Newspaper Watani
Publication date May 12, 1968
Language Arabic
New miracles of the Virgin
The secret of the white dove that flies over the dome of the church and suddenly disappears
Tens of thousands from all regions of the Republic and from tourists stay every evening in front of the Church of Zeitoun
Invitation to the Emperor of Ethiopia, Bishop Makarios, and several heads of state to attend
New miracles of the Virgin
The secret of the dove that flies over the dome of the church and suddenly disappears
… New healing miracles have appeared for those who saw the Virgin …
Dozens of citizens were healed from their incurable diseases… and hundreds, even thousands of sick people come every evening to receive the blessing of the Virgin Lady and healing… And every evening a new healing miracle happens among the visitors around the church during the hymns and prayers recited by the thousands gathered, eager to see the Virgin Lady…
… And the Papal Committee continues its meetings to receive the testimonies of eyewitnesses and the miracles that occurred to them, and continues recording, examining, and studying these miracles, and referring them to another committee of senior doctors to verify them scientifically… and to prove the type of illness that was healed miraculously…
Meanwhile, thousands of crowds continue to come every evening from all parts of the country and from tourists to the Virgin’s Church in Zeitoun… More than 100,000 citizens arrived last night and the night before, and these crowds remained awake until morning, repeating prayers and hymns.
New healing miracles at the Church of Zeitoun
The dove that takes flight in the sky at night then disappears
All seats on planes arriving in Cairo are booked for visitors to the Virgin’s Church until next June
Invitation to the Emperor of Ethiopia and Bishop Makarios
And several heads of state to visit the Virgin’s Church
New healing miracles appeared for those who saw the Virgin. The Papal Committee continues its task of receiving eyewitness testimonies and the miracles that occurred to them and records the testimonies it receives, transferring the data related to the miracles to another committee of doctors to verify them scientifically and prove the type of illness that was healed miraculously. His Holiness Pope Cyril VI extended an invitation to His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie and to Bishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus, and to religious leaders in all countries of the world.
International airlines announced that all seats on their planes arriving in Cairo are booked until the end of next June for those coming from all parts of the world to visit the Virgin’s Church in Zeitoun, and additional planes will be assigned to transport groups of tourists to Cairo.
The Ministry of Tourism prepared a new report about the appearance of the Virgin and the miracles that occurred to those who saw her and the procedures being taken to facilitate visits to her church in Zeitoun, and sent the report to our embassies and tourism offices abroad.
New delegations from diplomatic missions and religious bodies arrived in Cairo to see the Virgin.
Arab Television broadcast last Thursday evening a thorough investigation about the miracle and the words of those who saw her and those who received healing after seeing the Virgin.
His Grace Bishop Gregorios, Bishop of Scientific Research and Higher Studies, told us that this miraculous appearance has other results that the coming days may reveal, and that we expect important joyful events.
The Governor of Cairo took decisive measures to organize visits to the church and evacuate the garage opposite it to accommodate the crowds of visitors who stand all night waiting for the Virgin to appear.
A meeting was held in the church last Tuesday noon attended by bishops, clergy, Mr. Adel Taher (Deputy Minister of Tourism), General Anwar Salam (Head of North Cairo District), Mr. Hamdi Haraz (Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Executive Office in Zeitoun), and Colonel Anwar Zaatar (Head of Tourism Police), and new measures were taken to facilitate the visit.
The miracles that Watani was the first to publish details of have become the talk of people in every home, and their news has echoed in every corner of the world. Radio and television stations in all countries continue to broadcast updates, and international newspapers continue to publish news. Some sent special press delegations to Cairo to report on it.
Local newspapers began publishing news of the miracle on their front pages and inside pages two weeks ago, after Watani preceded them by more than two weeks.
Watani has become an established reference for what is published and broadcast, with local and international newspapers and radio and television stations in Egypt and abroad quoting it.
