On April 2, 1968, a phenomenon that would take the world by storm for three years got underway as the Blessed Virgin Mary began appearing over Cairo, Egypt. The apparitions were in a manner that not only stunned the onlookers — all of whom could see her — but the filmmakers who were for the first time able to catch entire apparitions on film.
It wasn't until 1989, that a similar apparition was caught on film when Our Lady of Hungary appeared.
The Manifestation of Our Lady of Zeitoun, Egypt
The Blessed Mother appeared in many forms over the Coptic Orthodox Church which had been named in her honor. Rev. Constantine Moussa who has since passed, was the pastor of the church at the time of the apparitions. Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary could last anywhere from five minutes to several hours.
Thousands of Egyptians witnessed the Blessed Virgin Mary clearly floating in the air above the church. Many of the apparitions were also noted to have accompanying luminous bodies around them, perhaps angels or heavenly messengers.
The apparitions were officially confirmed by His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI (Cyril VI) who had entrusted a committee of high rank priests and bishops to investigate. Saturday, May 4, 1968, the apparitions were confirmed after an in-depth investigation.
Some are saying that the visits do continue until this day — they're just not as predicable.
The Message of Our Lady of Zietoun, Egypt
Our Lady of Zeitoun seems to carry a message of interesting import. As the Holy Family came into Egypt, legend has it that all the Egyptian Pagan idols were instantly shattered and fell to the ground as a result of their mere presence.
The Holy Family traveled through many places in Egypt and did spend time near the location of the church in Cairo, Egypt. The Apparitions seem to be a commemoration of the journey of the Holy Family to Egypt – into the wilderness – and the mark that they left.
Other apparitions of interest include Our Lady of the Roses and Rosa Mystica, a unique apparition which seemed to be geared towards the clergy and not just the laypeople.
Sources:
- Those who Saw Her: Apparitions of Mary, by Catherine M. Odell.
- Catherine Laboure and the Modern Apparitions of Our Lady, by Abbe Omer Englebert.
- Miraculous Images: Photographs Containing God's Fingerprints, by Marilynn Hughes.
- Medjugorje: Light for the World, by Pietro Jacopini.
- Our Lady Comes to Garabandal, by Joseph A. Pelletier, A.A.
- The Wonder of Guadalupe, by Francis Johnston.
- The Glories of Czestochowa and Jasna, To the Priests Our Lady's Beloved Sons, by Marian Movement of Priests.
- Our Lady of America, by Sister Mildred Mary Neuzil.
- The Thunder of Justice, by Ted and Maureen Flynn.
