Newspaper: Watani
Publication date: May 5, 1968
Language: Arabic

Papal Headquarters Confirms the Apparition of the Virgin
Miraculous Healings Among Those Who Witnessed Her
Tourism Ministry Issues Major Report on the Apparition and Its Miracles
Report and Watani Newspaper Sent to All Egyptian Embassies and Tourism Offices Worldwide

Press Conference at the Papal Residence Attended by Representatives of the Press, Radio, and Television.

The Apparition of the Virgin Confirmed Beyond All Doubt
Her Appearance Came to Affirm This Truth in a World Dominated by Doubt

The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate has officially confirmed, beyond all doubt, the continuous apparition of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Zeitoun throughout the past month.
Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, who read the statement issued by the Papal Residence, declared that “the repeated appearances of the Virgin confirm that she herself has manifested in a world overshadowed by doubt.”
His Grace Anba Samuel, Bishop of Social Services, announced that a book will soon be published containing the testimonies of those who have seen the Virgin and the miracles associated with her appearance.
Anba Gregorios, Bishop of Higher Studies and Scientific Research, added that “this apparition is a heavenly sign from God,  a message of divine assurance that He is with us, a harbinger of good.”
The press conference, held yesterday at 1 p.m. at the Papal Residence of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, was attended by a large number of journalists, representatives of local and international news agencies, radio, and television. Among them were correspondents of leading world newspapers who had come specifically to record the announcement.
Present from the clergy were:
Their Graces Anba Samuel, Bishop of Social Services; Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef; Anba Gregorios, Bishop of Higher Studies and Scientific Research; and Anba Abram, Bishop of Fayoum. Also attending were Father Girgis Matta, Director of the Patriarchate; Father Markos Ghali, its Deputy; Father Boutros El-Gohary; Father Yohanna Abdel-Masih; and Father Benjamin Kamel, Secretary to His Holiness the Pope. From the laity, attendees included Mr. Farah Andraos, Secretary-General of the Endowments Authority; Mr. William Farid, Director of Information at the Ministry of Tourism; Dr. Youssef Yacoub; and Professors Nerouz Banoub and Abdu Armanious.
Anba Athanasius opened the conference by welcoming the Egyptian and foreign press and media representatives on behalf of His Holiness Pope Cyril VI, before reading aloud, in Arabic, the official statement of the Papal Residence affirming the authenticity of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Coptic Orthodox Church of Zeitoun.
He then followed with an English translation of the statement.

Press Conference of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
A Good sign

After the statement was read, reporters from various newspapers and news agencies began directing their questions to the representatives of the Patriarchate.
A correspondent from the Associated Press asked: “How do you explain the occurrence of this miracle in the aftermath of the defeat?”

Anba Gregorios, Bishop of Higher Studies and Scientific Research, replied: “Perhaps this apparition is a good sign, a heavenly sign from God that He is with us and will be in our favor. It comes to lift the spirits of our people, for this crisis is but a temporary one, soon to pass.
The Virgin, saddened by the occupation of the Holy Places in Jerusalem by the Jews, has manifested herself here as a sign from Heaven that God does not approve of what is happening in Jerusalem, and that victory shall be ours, God willing.”
Anba Gregorios then repeated his answer in English for the benefit of the foreign correspondents present.

After Careful Investigation

Anba Samuel, Bishop of Public Services, answered several questions from foreign journalists, saying:

“His Holiness Pope Cyril VI took great interest in the reports of the Virgin’s apparition at the Church of Zeitoun. He appointed several committees to investigate the matter and submit a detailed report. He chose not to make any public announcement until the investigations were complete and the findings fully verified.”

He added that the Patriarchate is preparing a book documenting all related events and miracles.

Anba Athanasius then confirmed: “The apparition has been established beyond any doubt.”

A Practical Message

One reporter asked whether the Virgin had conveyed any particular message during her appearances.

Anba Athanasius replied: “The official statement from the Patriarchate mentioned that the apparition was accompanied by two clear signs:
First, a revival of faith in an age that needs most to deepen belief in God within people’s hearts.
Second, the miraculous healings, conversions, and spiritual renewals that followed the apparition. There is no message greater or more important than this.”

The reporter pressed further:

“Did the Virgin deliver any spoken message to anyone during her appearance?”

Anba Samuel responded: “The practical message revealed through this miraculous event is far stronger than any verbal one.”

Countless Miracles

When asked whether any tangible, physical miracles had been verified, Anba Samuel replied: “The number of miracles is beyond counting. Many newspapers have already written about them, and we are now compiling and verifying all available records.”

Those Who Saw Her

One reporter asked who among those present had actually seen the apparition.
Anba Samuel replied that many had witnessed it, among them Anba Athanasius, who observed the Virgin for two hours and fifteen minutes in a clear, continuous, and radiant manifestation.
Mr. Farah Andraws added that Anba Athanasius himself would recount the details of his experience.

Beyond All Doubt

Anba Athanasius then said: “As stated in the official declaration from the Patriarchate, the apparition took various forms, the most magnificent of which was her full, life-sized figure. I myself witnessed her in this glorious form at 2:45 a.m. last Tuesday.
Two doves appeared first, followed by a faint light that soon intensified like a fluorescent lamp. Within it, a luminous figure took shape all at once , one could say it ‘appeared in a flash.’
She remained visible until 5:00 a.m., moving gently from right to left, extending her hands toward the people as if greeting and blessing them. I cannot possibly describe to you the beauty of that vision.
For two hours and fifteen minutes she remained perfectly visible, until the crowd was nearly overcome with awe. If we were ever to ask a filmmaker to reproduce such a scene, he could not.
It was a spiritual manifestation, radiant with blessing, beyond imitation or capture.” He added: “On a previous night, the Virgin appeared above the central dome, from 11:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. A brilliant light surrounded the cross, turning it into a flame of pure light.” Anba Athanasius concluded: “Our testimony leaves no room for doubt.
Had the Patriarchate not sought absolute accuracy before issuing its statement, we would not have waited this long, a full month, while news of the miracle echoed throughout the world.”