Our embassies and tourism offices abroad requested copies of the newspaper, and the Ministry of Tourism supplied them.
Mr. Adel Taher, Deputy Minister of Tourism, told us that when he was in Denmark two weeks ago, crowds approached him asking for details of the miracle that Danish newspapers had published quoting Watani.
The Papal Committee
The Papal Committee formed to follow up the miracle and record the testimonies of those who saw it received new details about the healing miracles that occurred to those who saw the Virgin.
The committee organizes these testimonies and refers those related to healing miracles to a number of doctors to verify them and prove the types of illnesses that their sufferers had before they were healed miraculously.
The group of doctors includes specialists in physical and psychological medicine, among them Doctors Shafiq Abdel Malek, Sadiq Antonius Baqtar, Youssef Yoaquim, Sabri Gergis, and Malak Gergis.
His Holiness Pope Cyril VI entrusted His Grace Bishop Gregorios, Bishop of Scientific Research and Higher Studies, and Engineer Fawzi Mansour with following the news of the Virgin’s appearance, gathering information from those who saw her, and recording the miracles that occurred to them in preparation for compiling a report.
The committee issued a statement urging everyone who saw the Virgin in the Church of Zeitoun to provide it with details of their vision and send their written reports to the committee at the Papal residence or to Engineer Fawzi Mansour, Head of the Executive Authority for constructing the Great St. Mark’s Cathedral in the Monastery of Anba Rweiss in Abbasiya.
As soon as the committee’s statement was broadcast, letters poured in from those who saw the Virgin and those who experienced healing miracles afterward.
The committee relies on the initial details Watani published in the first two weeks, and included in its reports everything published afterward, as it confirmed that Watani was accurate in all its publications and did not issue a single report that required denial or correction, as happened with other newspapers regarding the story of the handkerchief, the picture, and others.
Invitation to the Emperor of Ethiopia
His Holiness Pope Cyril VI sent an invitation to His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie to attend. And since His Majesty is currently continuing his travels to some countries, it is expected that the date of his arrival will be set later.
And Bishop Makarios
His Holiness Pope Cyril VI sent an invitation to Bishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus. Other invitations were also sent to several heads of state.
And the Patriarch of Russia
His Holiness Pope Cyril VI extended an invitation to the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches and to Patriarch Alexei, Patriarch of Moscow. His Holiness also sent invitations to religious leaders of various denominations and sects.
Additional Aircraft
International airlines announced that all seats on their planes heading to Egypt are booked until the end of next June for tourists coming to visit the Church of Zeitoun. Additional planes are expected to be allocated to meet the requests of tourists wishing to travel to Cairo, and planes from Ethiopia will arrive carrying Ethiopian tourists to visit the Virgin’s Church.
A new report
Dr. Mohamed Hafiz Ghanem, Minister of Tourism, requested a new report about the measures taken to facilitate visits to the Church of Zeitoun after tens of thousands began flocking there from everywhere and after the surrounding streets became too narrow to handle the large numbers of visitors.
Meeting at the church’s apparition site
Last Tuesday noon, Mr. Adel Taher, Deputy Minister of Tourism, accompanied by Colonel Anwar Zaatar (Chief of Tourism Police) and Mr. William Farid (Director of Tourism Information), visited the church.
A meeting was held at the church guesthouse attended by:
His Grace Bishop Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef
His Grace Bishop Samuel, Bishop of Public Services
His Grace Bishop Gregorios, Bishop of Scientific Research
Father Marcus Ghali, Papal Vicar
Father Gergis Matta, Manager of the Papal Bureau
Father Yuhanna Abdel Massih, Secretary of the Papal Committee for Church Affairs
Father Konstantin Moussa, Priest of the Virgin’s Church in Zeitoun
Mr. Farah Andraos, Secretary General of the Coptic Endowments Authority
Engineers Fawzi Mansour, Mufid Al-Sayfi, Faiz Riyad Al-Deiri
Dr. Bamour Labib
Brigadier Engineer Nimer Ibrahim
Mr. Samir Tawfiq Khalil
General Anwar Salam, Head of North Cairo District
Mr. Hamdi Haraz, Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Executive Office in Zeitoun
His Grace Bishop Samuel opened the meeting, welcoming attendees on behalf of Pope Cyril VI.
