Kiahk is the fourth month in the Coptic year calendar. Our Coptic Orthodox Church gives a special attention to the month of Kiahk as we celebrate the Nativity feast on Kiahk 29th.
Once the Nativity feast is
mentioned, of course the first thing that comes to our attention is Virgin Mary, the mother of God.
The church had arranged a special praise for the month of Kiahk. We call it 7&4.
Seven refers to the 7 Theotokias, one for each day of the week. All the Theotokias are praising the Mother of God, Saint Mary and glorify her Son our Lord Jesus Christ.
Four refers to the 4 Hooses. We pray the four Hooses everyday of the week during the midnight praises.
The midnight praises during Kiahk are rich with melodies and hymns that have been added to the regular midnight praises only to celebrate and prepare the Christians to receive our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the 29th of the month.
The midnight praises rite is as follows:
1- Start with the midnight prayers from the book of Agpeya.
2- The Long Kiahk Hoos (Elhoos Elkiahky)
3- First and second Hooses are chanted. For each Hoos there are special melodies for
Kiahk chanted before and after the Hoos.
4- Third Hoos contains a special long hymn for
Kiahk “ Tennien” for the three saintly children
5- The commemoration of the Saints using Kiahk
special tune.
6- Psali of the day followed by the Theotokia of
the day.
7- During the Sunday midnight praises, there are
special expositions to be read after chanting
each part of the Theotokia.
8- There are lots of melodies for the Lord Jesus
and Virgin Mary to be chanted after the prayers
of the Theotokia.
9- The conclusion of the Adam Theotokias.
10- The conclusion of the midnight psalmody
“Keri lay soon”
Please note the month of Kiahk has to have 4 Sundays before the Baramoun of the Nativity feast. That means, if 28th or 29th of Kiahk is Sunday the kiahk praises and rites will start on the last Sunday of the month of Hatour. That is to maintain 4 Sundays for the Month of Kiahk as the church has arranged the Holy Liturgy readings according to the Gospel of Saint Luke.