The Vatican and the Miracle

One reporter asked, “Why has the Vatican not announced the miracle?”

Anba Athanasius replied, “And how could the Vatican announce the miracle before we do?”

Eyewitnesses

Several attendees who had seen the Virgin stood up to describe their experiences.
Engineer Fouzi Mansour, head of the Executive Committee for the construction of the new Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassia, stated that among the witnesses was Dr. Louis Marcos, Head of the English Department at Ain Shams University.
Dr. Marcos himself then took the floor, explaining that he had submitted a written testimony to the Patriarchate describing his vision of the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday and again at 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, when light radiated from her luminous form.
Dr. Mina Tadros also testified that he and his family had seen her clearly, her body radiant with light.
Mr. Zaki Shenouda, lawyer and Director of the Afro-Asian Conference, recounted his experience, details of which are published in the special investigative report in this issue. He concluded: “I can truly say that I have been born anew after seeing the Virgin.” He personally translated his testimony into English for the international correspondents.

A Convergence of Blessings

When asked about the significance of the apparition occurring just as the Coptic Church prepared to celebrate the 19th centenary of Saint Mark’s martyrdom, Anba Samuel replied: “It is the convergence of blessings, sacred events meeting together as a harbinger of good and a sign of divine grace overflowing upon us.”

He noted that the Virgin had previously appeared in Lourdes, Fatima, and Jerusalem, and that her fourth appearance in Zeitoun was unique and unparalleled: “This time, her apparition continues repeatedly, not limited to Christians alone but witnessed by all citizens, a beautiful sign of blessed unity.”

Prayer and Miracles

Father Girgis Matta, Director of the Patriarchal Office, added: “The East has always been the cradle of spirituality and faith.
If the miracle of the Virgin’s apparition has come in our time, it reminds us of the unceasing prayers of His Holiness Pope Cyril VI, morning and evening.
Miracles are always linked with prayer, and we await more through the prayers of this man of prayer.”

Characteristics of the Apparition

In response to a question about the Virgin’s appearance, Anba Athanasius described it vividly:

“She appeared in clear form, her robe moving gently as she glided above the dome.
Her color was a soft light blue, sometimes surrounded by a halo around her body, and at other times a radiant ring above her head.” He concluded: “The Patriarchate has become completely certain of the apparition. The continued and varied manifestations are meant to affirm its truth, a heavenly confirmation in a world overshadowed by doubt.”

Cairo lives amid a miracle

Tourism Ministry Report Sent to Embassies and Offices Worldwide

The Ministry of Tourism’s Information Department issued a detailed report on the miracle of the Virgin’s apparition at the Coptic Church in Zeitoun, stating:

“Cairo today lives in the midst of a miracle. There is no topic among its people but Mary, the Virgin, and her appearances above the domes of Zeitoun Church, accompanied by wondrous healings.
Thousands upon thousands, of all faiths, sects, classes, and professions, young and old, fill the four streets surrounding the church, their eyes fixed on its domes, waiting for the Virgin to appear in her luminous form.”

Previous global apparitions

The report continued: “This is not the first time the Virgin Mary has appeared in the world.
She has appeared three times before, in Lourdes, France; in Fatima, Portugal; and in Jerusalem a decade ago at the Coptic Orthodox Monastery.
In those three cases, the apparitions were brief, seen for mere moments, and often granted only to one person or a small group in deep prayer seeking her intercession.
She appeared as a passing, radiant vision, fleeting, yet full of grace.”

The Apparition in Egypt

In Egypt, the Virgin Mary had appeared long ago.
Once, during the reign of Harun al-Rashid, a governor in Egypt received an order to demolish the Church of Atrib (modern-day Benha). The priest of the church prayed day and night for three days, pleading that the church be spared. On the third day, the Virgin appeared to him, promising that a decree would arrive from the caliph himself in Baghdad forbidding the demolition.

Indeed, the miracle took place a bird flew through the caliph’s window, snatched the decree, and delivered it to the priest in Egypt on the third day.
History records another appearance during the time of Caliph al-Muʿizz li-Dīn Allāh al-Fāṭimī, when the Virgin appeared to Anba Abraham the Syrian in the Hanging Church in Old Cairo.

A Complete and Universal Apparition

Her apparition in Cairo these days is marked by complete clarity.
She appears in a halo of divine light before the gathered multitudes. Her appearance is not limited to Christians or any particular denomination; rather, it encompasses all faiths, sects, and religions alike.

Her image has been seen repeatedly, night after night, and each time is accompanied by miraculous signs, wonders of grace and healing.
The blind have opened their eyes upon seeing her radiant figure; the sick who had lost hope of recovery have regained their health and strength; and the mute, once deprived of speech, have spoken, chanting hymns and praises, glorifying and giving thanks to the Virgin Mary for her wondrous mercy toward them.

How It Began

The first appearance began on the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 1968, at 8:30 p.m.
At that time, Mr. Hassan Awad (ID No. 23289, Giza Police Department), together with Mr. Abdel Aziz Ali, the watchman, Mr. Ma’moun Afifi, the driver (ID No. 9927, Sayyida Police Department), and Mr. Yaqout Ali  all employees of the Public Transport Authority Depot in Zeitoun  were standing by the gate of the depot facing the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun. Their attention was suddenly drawn to a brilliant beam of light emanating from above the church’s main dome. They stared intently and discerned the figure of a young woman draped in white robes, kneeling on the dome beside the cross that crowned it. It was an unusual and astonishing sight, not least because the dome’s surface was rounded and steeply sloped, making it impossible for any human being to stand or kneel on it. Their feet seemed rooted to the ground as they gazed, overwhelmed with amazement, watching to see what would become of Their feet were frozen in place, gripped by astonishment, as they watched to see what would become of the young woman.
Moments later, the kneeling figure rose to her feet and as she lifted herself higher, cries of alarm rang out, fearing she might fall. Some of the onlookers thought she might be a girl attempting suicide, and they shouted for help. The emergency police were notified and arrived quickly. Men and women passing by stopped to look, joined by garage workers and police officers, all struck with awe and bewilderment at the extraordinary sight.
The form of the woman grew clearer, her brightness intensifying, until her image appeared completely distinct a radiant figure wrapped in a veil of heavenly white light, clothed in a white robe, and holding a green branch of an olive tree in her hand. Suddenly, a flock of white doves soared from above her head.
Some of the women gathered in the street recognized the image, it was familiar to them from paintings of the Virgin Mary. They cried out, “It’s Our Lady, the Virgin Mary!”
At that, the voices of the crowd burst forth: “Blessed are you, O Virgin!” Joyful shouts, prayers, and songs filled the air. It was a magnificent, awe-inspiring scene, alive with hymns, supplications, and tears of joy one person weeping in happiness, another praying, a third kneeling, and a fourth pleading for the intercession of the Virgin for healing. In that sacred atmosphere, ululations rang out in celebration of Mary, the Mother of Light.