Mr. Farah Andraos praised the Ministry of Tourism’s interest in facilitating visits to the church and organizing the means of access.
A religious matter
Mr. Adel Taher, Deputy Minister of Tourism, said that it should be known that we are not dealing with a tourism matter but rather fulfilling a duty in a religious and national matter.
“The appearance of the Virgin is not a tourism issue; it is a religious matter we all respect. We are here to serve the clergy in this matter that the world is concerned about and that the state cares for at the highest levels.”
Colonel Anwar Zaatar responded to a comment from Father Konstantin, the church priest, that organizing the visit, expanding visitor gathering areas, and clearing traffic routes would eliminate visitor complaints, because troublemakers take advantage of crowding and disorder to behave improperly. He added that sufficient Tourism Police forces would be assigned to maintain order.
Methods of organization
There were discussions about organizational methods. The Tourism Police Chief said that pressure must be reduced by removing street vendors, placing a cordon of police officers at the entrances of streets leading to the area to monitor those entering, and allocating parking lots elsewhere.
He suggested that entering the church area should be by passes.
The community of Zeitoun
Mr. Hamdi Haraz, Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Socialist Union in Zeitoun, said:
“The community of Zeitoun is refined, known for kindness, sympathy, and brotherhood. What happened during the crowding did not come from the youths of Zeitoun or residents of the district but from companions of vendors coming from other neighborhoods. These vendors must be prevented from approaching gathering areas, and their companions must be monitored.”
Dr. Kamal Hanna, a member of the Socialist Union, said he personally saw a group of irresponsible youths moving through the crowd in a single line, pushing and behaving carelessly. He suggested enlisting some youths to help maintain order.
Groups from all over the world
Mr. Adel Taher, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism said:
“Soon large groups from all over the world will come to witness the miracle. It is not acceptable for visitors to see any unpleasant sight or any irresponsible mischief. Nothing should hinder the spiritual momentum. A general plan must be prepared now for receiving visitors. This plan must arise from here, from the religious and civic authorities.
The district of Zeitoun, which benefits from the miracle, must preserve this heritage and protect it from any misuse or appearance that contradicts its sanctity. And it is not only Zeitoun that benefits from this heritage, but the entire nation and all its people.”
He suggested preparing a training program for select youths to assist in organizing the visit and guiding visitors to their places, setting areas for tourists and the sick, and preparing accommodations in hotels or pensions in the district.
He said that the garage opposite the church had been ordered evacuated, and the surrounding villas evacuated for use in this matter.
Units of volunteers
Father Henry Ayerout, Director of the Holy Family Schools, requested training units of volunteer church youths to maintain order and guide visitors, as is done at Virgin shrines abroad.
Mr. Adel Taher concluded the meeting held at the Church of Zeitoun guesthouse by saying that the Minister of Tourism wished to attend personally but had delegated him to learn the attendees’ opinions and prepare an urgent report with the proposed measures for organizing the visit and preserving this sacred heritage.
Expansion of the church
An architectural drawing was prepared to expand the Virgin’s Church in Zeitoun so that its building extends into the attached garden. Expansion is expected to begin soon. The current area of the church is 250 meters.
Pruning the trees
The trees surrounding the church were pruned so as not to block the view for those coming to see the Virgin between its domes.
Father Konstantin Moussa, the church priest, had planted these trees in the church garden in 1950.
The pavements around the church were repaved and the streets leading to it were smoothed.
A delegation from Hollywood
A delegation from Hollywood arrived in Cairo to film a documentary about the journey of the Holy Family in Egypt and the appearance of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun, and began preparing for its mission.
