El Muallaqa - The Hanging Church, Cairo

 

The Coptic Church in Egypt is one of the oldest branches of Christianity. It was founded in Alexandria, Egypt, by Saint Mark the Apostle, author of the oldest canonical gospel.

 

The Coptic Church preserves some of the earliest traditions of the Christian religion. It has its own Pope, the current one, Shenouda III, being the 117th successor to St Mark. The majority of Christians in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan follow the Orthodox Coptic Church and there are adherents in other parts of Africa and small communities around the world. The Church uses a variation of the old Pharonic Calendar. It has 13 months in the year: 12 of these are 30 days long, and there is an intercalary month of either 5 or 6 days. The Alexandrian calendar began its year count in 284 AD, the year Diocletian, whose persecutions of Christians were particularly heavy in Egypt, succeeded as emperor of Rome. Coptic years are designated AM (Anno Martyrum, from the Year of the Martyrs).

Christmas falls on Kiahk 29^th, which this year is January 7^th. The differences between the Coptic calendar and the Gregorian means that the date of Christmas in the two calendars gradually drifts apart. After March 1^st 2100, Kiahk 29^th will be equivalent to January 8^th.

 

Some Copts may fast for more than 200 days in the year, either by abstaining totally from any animal products or by not eating between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Coptic monks and nuns additionally abstain from animal products whenever resident within a religious community, as well as observing the usual fast days when in the general community. There is a long fast of nearly a month and a half before Christmas. At the Christmas mass everyone traditionally wears new clothes. At midnight the service ends with the ringing of bells and then the fast is broken with a meal of rice, garlic, bread and meat. Christmas day in Egypt is a public holiday for Christians and the Copts go visiting, taking with them kaik, a type of shortbread popular in the Middle East, also given as a gift by members of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

 

The Coptic Hymn Pijenmisi, Feast of Nativity Liturgy, 2005 as celebrated by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and Cathedral Chorus.

 

 

 

Kaik

 

2.25kg/5lb plain flour

1 tbsp salt

2 tbsp mahlab (ground fine and sifted)

2 tbsp anise seed (ground fine)

3 cups rendered butter

3 cups sugar

2 sachet dry yeast           

4 cups milk

3 eggs  

½ cup warm water

Mahlab is made from the ground kernels of a black cherry. If you can’t find this you may substitute ground almond and a little bitter almond essence.

 

Combine first four ingredients, rub in butter until very fine.

Dissolve yeast in water.

Add sugar to milk and heat until lukewarm.

Add liquids and eggs to a well in dry ingredients and mix in.

Knead until well blended.

Cover and put in warm place to rise for about 3 hours.

Pinch off dough into 2 inches in diameter, handling as little as possible.

Starting with first ball of dough, pat out on slightly oiled bottom of glass dish to 4-inch lengths.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake in 425° F oven until bottoms are lightly browned, then place under grill until golden brown.

 

Syrup

 

2 cups milk or cream

2 tbsp butter

1 cup sugar

 

Combine ingredients and bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Dip cooled Kaik in hot syrup.

 

 

Kaik Sumsum (Sesame Cookies)

 

1 cup rendered butter   

1 ¼ cup sugar   

5 tsp baking powder

2 eggs (unbeaten)           

6 drops anise oil

1 cup milk

6 cups flour                  

 

TOPPING:

1 egg (well beaten)           

1 drop anise oil 

½ cup sesame seeds

 

Mix all ingredients by hand.

Blend butter and sugar, add baking powder, eggs and anise oil.

Gradually add milk and flour alternately.

Knead well.

Pinch walnut sized pieces of dough and roll in palms of hands until about 4” long, bring ends together to form a circle.

Mix topping ingredients and dip each cookie to cover the top and place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake in centre of 175C/350F oven until lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes.

 

  Coptic Icon Mary and Christ Child

 

 

Colo sana wintom tiebeen!