The crowd erupted in shouts of “Blessed are you, O Virgin!” Hymns and prayers filled the air — some weeping with joy, others kneeling or raising hands in supplication. It was a scene of pure devotion and wonder.

After smashing the lamp

Some doubted at first, suspecting an optical illusion or electric reflection. To confirm the truth, they shone powerful spotlights toward the image , yet her light only grew brighter. They then smashed nearby street lamps, but the Virgin’s form shone even more vividly. When they cut power to the entire area, the heavenly figure remained, glowing brighter still.

The crowd was convinced beyond doubt, it was truly the Virgin Mary.
Applause, cries, and songs of praise filled the night sky as people prayed until dawn.

The News Spreads

By the following morning, the crowds had dispersed,
but the news spread like lightning throughout all of Cairo.
Before long, it had traveled across the entire country,
carried swiftly by news agencies to the East and the West.
Foreign newspapers and magazines broadcast the story,
and it was soon aired by radio stations and television networks abroad,
making the miraculous apparition of the Virgin in Zeitoun
a subject of awe and wonder throughout the world.

The Multitudes gather around the church

On the evening of April 9, 1968, thousands of people gathered around the church
people of all religions, sects, and social classes, from every profession and trade,
and children of all ages, the elderly and the young alike.
Among them were clergymen, nuns, monks, and deacons in their religious attire.

You could also see foreign faces — tourists, members of the diplomatic corps,
foreign correspondents, and photographers with their cameras,
all standing together in the streets surrounding the church,
waiting throughout the night for the appearance of the Virgin Mary.

At the outskirts of the Zeitoun district and along every road leading to the church,
thousands of cars were parked bumper to bumper,
blocking passage even for pedestrians making their way on foot,
driven by spiritual hunger and the desire to nourish their faith
through the sacred sight of the apparition.

The Priest Speaks

Father Kosntantine Moussa, the priest of the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun, declared that he saw the Virgin Mary clearly in her radiant form on the evening of April 9, 1968, at 10 p.m. From April 2 until now, crowds have flocked nightly toward the church, overflowing with joy.
You can see the elderly walking briskly, the aged quickening their pace lightly, and even pregnant women hurrying along, as though a spiritual force were lifting their steps. More than 40,000 people fill the streets surrounding the church from sunset until dawn,
their eyes fixed intently on the three domes above.
And when the Virgin Mary appears, her features and white garments shining in a halo of divine light through the dark night,
the crowds begin to move, overcome with joy, smiles and tears mingling on their faces, their faith visibly renewed. Ululations rise, hymns and chants fill the air, and the scene repeats itself night after night. Up to this day, the Virgin has appeared 27 times.

The Papal Committee

Pope Cyril VI dispatched a patriarchal committee of clergy to investigate. They observed the events firsthand, spending nights among the multitudes. In their report to His Holiness, they wrote:

“The committee confirms that the apparition of the Virgin Mary is authentic and without deception. Many Muslims have also witnessed her.
This site has become sacred from this day forward and shall be a holy pilgrimage for people of all faiths from every corner of the world.” Upon receiving the report, Pope Cyril VI declared: “It is a harbinger of good and a sign of peace.”

The Catholic Patriarch Speaks

Cardinal Stephanos I, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholics, stated: “It is a true apparition, beyond any doubt. Many trustworthy Coptic Catholics, men and women, have testified to me that they saw the Virgin upon the church’s dome. Among them was a nun named Paula de Mofallo, well known for her precision. Trembling as she spoke, she described how she saw the Virgin Mary with her own eyes inside the dome. She was not alone; thousands of others saw her too.
This unique miracle carries a message of hope and blessing and will surely make this church a holy shrine to which people will pilgrimage from every corner of the world.”

Father Ayrout Speaks

Father Ayrout, Director of the Holy Family Schools in Cairo, added: “It is not surprising that the Virgin appeared in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitoun. Her appearance in any part of the world should not cause astonishment, for she may appear anywhere, especially in Egypt, at this very moment, and in the Coptic Church of Zeitoun, the area that witnessed the passage of the Holy Family. We now await the message of this miraculous apparition, for in former times, and in every instance of her appearance in other countries, there were always specific messages she either spoke or inspired to those who saw her. Thus, by this appearance, she has willed to console those who were prevented — by the circumstances of the recent aggression, from visiting the Holy Lands in Jerusalem, granting them comfort in place of that deprivation.”

Spiritual Clarity and Purity

One of the priests, echoing the views of many clergy, said that the clarity of the vision differs from person to person.
Spiritual depth, purity of heart, and faith all influence the degree to which the apparition is seen:
some witnesses see her figure clearly, others perceive only light, while a few see nothing.

On one night, twin brothers stood together watching; one saw the Virgin’s full figure, while the other saw only a faint ray of light.
It was also noted that children often saw her most vividly, for their innocence and purity make them more receptive to divine visions.
Even those who did not see her directly experienced a profound spiritual atmosphere, hymns, prayers, and tears of devotion filled the night.
Crowds stood awake until dawn, yet none felt fatigue, returning home at sunrise filled with peace and faith.

