OUR LADY OF ZEITOUN

The Coptic Church of Zeitoun, Cairo, is situated in Tumanbay Street. Across the street from the Church there used to be a big garage for the buses of the Public Transport Authority. On April 2nd 1968, an hour and a half after sunset, the mechanics and drivers of the garage were all alarmed by some disturbance in the street.

The workmen ran to the street. They saw a young lady dressed in white on the church dome. They saw her walking on the dome. They thought that she was about to throw herself down. So they cried: "Be careful. Take care, you may fall down, wait." As the dome is curved, no human being can walk on it. Then some of the pedestrians who stood to watch the scene cried "Virgin Mary, Virgin Mary."

The Coptic Church of Zeitoun

The Traffic in Tumanbay Street was stopped and a big crowd of people stood to watch the apparition of the Blessed Virgin. The workmen of the garage all gave reports that ascertained and confirmed their witness as they all gave the same particulars.

Rev. Father Costantin, the priest of the church, also saw the Blessed Virgin's apparition. Sometimes She appeared in a bust and at other times in Her full body... moving between and on the domes. She bowed to the congregation and the crowds of people in front of the church. She blessed them. On certain nights She stood in the attitude of praying. She knelt in front of the church cross and the dome. Sometimes the apparition was accompanied or preceded by celestial beings in the form of doves: luminous and bright. At other times She was seen with an olive branch in Her hand. The apparitions used to last for quite a long time; on April 30th 1968 they lasted for two hours.

Some priests of high rank were then delegated by His Holiness Anba Kyrillos VI, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy See of St. Mark in all Africa and the Near East, to make researches and investigations on the spot. They travelled to Zeitoun and 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.

The Virgin went on making Her apparitions for a whole year and in the sight of thousands of people from all walks of life. They all gave the same particulars as to the description and form and time and place. That unanimity has placed the matter of Virgin's apparition beyond any doubt.

The apparitions at Zeitoun have been accompanied by:
1. The strong belief in God, the other world and the saints, that resulted in unbelievers repent and be regenerated through their new true belief.
2. The second is the miraculous cure that has occured to many patients whose cases have been examined by all concerned, medically and scientifically.

Website of Our Lady of Zeitoun:   www.zeitun-eg.org/ stmaridx.htm