A delegation from London
A delegation from “International” Television, sent by United Press, arrived in Cairo by plane yesterday to film a full documentary about the appearance of the Virgin.
On Arab Television
Arab Television on Channel 5, in the program “Dear Viewer,” at 9:30 pm last Thursday, broadcast an investigation about the appearance of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun, prepared by broadcaster Mofid Fawzi and presented by announcer Amani Nashid.
On the television screen, the announcer gave a quick overview of the miracle and newspaper headlines about it, and throughout the 45-minute broadcast, a cross bearing a statue of Christ appeared.
The announcer presented interviews with those who saw the miracle, beginning with His Grace Bishop Gregorios, who recounted the details we had previously published for him.
Religion and science
Bishop Gregorios said in response to a question:
“The appearance of the Virgin is supported by religion and science. From the faith perspective, the spirits of the saints exist and can appear in our world; their appearance is governed by the will of these spirits. Scientifically, the embodiment of spirits has been proven possible. Some scientists specialize in this field, with dedicated departments in many universities around the world. Scientists capture images of embodied spirits using ultraviolet rays.”
We expect joyful events
His Grace, Bishop of Higher Studies, said:
“This appearance is not ordinary; it contains signs and meanings that the coming days may reveal. It is a sign of heaven’s satisfaction with us and its care for us. We expect important joyful events.”
A new healing miracle
Arab Television broadcast an interview with His Grace Bishop Athanasius of Beni Suef about his sighting of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun.
He said he submitted a report about what he saw to His Holiness Pope Cyril VI.
He recounted details of a new healing miracle among the many miracles that occurred to those who saw the Virgin at the church:
A man brought his sister, Miss Sophie Mansour of the Central Bank, who complained of a disease in her hand. Doctors had advised surgery. Before going to the hospital for the scheduled operation, she went to the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun, where she saw the Virgin in the dome and raised her hand toward her. She then felt the pain disappear.
When she returned to the doctor who was to perform the surgery, he said she had been healed miraculously in a way that medicine could not explain.
We saw the Virgin
Arab Television, in its program, showed photos of several people who saw the Virgin and gave their testimonies confirming the incident, both Muslims and Christians.
The secret of the dove
Visitors to the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun speak of the strange phenomena that occur in the sky above the church, including the appearance of a white dove that suddenly takes flight at high speed, forming shapes resembling the number 7, then disappearing.
Since ordinary doves do not fly at night, nor appear glowing white, nor form organized shapes, this phenomenon caught viewers’ attention and made them wonder what it was and what it signified.
Watani contacted Dr. Abdel Moneim El-Muniri, Chief Inspector of the Zoo, to ask him about the characteristics of doves and whether any species could fly at night. He replied:
“What people see in the sky of the Zeitoun district every evening is not doves.
Doves cannot fly at night. No species has this ability. At most, if a dove is forced to fly at night, it flounders in the darkness and lands on the nearest tree or rooftop.
If this is the nature of doves at night, then they cannot possibly achieve the speed people witness, nor can they form shapes like the number 7 or anything similar.
I affirm that what people are seeing is not doves, and I need no evidence to support this affirmation. Otherwise, how could the doves vanish while flying in the air when there are no dovecotes in the area?
It should be known that spiritual beings appear in the form of doves and fly swiftly in the air to deliver heavenly messages.
These doves may be sacred spirits surrounding the Virgin.
In one of the verses: ‘The Holy Spirit appears in the form of a dove.’
There is a hymn in the Coptic Church describing the Virgin as: ‘You are the good dove.’”
New healing miracles of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun
Bishop Gregorios says: “We expect joyful events after this appearance.”
Tens of thousands of citizens stay awake in front of the church every evening
A delegation from Hollywood to film a global documentary about the appearance of the Virgin
I saw her with my own eyes
Mr. Hamdi Haraz, Member of Parliament and Secretary of the Arab Socialist Union in Zeitoun, told Watani how he saw the Virgin.
