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→Coptic Christianity today: - Coptic music and chants
Traditionally, the Coptic language [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_language] was used in church services, and the scriptures were written in the Coptic alphabet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_alphabet]. However, due to the Arabisation of Egypt, service in churches started to witness increased use of Arabic, while preaching is done entirely in Arabic. Native languages are used, in conjunction with Coptic, during services outside of Egypt.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has her own, unique purely religious/liturgical music and chants [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_music], [http://tasbeha.org/mp3.html], [http://www.saintmina-holmdel.org/Multimedia/index.php], [http://www.coptichymns.org/index.php?module=hymns&func=catview] (some are also used by Coptic Catholics).
Following their own church calendar [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_calendar], Coptic Christians celebrate [[Christmas]] on the [[January 7|7th of January]] which, since 2002, is an official national holiday in Egypt. The Coptic calendar is the calendar of martyrs. Coptic years are counted from 284 A.D., the year Diocletian became Roman Emperor, whose reign was marked by tortures and mass executions of Christians, especially in Egypt. Hence, the Coptic year is identified by the abbreviation A.M. (for ''Anno Martyrum'' or "Year of the Martyrs").