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OUR LADY OF ZEITOUN, EGYPT
InDefenseoftheCross.com ^
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| InDefenseoftheCross.com
Posted on 03/13/2012 8:25:53 AM PDT by Salvation
OUR LADY OF ZEITOUN, EGYPT
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Actual Photos
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THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH - APPROVED
The Official Statement from the Papal Residence in Cairo on the Apparition of Saint Mary in the Zeitoun Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt
Since the evening of Tuesday April 2, 1968 (the 24th of Bramhat, 1684 A.M.), the apparitions of the Holy Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of Light, have continued in the Coptic Orthodox Church named after Her in Zeitoun, Cairo.
The apparitions occurred on many different nights and are continuing in different forms. The Holy Virgin Saint Mary appeared sometimes in full form and sometimes in a bust, surrounded with a halo of shining light. She was seen at times on the openings of the domes on the roof of the church, and at other times outside the domes, moving and walking on the roof of the church and over the domes. When She knelt in reverence in front of the cross, the cross shone with bright light. Waving Her blessed hands and nodding Her holy head, She blessed the people who gathered to observe the miracle. She appeared sometimes in the form of a body like a very bright cloud, and sometimes as a figure of light preceded with heavenly bodies shaped like doves moving at high speeds. The apparitions continued for long periods, up to 2 hours and 15 minutes as in the dawn of Tuesday April 30, 1968 (the 22nd of Barmouda, 1684 A.M.), when She appeared continuously from 2:45 am till 5:00 am.
Thousands of people from different denominations and religions, Egyptians and foreign visitors, clergy and scientists, from different classes and professions, all observed the apparitions. The description of each apparition as of the time, location and configuration was identically witnessed by all people, which makes this apparition unique and sublime.
Two important aspects accompanied these apparitions: The first is an incredible revival of the faith in God, the other world and the saints, leading to repentance and conversion of many who strayed away from the faith. The second are the numerous miracles of healing which were verified by many physicians to be miraculous in nature.
The Papal Residence has thoroughly investigated the apparitions and gathered information by way of committees of clergy who have also witnessed the apparitions by themselves and recorded everything in reports presented to His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI.
By issuing this statement, the Papal Residence declares, with full faith and great joy and humility of a thankful heart, that the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Light, appeared in clear forms on many different nights, for periods of variable length, lasting on occasions more than 2 continuous hours, starting on the eve of Tuesday April 2, 1968 (the 24th of Bramhat, 1684 A.M.) and up till now (the date of the report) in the Coptic Orthodox Church named after Her in Zeitoun, Cairo. It is historically proven that the location of this church in Tumanbay street, in Zeitoun quarter, on the way to El-Matarya, Cairo, is on the path taken by the Holy Family when visiting Egypt.
May God make this miracle a symbol of peace for the world, and a blessing for our nation as it has been prophesized: "Blessed be Egypt My people."
Saturday May 4, 1968 Barmouda 26, 1684 A.M. Papal Residence in Cairo |
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TOPICS: Catholic; History; Orthodox Christian; Theology
KEYWORDS: brokencaucus; catholic; egypt; prayer
Background: For more than a year, starting on the eve of Tuesday, April 2, 1968, the Blessed Holy Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of God, appeared in different forms over the domes of the Coptic Orthodox Church named after Her at Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt. The late Rev. Father Constantine Moussa was the church priest at the time of these apparitions. The apparitions lasted from only a few minutes up to several hours and were sometimes accompanied by luminous heavenly bodies shaped like doves and moving at high speeds. The apparitions were seen by millions of Egyptians and foreigners. Among the witnesses were Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Moslems, Jews and non-religious people from all walks of life. The sick were cured and blind persons received their sight, but most importantly large numbers of unbelievers were converted... His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI (Cyril VI) entrusted a committee of high rank priests and bishops to investigate the apparitions, and on Saturday, May 4, 1968, the Coptic Orthodox Church officially confirmed the apparitions after thorough investigation (see official report below). His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI also assigned the responsibility of documenting the apparitions and accompanying miracles to a special committee headed by Anba Gregorios, bishop of postgraduate studies, Coptic culture and scientific research. The apparitions were also approved by the local Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Stephanos I (Stephen I), who stated that the apparitions of our Lady at Zeitoun were beyond any doubt and were seen by many of his trustworthy Coptic Catholic children. Father Dr. Henry Ayrout, the rector of the Catholic Collège de la Sainte Famille (Jesuit order) in Cairo also declared his acceptance of the miraculous apparitions of Virgin Mary, saying that whether Catholic or Orthodox, we are all Her children and She loves us all equally and Her apparitions at the Zeitoun Coptic Orthodox Church confirmed this notion. Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Said, head of all Protestant Evangelical Ministries in Egypt at the time of the apparitions, affirmed that the apparitions were true. Catholic nuns from the Sacré-Coeur order also witnessed the apparitions and sent a detailed report to the Vatican. On the evening of Sunday, April 28, 1968, an envoy from the Vatican arrived, saw the apparitions and sent a report to His Holiness Pope Paul VI of Rome. The Visits Continue even today... These continuing appearances have an interesting link: They have all occurred on holy ground: traditional places where the Holy Family stopped along their flight from Herod. At each of these sites, they were welcomed or turned away, and idols fell, the desert bloomed, miracles occurred. Their first stop in Egypt was at Zeitoun and their last, Assuit. As they turned back to retrace their Nile journey, Joseph received his dream to return to Nazareth--at Gabal Dranka.
