Apparitions of the Virgin Mary around the world and their significance
The Author: Fr. Abdel Massih Baseet Abu El-Khair priest of St Mary's Church in Mostorod
Original Book Title: ظهورات العذراء حول العالم ودلالتها
The Publisher: Fr. Abdel Massih Baseet Abu El-Khair
Publication Year: 1996
Book Language: Arabic
ISBN: 977-19-0634-8
The Author
Hegumen Fr. Abdel Massih Baseet Abu El-Khair priest of St Mary’s Church in Mostorod, he is a professor at the Coptic Seminary college and the Bible Institute in Shubra El Kheima diocese, Also professor of biblical criticism at the Coptic Institute of Care & Education with many religious publications.
Importance of the book
The book provides an overview of the most important appearances of the Virgin Mary in the 20th Century all over the world, and tries to figure the meaning of her messages behind these apparitions.
The Holy Virgin is the ambassador for the Heavenly king
He explains why the Virgin particularly appears so much, unlike the rest of the saint by mentioning:
“because she is the mother of the incarnate God, king of kings, she has become the dignified mother of God and queen of all the saints. And since she is the mother of the king, she has become throughout history the ambassador of the Heavenly king to earth, and she appears in adversity and pain carrying messages from heaven to earth, messages of the King of kings to humans,. volumes of books are filled with her apparitions throughout history, messages she carried and the miracles that God made through her hands in all ages .”
The Coptic Orthodox Church position on the apparitions of the virgin in Egypt
The writer comments on the position of the Coptic Orthodox Church by saying: ” on the contrary to what some imagine , the church takes a very cautious stand towards these apparitions, I could even say the church doubts when someone informs it of any apparitions following the Holy Bible’s saying ” Do not believe every spirit” ( 1JN 4:1) and “test everything” (1Thes 5:21). Usually the church does not rush behind any report of an appearance whether it is the Virgin Mary or any saint, but wait a while, if these appearances are repeated and there are signs indicating it is from God , then the church assigns a committee of scholars and experts, from clergy and scientific scholars who are well recognized for their efficiency, integrity and impartiality, with no pre existing opinion in order to study and examine everything with scrutiny and complete impartiality, in an abstract scientific style, and if possible to see the apparitions themselves if it is recurrent, also study the miracles that occurred as a result of it and its consequences .
Why these days in particular?
the writer believes that there is a close relation between the apparitions of St Mary in the 20th century and the many signs of the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus as mentioned in the Holy Bible, and it is to strengthen the faith. Then he looks into the apparitions of the Virgin in Egypt, the most important of which is her appearance in her church in El Zeitoun neighbourhood and wonders why? enumerating the reasons, saying:
“Now the question is why did St Mary appear so much in the 20th century? did she appear to to lead people to faith? was her appearance in Egypt, in El Zeitoun form 1968 to 1970, in the era between defeat and victory, was it consolation and hope, specially as she held an olive branch in her hand? was her appearance in Shoubra1986 that was followed by a painful era of terrorism, and her image crying blood in Wadi El Natroun the following year also a message of consolation and hope? was her appearances to the wounded and afflicted world consolation and hope or a final warning to the whole world before it is too late?
The apparitions of the Virgin all over the continents
the author mentioned 16 appearances (or miracle) of the Virgin within the 2 past centuries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, some of which were accompanied by messages from St Mary about repentance and return to God. In Egypt he focused on 2 appearances, the first is her apparition in her church at Al Zeitoun area, which extended for about 3 years, and the 2nd is in the church of St Demiana in Shoubra area. His reverence confirmed that she did not leave oral or written messages in both, but she left a great spiritual impact on the souls of the Coptic people, He confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and there is no logical doubts raised about them.