I would like to extend my congratulations on Eid al-Fitr, celebrated by our Muslim brethren in Egypt and the rest of the world, beseeching God to bestow peace and blessings upon Egypt and its people, upon the Arab region and the whole world. Likewise, today the Copts of Egypt commemorate one of the most significant events Egypt has witnessed that made it the focal point of the world’s attention, interest, and fascination. This event is the Marian apparition on the second of April, 1968 AD, at Zeitoun district of Cairo during the Patriarchate of St. Pope Kyrillos VI, the 116th Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
St. Mary holds a great status and special veneration in the hearts of all Egyptians, as Quran mentioned her saying, “And [mention] when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.'”
The angel greeted her in the Scripture: “Blessed are you among women.”
The Marianne apparitions occurred numerous times during over two and a half years! Some of these apparitions lasted for several hours, witnessed by thousands of Egyptians. Even multitudes of foreigners flocked to Egypt to observe them and delight in witnessing her apparition and recording it. They also targeted meeting a large number of her eyewitnesses. Consequently, books in foreign languages and news reports in Egyptian and international newspapers were published to document the apparitions since they constituted an unprecedented event at any other country around the world.
The Marianne apparitionsbegan on the evening of Tuesday, April 2nd, 1968 AD, during a delicate and extremely difficult period that Egypt went through following the aggression of the fifth of June, 1967. Some workers at the Public Transport Authority, located at Toman Bay Street overlooking St. Mary church, recounted that on the evening of that Tuesday, “Abd al-Aziz Ali,” the night guard of the garage, saw a brilliant light above the church dome that strongly attracted his attention, so much so that he began shouting: “Light above the dome! Light above the dome!” He then rushed to call the garage workers, who saw and witnessed it until they testified that they beheld a radiant light above the church’s main dome. When they scrutinized it, they saw a girl in white garments standing still and serene above the wall of the dome, which sloped steeply! They feared that the girl would fall, so they began shouting at her to be careful, while some of them thought she was trying to commit suicide! Thus, the cries for help continued to rise until the rescue police were notified. Policemen arrived, and passersby gathered, and behold, the figure of the girl manifested and its radiance intensified! Among what was mentioned in the description of that unique sight: “The image of a beautiful girl appeared clearly in gossamer (thin garment) of heavenly white light, draped in a white robe, holding some olive branches in her hand. Suddenly, a flock of pure white doves flew above her head! It was then that they realized that this sight was a spiritual, heavenly one. To dispel any doubt, they shone searchlights on the luminous image, and it became even more radiant and clear! Then, they deliberately broke the streetlights near the church, but the luminous image did not disappear! So they extinguished the entire area, and the girl appeared even clearer in her heavenly light and luminous garment! She began to move within a circle of light emanating from her body in all surrounding directions! At that point, everyone was certain that the girl before them was without a doubt ‘the Virgin Mary’; and soon, applause, shouts, and cheers rose until they pierced the sky: ‘It isSt.Mary!'”
Crowds began prayers and chanting throughout the night until the following morning. Since that night, the apparitions have recurred and have been witnessed by everyone, Egyptians and foreigners, Christians and non-Christians, men, women, and children. With the repetition of these apparitions, “Saint Pope Cyril VI” ordered the formation of committees to investigate their reality. Then, the “Coptic Orthodox Church” issued an official statement at a press conference, confirming the appearance of the Holy Virgin Mary at her church in Zeitoun. The land of “Egypt” was perfumed with miracles of healing that accompanied these apparitions, granted by God to a large number of the sick, after its lands had previously received abundant blessings with the arrival of the Holy Family to it. Thus continues the eternal prophecy of “Isaiah the Prophet”: “Blessed is Egypt My people.”
Many happy returns to the Egyptians .We ask God to perpetuate blessings upon precious “Egypt” and protect it from all evil, through the intercessions of the source of goodness and blessings, St. Mary.
For stories of Beautiful Egypt can never end!
The General Bishop President of the Coptic Orthodox cultural Center
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