So, it would seem, Mary has been retracing all the steps of the journey when Her Son first came to His people. Sometimes, along with doves and angels, meteors and strange lights, She has been seen in the company of Her beloved Joseph, Her Sacred Child, and even a lowly little burro. She began at the beginning and is now at the end of the Flight into Egypt where the little Family returned home.
The Coptic Catholic Church, which has built churches or monateries on each of these holy sites, has approved as authentic all these separate visitations of Our Lady. A fact hard to deny as more and more the clergy themselves have seen Mary and participated in the conversions and miracles. |
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THE HOLY FAMILY'S JOURNEY TO EGYPT
On the 1st June (24th Bashans) the Church celebrates the anniversary of the Holy Family's coming to Egypt. It is known that the Holy Family arrived at El Ferma at the north eastern border of Egypt (now the place is named Port Fouad). Then the Holy Family moved on to Tal Basta (the city of Zagazig is located there now)--and arrived there on 24th Bashans. Thus God has blessed our land and all the old Egyptian idols fell to pieces to realize the Book's statement that: "In that day, shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord" (Isaiah 19:19).
The Virgin sat in the shade of a big tree. Joseph touched the ground with a rod of iron, and fresh water sprang out of the spot. It is said that a man named Kalloum wondered at what he saw. He invited the Holy Family to his house where he used to pray to an idol. That idol fell and was broken into pieces. So, the priests demanded the death of Jesus.
The Holy Family went over to Belbeis and then to Menyat Genah (near the present town of Sammanoud). There, Christ caused a spring of water to appear. A church was built there. It was called Beekha Isous, i.e. Christ's heel; now it is known as the Monastery of El Maghtas.
The Holy Family then went over to El Natroun Valley. So, God blessed the place and filled it with monasteries and peopled them with monks. There, it is said, the Holy Family was met by two thieves. The first was deeply affected by the light and holiness emanating from the baby Christ's face. So he persuaded his companion to restore what they had plundered. The Virgin prayed that he might be granted the blessing of repentance. It is the same thief, on Christ's right, that had been touched by Grace, so he cried out on the throne, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
The Holy Family then moved on to Ein Shams and El Matterya. Joseph had a stick. Christ planted it. A spring of water came out, and it grew into a tree. El Matterya tree still lives up to the present day, over 2000 years.
The Holy Family passed by the site occupied now by the Church of Abou Serga in Ancient Cairo.
Then the Holy Family moved on to Upper Egypt (near Samalout) passing through El Ashmouneen, and Mount Kiskam and Meir and Mount Drinka (in Assyout). El Moharik Monastery there has an ancient church on the site of the cave in which the Holy Family stayed.
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1
posted on
03/13/2012 8:26:06 AM PDT
by
Salvation
To: All; Religion Moderator
2
posted on
03/13/2012 8:27:38 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
3
posted on
03/13/2012 8:29:37 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...
4
posted on
03/13/2012 8:44:52 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
May the Most Holy Theotokos protect the Coptic Christians of Egypt!
5
posted on
03/13/2012 8:47:36 AM PDT
by
Honorary Serb
(Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
To: Honorary Serb
6
posted on
03/13/2012 8:57:50 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
im amazed at how few folks outside of catholics, know about this apparition....
7
posted on
03/13/2012 9:11:07 AM PDT
by
raygunfan
To: Salvation
May Our Lady watch over and help the Coptic Christians of Egypt in these difficult times, and all of those Christians who face suffering and persecution under Muslim rule.
8
posted on
03/13/2012 9:14:07 AM PDT
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: Salvation
There was a similar apparition at a Coptic church in Egypt recently, too.
To: Salvation; netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; ...
The Blessed Mother has been appearing in Egypt for quite some time. During his year long field study of the Coptic monasteries of Egypt, Fr. Mark Gruber, OSB was sent by an abbott to the Church of the Lady Damiana, in Cairo, to witness a marian apparition.
It is just one of several amazing experiences he relates in this book, which I am rereading this Lent. Catholic and Orthodox will enjoy this journey amongst the Desert Fathers.
10
posted on
03/13/2012 11:38:26 AM PDT
by
NYer
(He who hides in his heart the remembrance of wrongs is like a man who feeds a snake on his chest. St)
To: St_Thomas_Aquinas
Was it Our Lady of Zeitoun or another apparition?
11
posted on
03/13/2012 2:32:03 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: NYer
Thanks for the recommendation.
12
posted on
03/13/2012 2:33:42 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
To: St_Thomas_Aquinas
14
posted on
03/13/2012 6:45:57 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
The mention of Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Said’s remark disqualifies this thread for a caucus.
To: Salvation
16
posted on
03/14/2012 5:30:46 AM PDT
by
Rich21IE
To: Salvation
If only America would humble itself on its knees before God, and ask for His Help, would could have an overnight transformation. “No one stands as tall as a Christian on their knees.”
17
posted on
03/30/2012 1:08:46 PM PDT
by
thesaleboat
(Pray The Rosary Daily (Our Lady, July 13, 1917))
To: Religion Moderator
Nevertheless, Rev. Said confirmed the report. Rare, but nevertheless, appearing.
**. Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Said, head of all Protestant Evangelical Ministries in Egypt at the time of the apparitions, affirmed that the apparitions were true.**
18
posted on
03/30/2012 6:28:05 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: thesaleboat
**No one stands as tall as a Christian on their knees.**
Great quote!
19
posted on
03/30/2012 6:29:16 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
20
posted on
04/02/2012 3:47:30 PM PDT
by
thesaleboat
(Pray The Rosary Daily (Our Lady, July 13, 1917))
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