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Summary
On the eve of Tuesday, March 25, 1986 (Baramhat 16, 1702 A.M.), the Holy Virgin Mary started Her apparitions in the church of Saint Demiana the Martyr in Papadouplo, near El-Teraa El-Boolakia street, in the overcrowded Shoubra quarter of Cairo, Egypt. The church of Saint Demiana in Papadouplo is a very small and poor Coptic Orthodox church and the surrounding "streets" are very narrow (about 4 meters wide).
On this day, our Lady appeared beside the two towers of the church of Saint Demiana and was first seen by people living in the houses overlooking the church's towers; Her light shone in their houses and they saw Her in Her full body surrounded by a halo of light over the left (western) dome of the church. This apparition was repeated several times, then the news spread and people from all sects and religions came to see the apparitions. The very narrow streets surrounding the church became overcrowded with thousands of night vigils (see figure on the right) praying and singing doxologies, liturgies and hymns to the Mother of True Light for whole nights. |
Timeline
| March 25, 1986 |
On the eve of Tuesday, March 25, 1986 (Baramhat 16, 1702 A.M.), the Holy Virgin Mary started Her apparitions in the church of Saint Demiana the Martyr in Papadouplo, near El-Teraa El-Boolakia street, in the overcrowded Shoubra quarter of Cairo, Egypt.
On this day, our Lady appeared beside the two towers of the church of Saint Demiana and was first seen by people living in the houses overlooking the church's towers; Her light shone in their houses and they saw Her in Her full body surrounded by a halo of light over the left (western) dome of the church. |
| April 9, 1986 |
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III issued a papal order to form a special committee to investigate the matter. |
| April 13, 1986 |
Journalist Mosaad Sadek writes: Some of the inhabitants of the houses around the church said that they saw flashes of light shining over the church starting a few months ago, but nobody reflected on the matter. It was only when the Virgin appeared that they started to link the preceding events with the apparitions of the Virgin. |
| April 16, 1986 |
The delegation released two statements which detailed their eye witness accounts and stated: "... after examining these phenomena with His Holiness, declares that these apparitions are a blessing for Egypt and a blessing for the Church..."
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April 21, 1986 |
A report of the Papal Delegation presented to the Holy Synod assembled and headed by H.H. Pope Shenouda III, formally approved the apparitions. |
1991 |
The apparitions end.
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Description of the Virgin
Our Lady appeared beside the two towers of the church of Saint Demiana and was first seen by people living in the houses overlooking the church's towers; Her light shone in their houses and they saw Her in Her full body surrounded by a halo.
Click here to read the descriptions of some of the forms of the apparitions, as published in Watani newspaper of April 20, 1986 and as reported by eye-witnesses.
Messages
No messages were given at
these apparitions.
Miracles, Cures, and Signs
One of the innumerable miracles that occurred during the apparitions of our Lady in Saint Demiana church, Papadouplo, Shoubra is the following miracle which was published in Watani weekly newspaper on Sunday, June 1st, 1986 (P. 5, 3rd column):
The mother of Theresa Soliman Youssef (6 years old) reports the miracle that the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary did to her daughter: Theresa had lost vision in her right eye after a tricot needle pierced this eye and injured the cornea and eye lens, causing traumatic cataract. The girl was unable to see using this eye; this occurred on November 17, 1984.
On December 5, 1984, the child was operated upon to remove the destroyed lens in order to use an external replacement contact lens thereafter, but the right eye condition deteriorated due to a secondary purulent infection. Theresa's mother continues saying:
On Sunday, May 18, 1986, I took my daughter and we went to Saint Demiana church in El-Teraa El-Boolakia, Shoubra. After receiving the Holy Communion, we ascended to the church's balcony and stood there with the crowd. And suddenly, a strong light shone from the right side of the veil of the altar. My daughter raised her hand towards the source of light, then wiped her sick eye with her palm and suddenly shouted exultantly:
I can see mother... I can see mother!
She could put her hand over her left (good) eye and still see with her right eye which was once blind.
Dr. Fayez Akhnoukh, who also serves at Saint Demiana church, examined the child, tested the visual acuity of both of her eyes, and found that the girl could now see using her right eye which was healed miraculously. Father Raphael El-Anba Bishoy who was at this time helping Father Heg. Abdel Messih El-Sherbeeni, the church priest, has recorded and documented this miracle.
Approval
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III issued a papal order to form a special committee to investigate the matter. The committee examined the accounts of eye-witnesses, and on Thursday, April 10, 1986, at midnight, the members of the Papal Delegation went to the church to watch closely the reported spiritual phenomena. They stayed there till a little before morning. At 3:40 am on the dawn of Friday, April 11, 1986, they saw the Holy Virgin in a clear form surrounded by a halo of light and the apparition continued till 5:00 am. Father Heg. Georgios Amin was also there with the committee to supervise order.
Click here to read the statement >>
The delegation released two statements on April 16, 1986 which detailed their eye witness accounts and stated: "... after examining these phenomena with His Holiness, declares that these apparitions are a blessing for Egypt and a blessing for the Church..."
Click here to read the statements >>
A report of the Papal Delegation presented to the Holy Synod assembled on June 21, 1986 and headed by H.H. Pope Shenouda III, formally approved the apparitions.
Click here to read the report >>
Links
The Apparitions Of The Blessed Holy Virgin Mary In The Church Of Saint Demiana The Martyr,
In Papadouplo, Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt (1986-1991)
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