Egypt

Nigeria Holy Orthodox Church – Apostolic Succession

The Apparitions Of The Blessed Holy Virgin Mary
To Millions In The Coptic Orthodox Church
Named After Her, In Zeitoun,
Cairo, Egypt (1968-1970)

Photo of Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt.
It is over the domes of this small church that our Lady appeared to millions
for more than a year, starting on the eve of Tuesday, April 2, 1968. The church has
five domes: the central large dome stands up about 12 meters above the ground surface,
surrounded by four smaller domes, each of them is raised 9 meters above the ground.

Photo of the apparition of Virgin Mary in Her full body
over the church named after Her in Zeitoun.

For more than a year, starting on the eve of Tuesday, April 2, 1968,
the Blessed Holy Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of God, appeared in
different forms over the domes of the Coptic Orthodox Church named
after Her at Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt. The late Rev. Father Constantine
Moussa was the church priest at the time of these apparitions. The
apparitions lasted from only a few minutes up to several hours and were
sometimes accompanied by luminous heavenly bodies shaped like doves and
moving at high speeds. The apparitions were seen by millions of Egyptians and foreigners.
Among the witnesses were Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Moslems,
Jews and non-religious people from all walks of life. The sick were
cured and blind persons received their sight, but most importantly
large numbers of unbelievers were converted…

The above two photos show luminous heavenly beings shaped like doves and flying
over the church. These beings appeared from nowhere, did not flap their wings
while flying at high speeds and disappeared as they came. The first photo shows
seven of them in the formation of a cross.

His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI (Cyril VI) entrusted a committee of high rank priests and bishops to investigate
the apparitions, and on Saturday, May 4, 1968, the Coptic Orthodox
Church officially confirmed the apparitions after thorough
investigation (see official report below). His Holiness Pope Kyrillos
VI also assigned the responsibility of documenting the apparitions and
accompanying miracles to a special committee headed by Anba Gregorios,
bishop of postgraduate studies, Coptic culture and scientific research.

Photo of the apparition of the Virgin with the Infant Jesus Christ
in Her arms over St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, in Zeitoun, Egypt.

The apparitions were also approved by the local Catholic
Patriarch, Cardinal Stephanos I (Stephen I), who stated that the
apparitions of our Lady at Zeitoun were beyond any doubt and were seen
by many of his trustworthy Coptic Catholic children. Father Dr. Henry
Ayrout, the rector of the Catholic Collège de la Sainte Famille (Jesuit order) in Cairo also declared his acceptance of the miraculous
apparitions of Virgin Mary, saying that whether Catholic or Orthodox,
we are all Her children and She loves us all equally and Her
apparitions at the Zeitoun Coptic Orthodox Church confirmed this
notion. Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Said, head of all Protestant Evangelical
Ministries in Egypt at the time of the apparitions, affirmed that the
apparitions were true. Catholic nuns from the Sacré-Coeur order
also witnessed the apparitions and sent a detailed report to the
Vatican. On the evening of Sunday, April 28, 1968, an envoy from the
Vatican arrived, saw the apparitions and sent a report to His Holiness
Pope Paul VI of Rome.

Another photo of the transfiguration of our Lady in Her full body
over the church named after Her in Zeitoun, Egypt.

The Official Statement from the Papal Residence in Cairo on the
Apparition of Saint Mary in the Zeitoun Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox
Church in Cairo, Egypt

Since the evening of Tuesday April 2, 1968 (the 24th of Bramhat, 1684
A.M.), the apparitions of the Holy Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of Light,
have continued in the Coptic Orthodox Church named after Her in
Zeitoun, Cairo.

The apparitions occurred on many different nights and are
continuing in different forms. The Holy Virgin Saint Mary appeared
sometimes in full form and sometimes in a bust, surrounded with a halo
of shining light. She was seen at times on the openings of the domes on
the roof of the church, and at other times outside the domes, moving
and walking on the roof of the church and over the domes. When She
knelt in reverence in front of the cross, the cross shone with bright
light. Waving Her blessed hands and nodding Her holy head, She blessed
the people who gathered to observe the miracle. She appeared sometimes
in the form of a body like a very bright cloud, and sometimes as a
figure of light preceded with heavenly bodies shaped like doves moving
at high speeds. The apparitions continued for long periods, up to 2
hours and 15 minutes as in the dawn of Tuesday April 30, 1968 (the 22nd
of Barmouda, 1684 A.M.), when She appeared continuously from 2:45 am
till 5:00 am.

Thousands of people from different denominations and
religions, Egyptians and foreign visitors, clergy and scientists, from
different classes and professions, all observed the apparitions. The
description of each apparition as of the time, location and
configuration was identically witnessed by all people, which makes this
apparition unique and sublime.

Two important aspects accompanied these apparitions: The first
is an incredible revival of the faith in God, the other world and the
saints, leading to repentance and conversion of many who strayed away
from the faith. The second are the numerous miracles of healing which
were verified by many physicians to be miraculous in nature.

The Papal Residence has thoroughly investigated the
apparitions and gathered information by way of committes of clergy who
have also witnessed the apparitions by themselves and recorded
everything in reports presented to His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI.

By issuing this statement, the Papal Residence declares, with
full faith and great joy and humility of a thankful heart, that the
Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Light, appeared in clear forms on many
different nights, for periods of variable length, lasting on occasions
more than 2 continuous hours, starting on the eve of Tuesday April 2,
1968 (the 24th of Bramhat, 1684 A.M.) and up till now (the date of the
report) in the Coptic Orthodox Church named after Her in Zeitoun,
Cairo. It is historically proven that the location of this church in
Tumanbay street, in Zeitoun quarter, on the way to El-Matarya, Cairo,
is on the path taken by the Holy Family when visiting Egypt.

May God make this miracle a symbol of peace for the world, and
a blessing for our nation as it has been prophesized: “Blessed be Egypt
My people.”

Saturday May 4, 1968
Barmouda 26, 1684 A.M.
Papal Residence in Cairo

Two photos of the apparitions of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary,
Mother of Light, over the domes of the Coptic Orthodox Church
named after Her in Zeitoun, Egypt. The first photo shows the Virgin
in front of the church cross, while the second photo shows Her
transfigured in Her full body.

Report of General Information and Complaints Department, Cairo, Egypt, 1968

“Official investigations have been carried out with the result
that it has been considered an undeniable fact that the Blessed Virgin
Mary has been appearing on Zeitoun Church in a clear and bright
luminous body seen by all present in front of the church, whether
Christians or Moslems.”