He said that he was on his way back to his residence in the Imobilia Building in Zeitoun when he met a taxi driver who informed him of the Virgin’s appearance in the dome of the church.
The driver took him in his car to the church, where he saw the Virgin in the opening of the dome as a body of light.
The Member of Parliament added:
“I almost could not believe my eyes. I saw among the people a man leaning on a motorcycle. I asked him to direct the motorcycle lamp toward the window of the dome and to start the engine so that the lamp would shine strongly. He did so, and afterward I saw the Virgin with her luminous body in its place. I believed what I saw, and I began reciting the verses that honor the Virgin and elevate her above the women of the world.
I believe that the appearance of light is a spiritual phenomenon, a herald of goodness.”
New miracles of the Virgin: My daughter was healed
Mr. Hamdi Haraz added that his daughter Nadia, a student, was healed from her illness after she saw the Virgin.
He said she sees her in her sleep, and also in her waking moments.
At dawn last Tuesday, she saw her before she woke up, and she saw the word “Peace” written in light, which gave her hope.
Nadia Hamdi Haraz told Watani how the miracle of her healing occurred after she saw the Virgin:
She said she had spent five days bedridden, and the exam for promotion from the first year of secondary school was approaching. She was certain she would fail.
But she saw the Virgin, who then appeared to her reassuring her that she would recover and succeed in the exam. And indeed, she recovered and passed.
She spoke after losing her voice
On Thursday evening, many healing miracles occurred among the visitors around the Church of Zeitoun during the hymns and prayers recited by the visitors.
Among those healed was Mrs. Suad Mohamed Arab, who came from her village “Nawa” in the district of Shebeen El-Qanater in Qalyubia Governorate. She had suffered from a severe illness that caused her to lose her voice for ten days.
As soon as she arrived at the church, she was healed and spoke, to the astonishment of her relatives, and she returned home in full health.
She screamed, then was cured
Engineer Raouf Attia Ibrahim, of 14 El-Magd Street, Broxie, Heliopolis, recounts that he was standing among the crowds in front of the Church of the Virgin at midnight last Thursday when the scream of a woman was heard.
She had been walking behind the procession of chanters carrying an image of the Virgin.
She approached the priest accompanying the procession, asking him to pray for her so that she might be healed from the evil spirits that afflicted her and caused her to lose consciousness from time to time.
As soon as the priest began praying, the woman let out that scream, and afterward it became clear that she had been freed from what afflicted her.
She smiled at the crowds and thanked the priest, saying that God had cured her in the sanctuary of the Virgin’s Church from what had baffled the doctors.
Sick and elderly rising
Father Samuel Sergius, monk and priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Sbek El-Ahad in Menoufia, said that he was standing leading prayers beside a group of people gathered near the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun.
While he was reciting “Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy” at about 3:45 am last Wednesday, the crowds suddenly shouted and pointed to the sky.
He saw seven glowing white doves flying and piercing the darkness of the sky with great speed. Four of them were in a consistent formation resembling a cross, and the other three followed behind.
The people glorified the Holy Spirit.
At that moment, the elderly and the sick were seen rising, healed.
“These are days of joy and relief. The appearance of the Virgin is a proclamation and a message. It has spread a spiritual revival everywhere.”
She blesses the crowds
Father Gergis Bishara, priest of the Great St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, described his vision of the Virgin at 1:45 am last Sunday.
He said she was moving her hands and blessing the crowds looking up at her while dressed in her white robe.
She was a blessing to everyone who saw her.
The prayer was answered
George Sobhy Gergis Awadallah of St. Mark’s College, 61 Sidi Gaber Street, Cleopatra Baths, Alexandria, wrote to us saying:
“I saw the Virgin and prayed for a friend’s healing, and the prayer was answered.
