Our Lady of Zeitoun Apparition,
Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt
The Middle East has had its share of Marian apparitions. After all, Muslims also believe in Mary as the Mother of Jesus. And Christians still reside there, even though they have become a minority group.
On April 2, 1968, thousands of people in Cairo, Egypt witnessed a sighting of the Blessed Holy Mother on the roof of St. Mary Coptic Church in the Zeitoun district. This church has traditionally been regarded as a stopping point for the Holy Family during their flight to Egypt.
A Muslim bus mechanic, Farouk Mohammed Atwa, was working in his shop across the street when he happened to notice a young woman standing on the roof of the church. Thinking she was about to commit suicide, he telephoned the police. A horrified crowd gathered to watch. By the time the police arrived a few minutes later, the girl had disappeared.
But exactly a week later, on April 9th, she appeared again. This time, the crowds recognized her as the Blessed Virgin Mary. People were ecstatic! She began to appear more frequently and to stay longer. Even President Gamal Abdel Nasser came to Cairo and witnessed the apparition.
Although the Vatican was notified of the apparition by some nuns who had witnessed it, they elected to stay out of the controversy. The Coptic Church declared the apparition genuine on May 5, 1968.
The Egyptian government investigated, and the people of Cairo accepted the apparition as real. The Lady of Zietoun appeared for the last time in 1971.
Why did the Blessed Virgin Mary appear to the people of Cairo - an Islamic city? The Middle East was in turmoil at that time. People were afraid. The apparition gave people hope and comfort. Her appearance strengthened the bond between Coptic Christians, Catholics, and Muslims.
Mary isn't just a mother to Catholics. She is a mother to ALL PEOPLE who embrace her.
Dawn Pisturino
April 19, 2020
Copyright 2020 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
