate way to commemorate the life of.