That was on Thursday evening, May 2, accompanied by Mr. Maher Ragheb Hanna (lawyer), Adel George Labib, and Madeline Sobhy Gergis.
I returned to Alexandria the next day and found that the patient I prayed for had been healed.”
After losing hope of healing
Deacon Tawfik Hanin Saad of St. George Church in Matariya said that his wife became ill when an evil spirit afflicted her body.
He had lost hope of her healing until he took her to the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun.
As soon as the Virgin appeared in one of the domes on the evening of “Job’s Wednesday,” his wife trembled, the evil spirit left her, and she began participating with them in the prayers and hymns after previously being unable to speak or move.
A new phenomenon
The phenomenon noticed last week is that healing miracles were no longer limited to those who saw the Virgin, but extended to many visitors to the church.
They breathe the sacred breezes in the place where the Virgin appeared and feel healing and recovery.
My son saw the light of the Virgin
General Anwar Salam, Head of East Cairo District, told me:
“My son Ismail, a student at the Leonardo da Vinci Institute, saw the Virgin in the church dome as a glowing light.
He came astonished, describing what he had seen.”
General Salam added that Lieutenant Colonel Anwar Hafiz saw with his own eyes the Virgin in the church dome as a luminous body of light.
Bright as the sun
Engineer Abdullah Mattar of the Ministry of Supply, 88 Rod El-Farag Street, Cairo, said that he was with Engineer Kamal Fahmy of Agricultural Reform when they saw the Virgin as a shining figure between the two front domes at 4 am last Sunday.
The waves of crowds pushed them away from the viewing area, but when they returned, they found the Virgin still radiant in her luminous appearance, and she remained that way until 5 am.
Engineer Abdullah Mattar added:
“I will never forget this sight. I will return to see it again, even many times.”
Divine light
Pilot Officer Naguib Anton saw the Virgin for the first time on Tuesday evening, April 23, moving inside the window of the church dome in her sky-blue robe, surrounded by a divine halo of light tinged with gold.
He saw her again on Tuesday evening, April 30, carrying the child Jesus and nodding her head toward the crowds as if greeting and blessing them.
This vision filled his emotions, and he became eager to pass by the Church of Zeitoun in his coming and going after finishing his work.
Two adjacent doves, then glowing light
Dr. Hakim Amin of 8 Salem Salem Street in Agouza went to the Church of Zeitoun at midnight last Monday.
At 2:30 am, he saw two pure white doves flying side by side.
Half an hour later, he saw a glowing light inside the northwestern dome and a star moving from the western side to the eastern side of the church.
“These are spiritual phenomena that deepen belief in the other world.”
Inside the dome window
Dr. Ibrahim Rizk, Director of Shahin Pharmacy in Faggala, 38 Street 11 in the Fourth District of Heliopolis, said that he was with Mr. Wageeh Maher, an employee of the Ministry of Irrigation, when he saw the Virgin at 10:30 pm the previous Tuesday.
He saw her twice
Mr. Naguib Nicola, Tax Officer of El-Waily, continues going to the church with his wife and children every other night.
Last Saturday evening, they saw the Virgin twice.
The first time was above the dome, moving calmly right and left.
The second time was later that evening, inside the window of the northern dome, holding the child Jesus.
“The sight never leaves our minds. At dawn last Wednesday, a bright light appeared outside the western dome. I saw two doves flying toward the west, and then another dove flying toward the east.”
She appeared after the two doves flew
Dr. Abdullah Mikhail of 12 Zaki Street in Cairo, Deputy Director at the Vister Scientific Medical Office, said that he saw the Virgin behind the cross atop the large dome at dawn last Sunday.
The crowds pushed him out of the viewing area, so he went to one of the houses overlooking the church and then saw the Virgin again, “filling my eyes, heart, and soul.”
He felt afterward a deep, overwhelming peace.