A Herald of Goodness and Peace

Many clergy interpreted her appearance as a sign of heavenly comfort and unity:
Mary appeared to the blessed people of Egypt to console them after they were prevented from visiting the Holy Land.
She came holding an olive branch, a symbol of peace and good tidings for Egypt and for the world.

Her visit coincided with the near completion of the new Coptic Cathedral of St. Mark, where the relics of St. Mark the Apostle, the founder of the Church of Egypt. were soon to arrive.
Thus, the Virgin’s appearance was seen as a divine blessing upon the Church and the nation.
She had once passed through this very district on her journey with the Child Jesus,  and now returned to sanctify the same path. This apparition, occurring in the East after others in the West, carries deep significance: it symbolizes the reunion of the Eastern and Western Churches, as they were united in the early centuries of Christianity.

This account was submitted to Pope Cyril VI, who referred it to Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, in the presence of Father Guirguis Bishara, Father Yuhanna Abdel-Masih, and Mr. William Farid Basily, Director of Public Information at the Ministry of Tourism. After careful review, the contents were approved.

A Papal Statement Confirming the Apparition of the Virgin

The Papal Office in Cairo released the following declaration to the press, radio, and television:

“Since the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 1968 (24 Baramhat 1684),
the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Light, has appeared repeatedly at the Coptic Orthodox Church bearing her name on Tomanbay Street, Zeitoun, Cairo.

Her apparition has occurred on many different nights and in several forms, sometimes as a full figure, sometimes half-length, always surrounded by radiant light.
She has appeared both within the domes and outside them, walking across the rooftop, bowing before the cross so that it shines brightly, facing the crowd, blessing them with her hands and the movement of her head.

At times, she appeared as a luminous cloud, preceded by swiftly moving spiritual forms resembling white doves.
The apparition often lasted over two hours, such as on the dawn of Tuesday, April 30, 1968, when she remained visible from 2:45 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Thousands of people of all faiths, professions, and nationalities have witnessed this apparition and have agreed in their descriptions, confirming it beyond doubt.

Two great signs have accompanied this appearance: First: The revival of faith in God, the afterlife, and the saints, and the illumination of divine knowledge in the hearts of many who had been far from it , leading to the repentance and transformation of numerous lives.
Second: The occurrence of marvelous signs of miraculous healing in many individuals, verified both scientifically and through collective testimonies.
The Patriarchate, therefore, with full faith and profound gratitude to Divine Providence, declares that the Blessed Virgin Mary has indeed appeared repeatedly and clearly in her church at Zeitoun, Cairo.

May this blessing be a sign of peace for the world and a source of grace for our beloved nation and people.”

The Papal Headquarters gathered all available information through individuals and committees of clergy who investigated the truth and personally witnessed the apparition. They documented their findings in reports submitted to His Holiness Pope Anba Kyrillos VI.
The Papal Headquarters, in issuing this statement, declares — with complete faith, profound joy, and humble gratitude before the divine majesty — that the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Light, has continued to appear in clear and undeniable forms on many different nights, for varying periods of time, some lasting more than two hours without interruption.
This began on the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 1968 (24 Baramhat 1684) and continues to this day, at the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary on Tomanbay Street in the district of Zeitoun, along the Matariyah Road in Cairo — the very route historically known to have been traversed by the Holy Family during their stay in Egypt.
May God make this blessing a symbol of peace for the world, a source of grace for our beloved nation, and a sign for our blessed people, of whom the divine revelation once declared:
“Blessed be My people Egypt.”

For the fourth consecutive week, the Virgin continues to appear at the Church of Zeitoun
Miraculous healings granted to those who witnessed the Virgin
Pope Kyrillos VI performed a prayer of thanksgiving at the church and instructed that hymns of praise be offered to the Virgin
The Coptic Church records the Virgin’s apparition in the Book of Saints (the Synaxarium)
A special envoy from the Vatican witnesses the Virgin and submits a report to Pope Paul VI
How the Bishop of Beni Suef saw her moving and blessing the people for two hours and fifteen minutes
The Bishop of Public Services explains the message of salvation that the Virgin brings to humanity

Report by Mosaad Sadeq

For the fourth consecutive week, the Virgin continues her miraculous apparitions to the multitudes gathered around the Church of Zeitoun. Her appearance was clearer and lasted longer after midnight on Sunday and at dawn on the following Tuesday.

During this week, many miraculous healings occurred among those who saw her. The clergy of the Coptic Patriarchate no longer ask those who witnessed her for details. they have seen her themselves.

Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, submitted a detailed report to His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI regarding his own personal sighting of the Virgin at dawn last Tuesday. Upon receiving it, the Pope decided to perform a prayer of thanksgiving at the church and ordered that hymns of praise be held in all churches in honor of the Virgin.

Every night until morning, envoys from religious institutions and members of the diplomatic corps keep vigil with the crowds packed tightly around the church. A new report was sent to the Vatican confirming the continued apparitions of the Virgin. Diplomats and representatives of foreign missions in Cairo wrote reports to their governments conveying news of the miracle. Egyptian embassies abroad and tourism offices requested additional details, while the Ministry of Tourism prepared a supplementary report on the apparitions to be distributed to embassies and tourism bureaus worldwide.

News of the Virgin’s repeated, unmistakable apparitions at the Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitoun has now taken a prominent place in both local and international newspapers. These papers often reprint or cite reports first published in Watani, adding their own coverage sent by correspondents in Cairo. There is no other topic on people’s lips but this miraculous appearance of the Virgin.

Her apparition is no longer debated doubt has given way to certainty, for thousands have witnessed her multiple times. The discussions now revolve not around whether she appeared, but around the meaning, scope, and impact of her appearance.

What miracle, people ask, did the divine will choose to bestow upon humanity in these days? How greatly does the world need a spark of spirit to illuminate the depths of the human soul amid darkness! That spark has appeared in a sacred corner of our land, bringing consolation and hope. It shone forth in a radiant, sanctified image, enlightening hearts, strengthening faith in God, drawing people closer to Him, lifting their gaze from earth to heaven, and turning their thoughts away from material concerns toward spiritual contemplation.

