meaning, ‘In the year of the Martyrs’: So profound was the impact of Diocletian’s persecution on Coptic life and thought that the Copts formed for Church use a calendar from which their dating commences from the first year of Diocletian’s reign and accordingly, named their calendar ‘Anno Martyri’. The first year of the Coptic calendar corresponds to the year 284 AD., the year of the accession of Diocletian. The names of the months incorporated into the Coptic calendar were adopted from those used in the ancient Egyptian calendar. The Coptic calendar has 13 months and the Coptic New Year corresponds to September 11.
Born 284 and died 305. In 303 he issued a series of edicts withdrawing the legal rights of Christians and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices and sacrifice to the gods.
Lasting from 303-313 AD, was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303, Emperor Diocletian issued a series of edicts withdrawing the legal rights of Christians and demanding that they comply with traditional religious practices and sacrifice to the gods.
Roman emperor from 305-313. He revived paganism and was responsible for the persecution of Christians (the ‘Great Persecution’ lasting from 303-313).