In the sanctuary of the Virgin
Dr. Labib Barsoum, dentist, continues going to the Church of Zeitoun with his wife and children to see the Virgin.
He went three consecutive nights this week.
Despite working all day until around 10 pm, he said he felt no fatigue:
“The sacred breezes in the place where the Virgin appears remove all fatigue.
In the sanctuary of the Virgin’s Church, one never tires of standing and waiting to see the luminous image as she overlooks the crowds.”
It flashed, then disappeared
Fawziya Abdel Mageed – 49 El-Khalifa El-Maamoun Street in Heliopolis – saw the Virgin at dawn on the Tuesday before last, between the two front domes at the cross above the central dome.
She was wearing a pure white dress, and her luminous body was sparkling with light.
Her vision was preceded by the flight of eight doves forming the shape of the number 7.
Healed from paralysis
Dr. Lundy Abdel Malak, owner of Lundy Pharmacy in Al-Rawda Square, recounted that Enshirah Mahmoud – of Youssef El-Degwy Street – had been suffering from paralysis that kept her from walking.
She went to the Church of Zeitoun leaning on two crutches, and as soon as she saw the Virgin, her legs strengthened, she was cured of the paralysis, and she threw the crutches into the road and returned home walking on her own feet.
She then went to the doctor who had been treating her, Dr. Mohamed Saeed El-Hadidi, professor at the Faculty of Medicine, and he was astonished when he saw her.
He almost could not believe what he was hearing until he saw her walking as if she had never suffered paralysis at all.
Poems of prose
The appearance of the Virgin inspired several writers to compose poems of prose.
Among them were:
Mr. Naguib Nashid,
Fawzi Armanios of Alexandria,
Alfi Iskandar Shenouda of Deirout (South),
Eid Halim Ayad of Beni Suef,
Mikhaeil Kamel Boutros of Minya,
Suleiman Megahid Warda of Mansoura,
and the students Aida Yacoub Hanna of Moharram Bey in Alexandria,
and Ne’ma Gergis Awad of Shubra Secondary School.
Among the witnesses
The readers’ mail of Watani was filled with letters from readers speaking about seeing the Virgin.
Among them were letters from:
Atef Amin Zakhary, teacher – 22 Nazih Khalifa Street in Heliopolis,
Wedad Azar Ibrahim, Art Education Inspector in the North Cairo Educational District,
Helmy Elia Halim – 67 Street 4, Madinet El-Tahrir in Imbaba,
Samiha Ragheb Beshay – 13 El-Gad Street in Al-Daher,
Banoub Farag Hanna (retired),
Michel Tawfik Hanein of Menya El-Qamh district,
Amin Salama – 1095 Nile Corniche in Garden City,
Amin Shaker Dawood – 21 Zananiri Street in Shubra,
Lotfy Sami El-Nemery of Kobri El-Kobba,
Dr. Wadeed Sadeq Abdel-Sayed,
… and others.
The Governor of Cairo at the church
His Grace Bishop Samuel, Bishop of Public Services, stated that after the visit of Mr. Saad Zayed, Governor of Cairo, to the church, immediate measures were taken to pave the streets of the area and build curbs for the roads surrounding the church.
Cairo’s executive bodies continue monitoring the implementation of the decisions and directives issued so the church area appears in a dignified manner.
Regular visiting schedules will be set for delegations from the governorates so that their arrival at irregular times does not increase the pressure on the area.
Feast of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun
His Grace Bishop Samuel, Bishop of Public Services, celebrated the Mass of the Feast of the Virgin at her church in Zeitoun on Thursday morning.
The Mass was attended by His Grace Bishop Gregorios, Bishop of Higher Studies and Scientific Research, and Bishop Agabius of Deirout, along with many clergy.
His Grace Bishop Samuel had also celebrated the Vespers incense offering at the church on Wednesday evening, in which Father Marcos Ghali, Vicar of the Patriarchate, Father Boutros El-Gohary, priest of St. Anthony Church, and Father Youhanna Abdel-Messeeh, Secretary of the Papal Committee for Church Affairs, participated.
