1920
A devout Coptic family, Khalil, is told in a dream by the Blessed Virgin to build a Coptic Church in her honor on their land in Zeitoun, prophesying a special blessing in 50 years.
1924
The Church of St. Mary in Zeitoun is completed and its large dome is built.
April 2, 1968 (Tuesday night, 8:30 PM)
The first apparition of the Virgin Mary occurs over the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mary in Zeitoun, Cairo. Initially seen by Muslim garage workmen, including Farouk Mohammed Atwa, who thought it was a woman about to commit suicide. The Lady appears in a luminous form, then rises and reveals herself.
April 3, 1968
The apparitions continue.
April 9, 1968
Wagih Rizk Matta moves to photograph the apparition but the Virgin appears to him as a cloud.
April 10, 1968
Father Costantin Moussa, dean of St. Mary Church of Zeitoun, witnesses the Virgin Mary in form of a bust and half figure.
April 13, 1968 (early hours, 3:40 AM)
Wagih Rizk Matta successfully photographs the Virgin Mary apparition, and his arm injury is instantaneously cured.
April 14, 1968
Watani newspaper publishes the first front-page headline “Thousands watched the Virgin in a halo of light as she appeared on the dome of the Church at Zeitoun.”
April 21, 1968
The Egyptian newspaper “Wantani” records the first known miracle at Zeitoun: Farouk Atwa is healed from gangrene.
April 23, 1968
Pope Kyrillos VI establishes a commission to investigate the Zeitoun phenomena.
April 24, 1968
Father Ibrahim Abdel Sayed, the first Coptic Orthodox priest in the US, visits Zeitoun.
April 27 – May 15, 1968
The visions reach a “crescendo of glorious splendour.”
April 28, 1968
Cardinal Stephanos I Sidarouss confirms the Zeitoun apparitions as real. Michel Nil is granted an audience with Cardinal Stephanos I Sidarouss, who strengthens his faith in the Zeitoun events.
April 29, 1968
Siham Shenouda witnesses the apparition, describing it as “fluorescent and colored” and accompanied by angels and pigeons. Bishop Athanasius of Beni Suef describes seeing the Virgin Mary from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Zeitoun.
April 30, 1968
The apparition lasts for over two hours (from 2:45 a.m. to 5 a.m.). Theresa Gadahla Beshai, cured of polio, witnesses the apparition at Zeitoun.
May 4, 1968
Papal Declaration by Pope Kyrillos VI confirming the authenticity of the apparitions.
May 5, 1968
The Papal statement by Pope Kyrillos VI is headlined in all six Cairo newspapers. International newspapers like The London Times, Le Figaro, and The New York Times also report on the apparitions. The Egyptian Gazette publishes “Virgin Mary appeared at Zeitoun – Kyrillos VI.”
May 6, 1968
Over 50,000 people converge at the church.
May 7, 1968
Al Ahram newspaper reports that multitudes are gathering around the church. The Telegraph and The Times also report on the apparitions.
May 10, 1968
Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III issue a “Common Declaration” recognizing the identity of their faith in the Incarnate Word, bridging a 15-century theological divide.
May 21, 1968 (4:30 AM)
The Virgin Mary appears on the southeastern dome of the church in the shape of a half statue.
May 29, 1968
Light apparition at 10:00 p.m.
May 30, 1968
Dr. William Nashed Zaki, suffering from hernia, is healed at Zeitoun.
June 1, 1968
Pope Kyrillos VI celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family in Zeitoun. Dr. Zarif F. Malaty witnesses the apparition at 9:15 p.m.
June 5, 1968
Light and a small star appear around 3:00 a.m.
June 7, 1968
Bright light appears three times at 10:30 p.m., a star falls, and a palm tree appears at 11:00 p.m.
June 7, 1968
Mrs. Lynda Kaamel, who had paralyzed left arm for 12 years, is cured after witnessing the Virgin Mary apparition in Zeitoun.
June 9, 1968 (birthday of Our Lady in Coptic calendar)
Bishop Gregorius sees luminous birds flying swiftly and disappearing. Mrs. Abdel Sayed Ibrahim is healed from kidney disease after witnessing the Virgin in Zeitoun.
