Newspaper: Al-Gomhuria
Publication date: May 5, 1968
Language: Arabic
The Apparition of the Virgin Mary
Accompanied by Cases of Healing from Incurable Diseases
His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI announced in an official statement yesterday that the Holy Virgin Mary has indeed appeared in her church in Zeitoun..His Holiness had appointed a church committee to investigate the apparition of the Virgin Mary, and the committee confirmed that it had indeed occurred.
The international press took great interest in the news and sent their representatives, who held a press conference at the Papal Residence, during which they directed many questions to His Holiness the Pope.
This is the fourth time in human history that the Virgin Mary has appeared: the first was in France, the second in Portugal, and the third in Arab Jerusalem fourteen years ago.
The Papal statement announced that the apparition of the Virgin Mary was accompanied by cases of healing from certain incurable diseases, and that the church where the apparition occurred is located on Matariya Road, the historically established route along which the Holy Family passed during their stay in Egypt.
Large crowds of citizens gathered at the Coptic Orthodox Church where the apparition occurred, and all agreed in their description of the appearance, its form, and its location.
The Papal Residence Officially Announces the Appearance of the Virgin Mary in Her Church in Zeitoun. The Bishop of Beni Suef describes: how he saw the Virgin Mary for two and a half hours?
Yesterday afternoon, the Papal Residence in Cairo witnessed an international press conference attended by representatives of the press, radio, and television. During the conference, His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI delivered a statement regarding the apparition of the Virgin Mary at her church in the Zeitoun district. The statement was broadcast in both Arabic and English.
His Holiness had formed a special committee of clergy and bishops to investigate the matter. They examined the site and confirmed their findings in reports submitted to the Pope.
Also attending the press conference was Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, who stated that he personally witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary for two hours and fifteen minutes. He said:
“I saw her in her full form at dawn last Tuesday, from 2:45 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. Two white doves appeared around her, and a cloud-like mist gathered and suddenly became illuminated.
I saw the luminous, cloud-like form filled with light, moving, nodding her head, and bestowing blessings, and all those present saw her.”
How did she move?
– “When she moved, she would become a line of light, then turn her face, to the point that people were almost overcome.”
Anba Athanasius then added:
“Believe me, I am unable to describe the spiritual state.”
Did she appear again?
– “She appeared several times. On one occasion, she appeared for a long period, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and ascended above the dome.”
Has the authenticity of this occurrence been formally verified?
“We are beyond all doubt. Had the Patriarchate not exercised complete care and precision, it would not have delayed issuing its statement until today. This miracle has been stirring the world for more than a month.”
A Spoken Message
Did the Virgin Mary deliver a spoken message?
Anba Samuel, Bishop of Services, replied:
“The silent message is stronger than the spoken message.”
Journalists and broadcasters from around the world continued their questions:
Was she seen only by Christians?
Anba Gregory, Bishop of Scientific Research and Higher Studies, replied:
“She appeared to people of different faiths; she appeared to everyone. This is a blessed gathering of the sons of this blessed nation.”
Had the Virgin Mary appeared before?
Anba Samuel said:
“She appeared once in France, the second time in Fatima in Portugal, and the third time in Arab Jerusalem on June 21, 1954. This is the fourth time in the world.”
The Color of Her Garments
One of the journalists then asked Anba Athanasius about the Virgin Mary’s garments and their color. He replied:
“I saw the complete form, surrounded by a halo that extended from above the head to around the entire body. Each time she appeared, she manifested different characteristics. When I saw her, the predominant color was light blue.”
Position Concerning the Jews
In response to a question about his interpretation of the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary in the year of the military defeat, Anba Samuel, Bishop of Services, said that this apparition is a good sign, affirming that God will be with us. He stated that the Virgin Mary grieves over what has taken place in Jerusalem, where the holy sites were taken over by the Jews, and that she does not approve of the actions committed by the Jews in the holy places.
Anba Samuel went on to say that God, who sees all things, is not pleased with what is happening in Jerusalem and is not unaware. He affirmed that God will be with us and will grant us victory soon, God willing.
Eyewitnesses
During the conference, Dr. Louis Morcos, Head of the English Department at the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University, came forward and stated that he personally witnessed the Virgin Mary on two occasions. The first was from 3:45 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, and the second from 3:00 a.m. to 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30. The first appearance was partial, while the second appeared as a column of light forming the shape of the Virgin Mary.
Another attendee at the conference, Zaki Shenouda, a director at the Afro-Asian Conference, also came forward and confirmed that he had witnessed the Virgin Mary. He stated:
“This is a testimony I confess before God, and I bear full responsibility for it.”
The Route of the Holy Family
The Papal statement declared that since the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 1968, corresponding to 24 Baramhat 1684 A.M., the apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Light, have continued at the Coptic Orthodox Church bearing her name on Tomanbay Street in the Zeitoun district, located on Matariya Road in Cairo—the historically established route along which the Holy Family passed during their journeys while residing in Egypt.
These apparitions occurred on many different nights and have not yet ceased, appearing in various forms: at times in her full form, and at other times as her upper half, surrounded by a shimmering halo of radiant light. On some occasions she appeared through openings in the domes on the church roof, and at other times outside the domes. She would move and walk above them, bow before the upper cross, shining with brilliant light, facing the onlookers and blessing them with her hands and the gestures of her holy head.
At times she appeared in the form of a brilliant white cloud, or as pure light preceded by swift spiritual forms resembling doves. The apparitions often continued for long periods, sometimes lasting up to two hours and fifteen minutes, as occurred at dawn on Tuesday, April 30, 1968, corresponding to 22 Baramouda 1684 A.M., when her full radiant form appeared from 2:45 a.m. until 5:00 a.m.
Miraculous Healings
The statement went on to affirm that many thousands of people of different religions and denominations, including foreigners, clergy, scholars, professionals, and individuals from all walks of life, witnessed the apparition and declared with certainty that they had seen her. The vast crowds agreed in their descriptions of the appearance, its form, location, and timing, with unanimous testimonies that render the apparition of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Light, in this area a distinct and elevated event, beyond the need for further statement or confirmation.
The statement further noted that the apparition was accompanied by remarkable signs of miraculous healing for many individuals, verified scientifically and supported by collective testimonies. The Papal Residence has been gathering information regarding all of the above through individuals and committees of clergy who investigated the matter, personally witnessed the apparition, and documented it in reports submitted to His Holiness Anba Kyrillos VI. An official booklet will be issued containing the names, cases, and addresses of those who experienced these miracles.
Investigation by: Abu El-Haggag Hafez