The church was crowded with worshippers, and thousands stood outside its courtyard listening to the prayers broadcast to them through loudspeakers provided by the Pharaonic Institute.
The Art and Culture Salon presents the miracle of the Virgin’s appearance
The Art and Culture Salon of the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) will hold its monthly cultural session at 8 pm next Tuesday.
Its program will be devoted exclusively to the topic of the appearance of the Virgin’s apparition at Saint Mary’s Church in the district of Zeitoun.
Attending will be His Grace Bishop Athanasius, His Grace Bishop Gregorios, and Father Qostantine Moussa, the priest of the church.
Speaking on behalf of science will be Dr. Sadiq Antonius Baqtur, Dr. Malak Gergis, and Dr. Youssef Amoun.
Testimonies will be given by eyewitnesses:
Mr. Zaki Shenouda,
Mr. Sobhi Rizq (lawyers),
Mr. Massad Sadiq, journalist at Watani,
Mr. Kamel Hanna, inspector at the Ministry of Education,
and a number of ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Hamdi Qandil of Arab Television will moderate the discussion, and the poet Abdel-Bari Abu Al-Aynain will recite poetry.
Not a word of reproach, only a remark
Article by: Anton Naguib Matar
On April 14, we announced to the world the news of the Virgin’s appearance at her church in Zeitoun.
The first “headline” on the front page of Watani was:
“Thousands see the Virgin in a halo of light appearing over the dome of Zeitoun Church.”
At the end of the report we wrote:
“We will publish next week full details from eyewitnesses who saw the image of the Virgin with their own eyes.”
The news shook the world, flew into its newspapers, and was broadcast by foreign radio stations.
Some friends and colleagues approached me anxiously, saying that the daily local newspapers would seize this news, send their reporters to prepare extensive coverage of this unique apparition, and publish it before Watani released its next issue, costing the paper the fruit of the global journalistic scoop it had achieved.
I told these friends and colleagues that this matter does not concern me from their perspective, which I fully appreciate.
What concerns me is that the blessed apparition receives the attention it deserves from the press and all media.
A week passed without a single reporter uttering a word, and silence cloaked their offices, while these newspapers remained preoccupied with the woman who “ate her husband’s arm,” or with the woman who married three men at the same time, or with the tenth marriage of a certain dancer or actress.
I was astonished.
Does the Virgin, whom all citizens, Muslims and Christians alike, believe in along with her son Christ, not deserve a mention? Just a mention?
Even if we overlook this, do they not realize the great benefits the Virgin’s appearance could bring to our beloved country through the arrival of tourist groups, and the resulting influx of foreign currency we desperately need because of the material wars and economic pressure imposed upon us by colonial powers?
And beyond that, does this important news not serve as implicit publicity for our homeland everywhere, placing its name on every tongue?
On the following Sunday, April 21, Watani was issued with a front-page headline that read:
“Thousands see the Virgin, worldwide attention to the miracle of her appearance in Zeitoun…,”
with eyewitness accounts and a thoroughly illustrated investigative report supported by the words of many who had seen her.
Finally, one of the daily newspapers began to react, publishing an article titled:
“Did the Virgin Really Appear?”
To be fair, Mr. Hamdi Qandil, the well-known broadcaster, was the first to report the news from Watani, mentioning the world’s interest in it on his television program “Press Commentary” on Arab Television.
In the third week, newspapers and magazines began publishing extensively, confirming the apparition, documenting the miracles that occurred in healing many hopelessly ill patients, and often quoting our eyewitness testimonies and miracle reports.
This is not a word of reproach, only a remark I offer, hoping it may benefit us in the days to come.
It is enough that the state and its officials have shown such concern for this unique historic event, putting forth all resources so that the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun may become a local and global shrine visited by people of all races and religions.
