Celebrations and Songs

Coptic Feast Day

Every May 15, Copts throw a huge party for St. Athanasius—it’s his feast day, marking when he went to heaven in 373 AD! At St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, where his relics rest, the church fills with people singing and praying. They call it “7 Pachons” in the Coptic calendar, and kids sometimes wave palm branches to remember how he won big fights for Jesus. In some years, kids march around with little crosses, shouting his name—it’s like a birthday celebration for a saint!

The day starts with a special church service, where priests sing his doxology—“O Leader of Orthodoxy”—and tell stories of his bravery. People bring flowers to his shrine, and some say a storm stopped in Alexandria in 2020 after prayers. For Coptic kids, it’s a fun day to dress up, eat sweets, and learn how Athanasius kept the faith strong, making him feel super close, like a friend joining the party.

Lesson 16 of 21

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