| Summary
Our Lady reportedly appeared in Zeitoun, Egypt hovering above Saint Mark's Coptic Church for a span of three years. The Church is dedicated to the Holy family, which according to tradition rested in that place during their stay in Egypt.
For three years Our Lady appeared on many occasions especially at night, and sometimes she was accompanied by white doves that would fly around her. The first two years she appeared about two to three times a week.
These apparitions attracted large crowds by night, sometimes up to 250,000 people. Christians, Jews, Moslems, and unbelievers gathered to view the sight. The apparitions were photographed, filmed and broadcast on Egyptian TV. An estimated 40 million people witnessed the events. |
Photo Gallery
Click here to view images from Zeitun.
Video Clips 
| Marian Apparitions of the 20th Century
A 5:11 Zeitun segment from the documentary narrated by Ricardo Montalban. This video traces eleven worldwide apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout this century.
RealPlayer Required.
|
Timeline April 2, 1968 | Reports came in of Mary first appearing on the roof of the Church in a kneeling position, surrounded by light. The first man who saw her, Muslim, Farouk Mohammed Atwa, was undergoing operations for a case of gangrene. The following day when he went to hospital for his scheduled operation, he was certified completely healed. | May 1968 | Roman Catholic Cardinal Stephanos performs an investigation and submits his findings to Pope Paul VI. | May 5, 1968 | Coptic Orthodox Pope Kyrillos VIapproves the apparition. | 1971 | Mary appears for the final time.
|
Description of the Virgin
She was wearing a long robe extending to below Her feet. Sometimes She was surrounded by bright stars, and at other times She had a shawl about Her head, and Her hands were extended forward. The Virgin would walk over the church, especially over the middle dome, and to bow in front of the cross that shone, then, with a bright light. She sometimes made Her apparition with a child in Her arms. Messages
No messages were givenat these apparitions.
Miracles, Cures, and Signs
The glowing image of our Lady was accompanied by doves and orbs of light, said to make formations in the shape of a cross. Additionally, people made reports of the presence of incense smelling smoke.
Approval 
| Anba Kyrillos VI, Pope of Alexandria, delegated a commision of priests to research and investigate the phenomenon. They stayed there for several nights enquiring and investigating until they saw with their own eyes the blessed Virgin's apparition in the full form moving on the domes and blessing the multitudes in front of the church.
Kyrillos VI's official statement was:
"The Blessed Virgin mary has appeared several times on the Coptic Orthodox Church named after her at Zeitun in Cairo."
The apparitions were also confirmed by the Jesuit Father Dr. Henry Ayrout. Nuns of the Society of the Sacred Heart also witnessed the phenomenon and sent a detailed report to the Vatican, resulting in the arrival of an envoy on April 28 who also saw the apparitions and sent a report to Pope Paul VI.
Click here to read the statement > |
Books Francis Johnston (1980).When Millions Saw Mary. Augustine Publishing Co.
ISBN 0-85172-631-3.
Available to read online.
Pearl Zaki (1977). Our Lord's Mother visits Egypt. Dar El Alam El Arabi.
Available to read online.
God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary
by Roy Abraham Varghese
Videos
Our Lord's Mother Visits Egypt in 1968 & 1969 (online)
by Pearl Zaki
Marian Apparitions of the 20th Century
Narrated by Ricardo Montalban, this video traces eleven worldwide apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout this century.
Links Official Zeitun Apparitions Page
|
