Description of the Virgin

Apparition

The first person who saw the alleged apparition of Mary was reportedly a Muslim neighbour. He was said to be sitting at his local coffee shop when he apparently saw a strong light coming from the Coptic Orthodox place of worship. He and others are said to have observed the light condense into a female form.[4]

Mary allegedly appeared in luminous robes, in a pure white dress and a royal blue belt, with a crown on her head.[2] 

Mary supposedly appeared above the middle dome of the church. The purported apparition is then said to have moved between the domes and on to the top of the church gate between its two twin towers in front of the central church building. Many local residents reported seeing the alleged apparition of Mary. Cell phones were used to call friends, take pictures and make videos of the phenomenon and send them to friends.[5] 

A representative of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has approved the apparitions.

The Holy Virgin appeared in her full height in luminous robes, above the middle dome of the church, in pure white dress and a royal blue belt. She had a crown on her head, above which appeared the cross on top of the dome. The crosses on top of the church’s domes and towers glowed brightly with light. The huge crowds gathered in the vicinity of the church have seen luminous white pigeons soaring above the church during various times of the night, as well as a star which emerges suddenly in the sky, travels some 200 metres across, then disappears.

Messages

No messages were given at these apparitions.

Approval

In the era of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and Anba Dumadius, Archbishop of Giza

The Bishopric of Giza announces that the Holy Virgin has appeared in a transfiguration at the Church named after her in Warraq al-Hadar, Giza, in the early hours of Friday 11 December 2009 at 1:00am. The Holy Virgin appeared in her full height in luminous robes, above the middle dome of the church, in pure white dress and a royal blue belt. She had a crown on her head, above which appeared the cross on top of the dome. The crosses on top of the church’s domes and towers glowed brightly with light. The Holy Virgin moved between the domes and on to the top of the church gate between its two twin towers. The local residents all saw her.

The apparition lasted from 1:00am till 4:00am on Friday, and was registered by cameras and cell phones. Some 3,000 people from the neighbourhood, surrounding areas, and passers-by gathered in the street in front of the church to see the apparition.

Since Friday, the huge crowds gathered in the vicinity of the church have been seeing luminous white pigeons soaring above the church during various times of the night, as well as a star which emerges suddenly in the heaven, travels some 200 metres across, then disappears. The huge crowds gathered around the church do not cease singing hymns and praises for the Holy Virgin.

This is a great blessing for the Church and for all the people of Egypt.

May her blessing and intercession benefit us all.

Signed

Anba Theodosius

Bishop-General of Giza

Coptic pope endorses Mary sightings

"If you don't believe in the Virgin Mary or in her divine intercession, you won't be able to see her," said Coptic Pope Shenouda III, commenting on recent alleged sightings of the virgin in several areas throughout Cairo.

In his first weekly sermon after returning from the US where he underwent a routine medical check-up, Shenouda spoke at length about the host of recent apparitions. "The Virgin Mary loves Egypt, where she stayed for three and a half years when Jesus was a child," he said, stressing that such miracles were possible. "That's why she misses Egypt, and--from time to time--chooses to bless it with her appearance."

"There is another world, called the world of heaven or of light, because everything in that world is of light," he said. "God is light, Jesus is light emanating from that light, and the Virgin Mary is the mother of light."

Shenouda went on to say that many Muslims, as well as Coptic Christians, believed the visions were authentic.

"Muslims believe in the holiness of the Virgin Mary. In fact, they appreciate her more than some Protestant Christians," he said, noting, however, that the pastor of a Protestant Church in Cairo's Kasr el-Dobara district had confirmed the virgin's appearance.

References

1. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOCQeYECWU0

2. ^ a b Anba Theodosius, Bishop-General of Giza. "Statement from Giza Coptic Orthodox Bishopric".[dead link]

3. ^ "Virgin Mary Apparition at Egyptian Coptic church debunked, believers not persuaded".

4. ^ Mona Salem (AFP), Dec 24, 2009,. "Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians".

5. ^ Victor Salama, Nader Shukry, Dec 20, 2009,. "Holy Virgin appears at Warraq, Giza".[dead link]

6. ^ Footage apparently showing light being switched off inside the church tower, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOCQeYECWU0&t=4m29s

7. ^ "Apparitions of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary at El-Warraq Coptic Orthodox Church, Greater Cairo, Egypt. December 2009".

8. ^ Amro Hassan, Dec 15, 2009,. "EGYPT: Is it the Virgin Mary or just a curious flash of light?". Los Angeles Times.

9. ^ Sherine Nasr, Dec 17-23, 2009,. "Crowds flock to Giza as news spreads of an apparition of the Virgin Mary".

10. ^ Dec 29, 2009,. "Christians see Our Lady in the lights that appear in the sky above Cairo".

11. ^ Dec 25, 2009,. "State papers focus on swine flu, independent papers cover Gaza, and MB".

12. ^ Morris Sadek, Dec 21, 2009,. "The Holy Virgin Mary appears in Egypt".

13. ^ Salem, Mona (24 December 2009). "Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 8 February 2013.

14. ^ Dec 25, 2009,. "Glimpse of Hope for Egypt's Christians".

15. ^ Dec 27, 2009,. "Virgin Mary Sighting a Glimpse of Hope for Egypt Christians".

16. ^ Dec 29, 2009,. "Late nights in Egypt with the 'Virgin Mary'".

17. ^ Dec 27, 2009,. "Virgin Mary sighting provides hope for Egypt Christians".

External links

• Hazel Heyer, Jan 04, 2010,. "Virgin apparition over Christmas".

• Mona Salem (AFP), Dec 24, 2009,. "Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians".

• Dec 29, 2009,. "Christians see Our Lady in the lights that appear in the sky above Cairo".