This light did not appear to one person or one group alone—it rose like the sun, shining upon all.

The emotions that overwhelmed the crowds as they saw the Virgin appear in the night as a luminous, radiant figure, extending her hands in compassion and tenderness, reflected the feelings of people everywhere. Not only those who saw her were moved—those who read or heard the news shared in the same emotions, their hearts and spirits united, their eyes yearning through tears toward the glowing light among the church domes in the suburb of Zeitoun.

And it was not only the supplications, hymns, and chants that rose from the crowds around the church that filled the heavens, but also prayers rising from the depths of weary souls everywhere, coming before God with pure hearts, seeking salvation, healing, and mercy.

Hymns of Praise for the Virgin

His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI ordered that hymns of praise to the Virgin be held in all Coptic churches to commemorate her miraculous appearance.

Delegation from the Papal See

His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI also dispatched Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, along with a group of clergy, to the Church of Zeitoun to monitor the Virgin’s appearance and prepare detailed reports of the ongoing events.

Anba Athanasius arrived at the church at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, accompanied by a delegation from the Diocese of Beni Suef. They remained there until 5:30 a.m. the following day (Tuesday), during which time they witnessed the Virgin clearly and unmistakably.

The Bishop of Beni Suef Speaks

In a private interview with His Grace Anba Athanasius, Bishop of Beni Suef, he said: “I personally witnessed, along with thousands gathered around the church, a radiant form moving above its roof from 2:45 to 5:00 a.m. last Tuesday.
The Virgin appeared in full clarity, in a dazzling, unmistakable form throughout that time. It was not merely a vision or an illusion—it was a complete, luminous body, a sight so magnificent that words fail to describe it. When I asked His Grace how her appearance began, he replied: “It began above the western side of the church’s roof, and two white doves shot upward from its dome, soaring like rockets before vanishing into the sky. Soon after, a faint cloudlike light appeared, which suddenly flared up like a fluorescent lamp, and there she was, the Virgin herself, a complete, radiant figure, her features vivid and expressive.
She moved gently along the church’s roof, gazing tenderly upon the multitudes, then extended her hands in calm, gentle, spiritual blessing, a motion beyond description. Sometimes her face turned toward us, sometimes in the opposite direction, always surrounded by a halo of light wherever she moved.

In that moment, I recalled the story of the Transfiguration in the Holy Gospel. Truly, the Virgin was transfigured before the people in a wondrous way. For two hours and fifteen minutes, she remained visible in continuous brilliance while the crowds prayed, chanted, and wept in awe.
Those who lived through these moments will never forget them. Even after she faded away like mist, people kept staring at the place of her appearance, as if urging her to return. Whoever sees her cannot bear to turn his eyes away.”

His Grace continued:

“I relayed what I had seen to His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI, who asked me to return to the church to continue observing the apparitions. That request coincided with my own wish, for I long to see her again.”

An Apparition of deep impact

Anba Samuel, Bishop of Social Services, told me:
“This glorious apparition of the Virgin has had a profound effect on the lives of those who saw her, it deepens their faith and opens before them the path to salvation.
There is no message more sacred than that of renewed faith and redemption. Even if the apparition carried no verbal message, its spiritual impact on people’s hearts would be message enough.

Many have found salvation and regained their faith through seeing the Virgin. One man, for instance, had been an atheist, mocking anyone who spoke of the apparition. His friends insisted he come to Zeitoun, and he went only to ridicule what they believed. But when he saw the Virgin himself amid the great crowd, he was shaken to the core he raised his hands toward heaven, repenting in tears. Now he calls others each evening to visit the church, to see the Virgin and strengthen their faith in God.
Another woman, who had long been distant from faith, saw the Virgin and her heart turned toward God. She began a new life, using her car to transport people to the Church of Zeitoun so they too could experience the same renewal and grace she had received.”

Recording the Apparitions

The Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate continues to document the Virgin’s appearances, recording the details and times as they occur to include them later in the Synaxarium, the official Book of Saints’ Lives, which also chronicles significant events in church history.

A Report to the Vatican

Last Sunday evening, a representative of the Vatican visited the Church of Zeitoun. He personally witnessed the Virgin’s apparition, as did several envoys from other religious missions. The Vatican delegate wrote a detailed report and sent it to Pope Paul VI in Rome.

She came to strengthen our Spirits

When asked about his view of the apparition, Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Saeed, head of the Evangelical denomination, said:

“Among those who saw the Virgin are people known for their sound judgment and discernment, there is no doubt in the truth of what they saw and reported.
If God has allowed the Virgin to appear in these days, it may be to comfort those deprived of visiting Jerusalem this year,  she came to them herself, to strengthen and console them.”

He added: “This is not the first time I have spoken about the Virgin. I said the same last Sunday at the Evangelical Church in Kasr El-Dobara when someone passed me a note on the pulpit asking my opinion on her appearance.”

Smiling, Rev. Dr. Ibrahim continued: “The Virgin’s apparition even disrupted the morning meeting my son, Dr. Mofid, holds every Sunday at 9 a.m. many young men and women who usually attend could not come after spending the entire night at the Zeitoun church!”

Ministry of Tourism Report

The Ministry of Tourism has completed its official report on the apparitions at Zeitoun and sent it to Egyptian embassies, consulates, and tourism offices abroad.
Mr. Adel Taher, Undersecretary of the Ministry, assigned Mr. William Farid, Director of Public Information, to follow the apparitions closely. Farid visited the church several times, observed events firsthand, and submitted a written report.

Since then, the ministry has been receiving telegrams from abroad requesting further details about the miracle.

A Telephone Call from Germany

The world’s interest in the news of the miracle reached such a degree that John Gerbeschko, a senior journalist in West Germany, telephoned the Ministry of Tourism and said that all of Germany was following the reports about the apparition of the Virgin and requested to be kept informed of any new developments as they occur. John Gerbeschko owns 24 newspapers in Germany alone.