June 9, 1968 (reported)
Mrs. Abdel Sayed Ibrahim from Khartoum, Sudan, reports being healed of chronic pains, stomach and kidney issues, and high blood pressure after seeing the Virgin in Zeitoun.
June 11, 1968
A miracle occurs where a water container, dry at 9:00 p.m., is filled with a liquid sweet as honey by 10:30 p.m.
June 14, 1968
Light and three stars appear at 10:00 p.m.
June 19, 1968
Light appears at 10:00 p.m.
June 21, 1968
Light and one star appear at 10:00 p.m.
June 26, 1968
Two stars appear.
June 27, 1968
Wagih Rizk Matta’s car overturns.
June 28, 1968
Three stars appear.
July 3, 1968
Light over the small dome in the sky.
July 6, 1968
Four stars appear at 4:30 a.m., and light appears in the dome two times.
July 10, 1968
A little light appears.
July 12, 1968
White light in the dome appears as bright as the sun at 11:30 p.m., and one star falls over it and again at 1:30 a.m.
July 17, 1968
No light appears.
July 19, 1968
A big white bird sitting on the big dome appears at 6:00 p.m., then flies away. A star appears at 10:30 p.m. There is the scent of incense. Many people are present.
July 24, 1968
A little bit of light in the small dome, and light in the sky over the small dome, three stars, one pigeon appear at 10:00 p.m.
July 25, 1968
One pigeon over the procession in the street, two big long-shaped pigeons appear. They fly over, then another small one over the church and a light.
July 26, 1968
Three stars and many people are present.
August 1, 1968
13 pigeons appear from 9:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
August 7, 1968
Pearl Zaki and her family visit Zeitoun.
August 8, 1968
First light appears at 11:00 p.m.
August 9, 1968
One pigeon, one star, and a small light in the sky.
August 12, 1968
A white pigeon appears at 7:00 p.m.
August 13, 1968
Pearl Zaki sees the Virgin Mary, confirming the apparitions. Very bright light appears over and in the dome at 4:00 a.m., one pigeon, one star.
August 14, 1968
Very bright light appears over and in the dome.
August 15, 1968
Light in the church at 9:30 p.m., then at 11:00 p.m. light on the cross over the big dome; afterward, on the small domes and then over the whole church.
August 16, 1968
A white pigeon appears over the street at 9:00 p.m.; many stars, and a small light over the street at 5:00 a.m.
August 17, 1968
Watani newspaper reports on the Virgin Mary’s appearance near the eastern dome.
August 18, 1968
Virgin appears again in the garden.
August 22, 1968
Assumption St. Mary Orthodox, one pigeon, one star.
August 29, 1968
Six pigeons appear at 3:00 a.m., one healing.
September 5, 1968
One pigeon ascends over the dome; Mother of God at 10:00 p.m.
September 12, 1968
One star appears at 8:00 p.m., and at 2:00 a.m. the apparition, one more star directly over.
September 19, 1968
Light and two pigeons appear around 10:00 p.m.
1968-1971
The Virgin Mary appears multiple times over the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mary in Zeitoun, Cairo, witnessed by thousands of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and unbelievers. Healings and other supernatural phenomena occur. The Coptic Orthodox Church and the Egyptian government officially confirm the apparitions.
1969
Father Jerome Palmer visits Cairo to gather material for the first English booklet on the Zeitoun apparitions.
October 1970 onwards
The frequency of apparitions diminishes to an average of one a month.
1971
Pope Kyrillos VI returns the major part of St. Mark’s relics to Egypt from Venice.
May 10, 1973
Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III issue a “Common Declaration,” addressing the 5th-century theological division.
1974
Reverend Father Xavier Eid states that the message of Zeitoun is valuable for the whole world.
1977 (Autumn)
Michel Nil vows to write an article on Zeitoun if he finishes “by Epiphany.”
1978 (April 24)
Michel Nil begins his pilgrimage and investigation at Zeitoun, interviewing witnesses.
1980 (January)
Michel Nil finishes his re-reading of the text for printing, noting the ongoing threats to world peace.
August 8-11, 1986
A paper on the Lady of Zeitoun is presented at the annual conference of The American Scientific Affiliation in Houghton College, NY.