The Ministry of Tourism takes action

As this extraordinary miracle gained worldwide attention, with pilgrims coming specifically to Zeitoun to witness the apparition, it became necessary to organize viewing access and manage the heavy crowds.

The congestion had reached such a level that even tourists and diplomats could barely approach the church. Among the throngs, some individuals with motives unrelated to genuine devotion were mingling, disrupting the serenity of the sacred event.

The Ministry of Tourism took notice and requested that the Public Transport Authority’s bus station near the church be relocated elsewhere, a measure implemented early this week. The ministry also coordinated with administrative authorities to organize traffic, maintain public order, and prevent disturbances that might mar the solemnity of the miracle.

This marks the beginning of the ministry’s involvement, paving the way for a comprehensive plan to ensure that both the nation and its citizens benefit from this blessed site.

Miracles of healing

The apparition of the Virgin this week was accompanied by numerous miracles of healing. Many of those who came to the church leaning on others or barely able to walk returned after seeing the Virgin, strong, vigorous, and completely healed. Many who arrived feeling their way along the walls, their eyesight dimmed or nearly gone, found that as soon as their eyes beheld the luminous figure of the Virgin, light returned to their vision and they went back seeing.

Out of the dozens of such miracles, Watani publishes here the testimonies of some of those who were granted healing after witnessing the Virgin.

After Medicine Failed

Riyad Naguib Iskandar, a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Alexandria University, insisted on leaving his hospital bed (Room 209, Alexandria University Hospital) to come to Cairo and personally deliver a letter to Watani, written in his own hand, describing the miracle the Virgin performed for him. He had suffered from retinal detachment, declared incurable by medical authorities. Both the original and ministerial medical commissions confirmed the hopelessness of his case until he saw the Virgin. After that, his vision was restored completely.

He writes:“I must begin by thanking Watani for responding to my plea, which I sent to the newspaper from the depths of darkness and pain, and which it published in its April 7 issue under Complaints to the Minister of Health. At that time, I was in the deepest despair after all the ophthalmologists in Alexandria confirmed that my condition a rupture of the retinal vein followed by continuous bleeding for 21 days and the formation of a clot in front of the retina  had no cure, neither in Egypt nor abroad.

When my cry reached our beloved President Gamal Abdel Nasser, he kindly ordered that my case be attended to. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed, the President’s secretary, was sent to the Faculty of Medicine at Alexandria University, where a consilium of ophthalmologists was formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Ahmed Kamel, Head of the Ophthalmology Department. They examined me and declared there was no hope for treatment. That was a great shock to me.

Yet I remained faithful in God’s mercy. That same day, I read in Watani about the apparition of the Virgin to the multitudes at the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun. I do not know how, but the news filled me with a deep sense of peace and reassurance. On the following Monday morning, I traveled to Cairo with my friend Fikri El-Sayed El-Shahawi. We went straight to the church and stood among the thousands who had come from all over. I prayed and asked those around me to pray with me. Tears streamed down my face, and I felt as if they were washing my eyes clean. I kept repeating the prayer Hail Mary, pleading that she would grant me light in my sight.

Suddenly, the Virgin appeared radiant, I had never seen anything so beautiful. I lifted my eyes to heaven and cried out, “If medicine has failed, the Lord will not fail.”

On Tuesday morning, I returned with my friend to Alexandria and went back to my hospital room at the University Hospital in Shatby. I sat with my roommate, Mostafa Kamal Shaarawi, a third-year student at the Higher Institute of Physical Education. I began to feel something strange in my eye, as if life were returning to its veins. I asked my roommate to wave his hand at me, he did, and I saw it move.

He rejoiced and said, “You can see well now, Riyad!” At first, I couldn’t believe him, nor my own sight. I called out for the nurse to confirm what I was seeing. Two nurses, Thania Mahmoud and Fayeka Abdel Hady, came and waved their fingers, I saw them clearly. One of them ran to inform Dr. Adly Abdel Aziz, the resident doctor, of my recovery.

Then came Dr. Bahgat Badawi, the ophthalmologist who had examined me before and reported my visual acuity as 2/60, warning that I was on the verge of total blindness. I could barely see my own hand then. He was astonished at the sudden restoration of my vision. He examined the fundus of my eye and found that the clot was now undergoing internal absorption, reduced to a thin membrane. He told me this sudden improvement was completely unexpected. I said to him, “The Lord is great.”

Then I told him about the miracle of seeing the Virgin. A new consilium of ophthalmologists was convened at the hospital; they witnessed the miracle and confirmed that the fine blood vessels were regaining vitality in a miraculous way. My vision has since continued to return to its normal strength.”

No Longer needed glasses

Dr. Michel Farag, Director of the City Pharmacy, recalls the night he saw the Virgin for the first time, Monday, Easter Monday.

“At 8:45 p.m., I saw her, a clear, luminous figure. I had always needed glasses for fine work, but since that night, I have no longer needed them. My eyesight became suddenly sharp, the Virgin’s light restored my vision.”

I Nearly Fell to My Knees in the Street

That same evening, Abdullah Mohamed, of the Forensic Medicine Department’s Radiology Division, saw the Virgin.
Overcome with awe, he nearly knelt to the ground in the middle of the street, reciting Al-Fatiha and Surat Maryam, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace fill his heart.

Joining in Hymns

Amid the crowds last Tuesday night, I met Judge Wahbi Salama, head of the Alexandria Court. He told me:
“I came from Alexandria solely to see the Virgin after reading about her in Watani. This is my first visit to the church. The sight of thousands standing in reverence moved me deeply. When the people around me began chanting a hymn to the Virgin, I joined them—it was one I had memorized since childhood.”

Before I left his side, the Virgin appeared again, and the judge stood in quiet prayer.

The Virgin Continues Her Apparitions for the Fourth Week
Foreign embassies request more information; the Ministry of Tourism provides a detailed report.

Standing opposite the church, Judge Wahbi Salama told me: “I am ready to stand here until morning, and I will return every chance I get. This sacred atmosphere, filled with the Virgin’s presence, brings peace to the soul and fills it with faith.” Nearby stood Fr. Mikhail Abdel-Masih and his wife, Dr. Youssef Youakim and his family, and Dr. Wahib Marcos, a dentist, who told me that his brother-in-law, Mr. Shukri Ghattas, Director of Inspection for Qalyubia Governorate, saw the Virgin above the dome at 4:15 a.m. last Sunday.

Human waves swaying in involuntary motion

Mr. Michel Tekla, Administrative Director of an international airline, said: “I saw the Virgin for the first time just after midnight, Thursday, April 25. I had been standing for hours listening to people describe what they’d seen. At 3:00 a.m., I suddenly saw her encircled in light, emerging from the eastern dome’s opening—clear and brilliant for several seconds. On Sunday, April 28, at 7:20 p.m., I returned to the church. As soon as I stepped out of my car, thousands of people burst into cheers and hymns, pointing toward the same dome. I saw her again, the Virgin moving within the dome’s opening, visible until 8:10 p.m., one hour and ten minutes. The human mass swayed in involuntary motion, hands raised in prayer and tears. My son, Naji Michel Tekla, a student at De La Salle College, standing beside me, saw a white dove fly from the dome into the sky and vanish like mist. The Virgin’s radiant body remained visible, and every time her light flared, a flash like lightning illuminated the dome.”

More Than Once

Air Force Major Asaad Iskandar saw the Virgin in the previous week more than once. At nine o’clock on Monday evening, he went to the Church of Zeitoun and stood among the crowds watching for the Virgin’s appearance. At 2:45 a.m. the following day, her appearance began with a flash of light that illuminated the dome, and then the Virgin appeared in full clarity, moving and extending her hands toward the people as if blessing them, turning toward the crowds on all sides of the church.
The joy of the people was overwhelming; tears mingled with smiles, prayers and supplications filled the air, and for nearly two hours they stood before the Virgin in a sacred atmosphere, deeply moved by the dazzling vision. Amid the crowds were countless stories of faith and how this appearance transformed people’s lives.
Some workers withdrew to the side, weeping and asking for forgiveness, saying, “Forgive us, O Virgin.” When asked what was wrong, they replied that only minutes earlier they had mocked and denied the Virgin’s appearance, but when she appeared, their consciences trembled and they were filled with remorse.

Another man, an employee at the Chemical Industries Company living on Dr. Ali Ibrahim Ramez Street in Heliopolis, had opposed his wife’s wish to visit the church. Later, a colleague whom he completely trusted told him he had seen the Virgin. Accompanied by a friend, he finally went to the church himself, saw her, and returned home recounting what he had witnessed, the same man who had been so firm in his denial.

I kept looking back

Kamel Sabri, a medical student and grandson of engineer Naguib Estino, said: “What people see above the domes of the Church of the Virgin in Zeitoun is no illusion or mirage. It is a miraculous reality. I saw the Virgin more than once on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Holy Saturday. At two o’clock in the morning on Easter Sunday, she appeared more clearly than ever. My cousin Shafiq Estino and his sister were with me,  our bodies trembled in awe and reverence. When I drove home, I kept looking back, the image of the Virgin would not leave my mind.”
That week, Uncle Ahmed, the doorman of the building at 11 Sisters Street, Heliopolis, came to tell how he saw the Virgin at 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning. His whole body trembled as he described the vision.

An Overwhelming Awe

Lawyer Zaki Shenouda, Director of the Afro-Asian Conference (89 Abdel Aziz El Saud Street, Manial El-Roda), insisted on writing his testimony by hand:

“I went to the Church of Zeitoun on the evening of April 19. I saw the crowds pointing toward something above the church domes. I assumed what they saw were reflections from the top of a palm tree behind the church and thought it was only a wishful longing from the people to be consoled by a miracle. But on the following Sunday, Easter Day, I read Watani’s report, supported by many testimonies, and decided to make a personal effort to verify the appearance.
I went to the church three different nights, staying from evening till dawn. The crowds kept pointing to various parts of the domes, but I still thought it might be reflections from the strong lights of the garage opposite the church.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, I went again and noticed the crowds had multiplied to tens of thousands, filling every street, wall, tree, and lamppost.
At 3:30 a.m., people from a side street shouted that the Virgin had appeared above the rear dome. Everyone rushed there, and I with them, and then I saw a scene I will never forget as long as I live.
I saw the Virgin transfigured in a clear form, surrounded by a halo around her body and head, life sized, radiant as the sun shining in the night. She soon extended her arms toward the people, greeting and blessing them. She remained visible for about an hour and a half, unceasingly before tens of thousands of eyes. An overwhelming awe seized me, as it did everyone, to the point of utter astonishment. People wept loudly and shouted: ‘Hail to you, Mary, Mother of Light, Mother of the Savior!’ Many beat their chests, begging forgiveness. I saw one man crying until he fainted. I saw old women weeping because the crowd’s pressure kept them from seeing her clearly. The Virgin remained visible from 3:30 to 5:00 a.m.
On Monday at 6 p.m., my sons Seti and Makram went to the church and stayed until 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. They saw the Virgin clearly between the two rear domes for about two hours. When they returned home, their faces bore no trace of exhaustion, the luminous vision had erased all fatigue.”

Inspired by the vision

The vision of the Virgin inspired Hanna Youssef Hanna, an employee at the National Bank of Egypt in Cairo  16 Al-Mosafirkhana Street, Al-Qalaly  to compose a piece of prose poetry in which he addresses the Virgin, praying to her and describing how he, his wife, and his children saw her at dawn on the previous Sunday.

Another piece was written by Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Karim, of 9 Helmiya Street, Apartment No. 8, Heliopolis, after he too saw the Virgin at the Church of Zeitoun. In it, he wrote:“The memory of your appearance endures,the church bells cry out and say:
O Mary, if only your vision could last longer.” He recited this poem aloud to those gathered around the church.

Healed from a Chronic Illness

Wadie Awad Rizkallah, (10 Wahba Street, off Khufu Street, Giza), employee at Dar Al-Abtal shop, 8 Emad El-Din Street, Cairo, said that his daughter was miraculously healed after seeing the Virgin. She had suffered from a chronic ear disease that surgery had failed to cure, including an operation by Dr. George Boutros. The condition, medically known as mastoiditis, completely disappeared.

Not only the sick

Miss Isabel Kamel, a teacher at Ahmed Maher Model School in Hadayek El-Kobba, said that since seeing the Virgin on Sunday evening above the church dome, she has been living in the dream of that vision  feeling a deep peace spreading through her soul. It is not only the physically ill who are healed after seeing the Virgin, she said, but everyone who sees her feels an indescribable joy filling the heart with serenity. I Dreamed of Her Before Seeing Her

Sobhi Abdu Azer, Chief Accountant of the Coptic Benevolent Association in Cairo, said that the Virgin appeared to him in a dream on Saturday afternoon before he saw her with his own eyes that same night at Zeitoun Church.
He added that he stood for long hours among the crowds before the Virgin appeared at midnight and remained visible until about 2:30 a.m. Despite suffering from a heart condition that prevented him from standing long, he felt no fatigue; on the contrary, he felt his heart regain strength and vitality.

My Child Was Healed

Saber Youssef Hanna, of 14 Al-Sayigh Alley, Zeitoun, said that his child was healed after seeing the Virgin twice  first on Saturday, April 20, and again the following Saturday. He and his wife brought their sick son Emad with them to the church. On the way, he told his wife he felt that the Virgin would accept their pleas and intercede for their child’s recovery. She paid little attention — but when they returned home, both realized their child had been cured.

He used to mock what People were saying

Engineer Samir Raouf, of the Ministry of Tourism, used to scoff at anyone who spoke to him about the Virgin’s appearance — until he saw her himself. A phone call from the family of the late Youssef Taher, who lived near the church, told him she had appeared. He felt an irresistible force urging him to go. Without even changing from his pajamas, he jumped into his car and drove straight to the church.
There, he saw the Virgin, a radiant, shining form of light. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and asked those around him, “Do you see anything?” One replied, “Of course, brother! Don’t you see the Virgin?”
Only then did he believe his own eyes and regain his confidence.

What Does Science Say About the Miracle?

The appearance of the Virgin Mary, with her radiant light and luminous presence hundreds of times on the night of April 3, stands among the greatest and most extraordinary events—a phenomenon before which science stands bewildered, hesitant, and silent, unable to offer an explanation or commentary.
For science and scientists, miracles surpass human capability, and thus science has nothing to say about the miracle of the Virgin’s repeated appearance every night at the Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitoun, in such a clear and unmistakable form—a phenomenon witnessed by thousands of our fellow citizens, both Muslims and Christians, and even by those who profess no faith at all, who stood stunned and speechless, their limbs frozen as they gazed at the great light enveloping the blessed domes of the church in Zeitoun, on the sacred land where the Virgin Mary once rested with the Child Jesus and Saint Joseph.
The land of Zeitoun and Matariya, indeed all of Egypt, is blessed, and no force of evil or aggression shall ever harm it.

I asked one of our distinguished scholars:

“What is your opinion on the miracle of the Virgin’s apparition?”
The scholar, staring into the distant sky, replied:
“With all my years of scientific study, I used to say that the age of miracles has ended, yet what I have seen with my own eyes proves that this age has returned—an age that fills humanity with faith, strengthens belief, and enables people to overcome adversity, crises, and defeat, walking steadfastly through the centuries, glorifying God and praying to Him in times of distress. God hears these prayers, lifts tribulation, and increases the faith of humankind in every moment of life.”

Science, in its outward form, does not acknowledge miracles, but the reality of miracles overwhelms science, leaving it powerless to deliver a definitive answer to such supernatural phenomena.
It is remarkable how science readily accepts extraordinary natural events—the eruption of a volcano, the flow of lava through valleys, the fury of the sea, the destruction wrought by hurricanes, or earthquakes that move mountains and reshape the earth, but when faced with spiritual phenomena, science stands like a child before a great question.

Thus, scientists affirm that great miracles, such as the repeated apparitions of the Virgin in France, Spain, Portugal, and now Egypt, are beyond human comprehension.
Suggestion or illusion cannot explain them, for no one can induce thousands upon thousands of people to see the same image simultaneously. Moreover, the apparitions of the Virgin take many forms, she does not appear in a single fixed manner.

I myself, the writer of these lines, after standing five consecutive hours, my eyes fixed on the holy domes of the church, finally beheld a vision I shall never forget, indeed, I will never forget it.
At 2 a.m. on April 26, I saw a halo of transparent white light surrounding the face of the Virgin, as she looked down upon the thousands gathered from one of the openings of the church dome overlooking Tomanbey Street.
In that awe-striking moment, I was dazzled, standing before the great light, glorifying God for granting us such a blessing and miracle. Others beside me, patient and steadfast, also saw the halo of light appear again and again.

What was strange that night was that the sky flashed repeatedly with soft lightning before the halo appeared, yet the sky was perfectly clear, a deep blue with no clouds or mist. I scanned the horizon, searching for a natural cause for the flashes of light that came twice before the Virgin appeared, but there was none. The flashes ceased, the stars resumed their usual brightness, and I stood in wonder before these extraordinary events that science cannot explain.

The miracle of the Virgin’s apparition in our modern age, on our blessed land, during this age of science and human genius, outshines every human achievement. Such divine miracles do not occur every day, or even every century or millennium! May God bless the people of Egypt, upon whose soil the Virgin Mary once walked and rested in Zeitoun and Matariya nearly 1,967 years ago. It is no wonder, then, that she returns today to bless Egypt once more, to shield it from aggression, and to grant peace, until both Muslims and Copts may again visit Jerusalem, in peace and faith, by God’s will.

(By Michel Tekla)