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Summary
Warraq el-Hadar is a small island and a poor district in greater Cairo's Nile river (Giza governorate, part of Greater Cairo).More than 200,000 (Christians and Muslims) initially witnessed the December 2009 apparitions on the domes of Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in El-Warraq (as at 22 December 2009). Apparition lights in the night sky could also be seen several kilometers away from the church. People used their mobile phones to make videos of the apparitions and share them via Bluetooth and on YouTube. The full silhouette of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary dressed in light blue gown could be clearly seen over the domes of the church between the church crosses. The apparitions also received wide media coverage in Egyptian newspapers and Arabic TV channels. The apparitions started in the Coptic month of Kiahk (December 2009), the Marian month/Nativity Fast in the Coptic Calendar. During this month the Coptic Church celebrates a special Midnight Praise dedicated to the Holy Virgin and the Incarnation. |
Timeline
| Dec 11, 2009 |
Warraq el-Hadar is a small island and a poor district in greater Cairo's Nile river (Giza governorate, part of Greater Cairo). More than 200,000 (Christians and Muslims) initially witnessed the December 2009 apparitions on the domes of Virgin Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church in El-Warraq (as at 22 December 2009). Apparition lights in the night sky could also be seen several kilometers away from the church. |
| Dec 14, 2010 |
Anba Theodosius, Bishop-General of Giza, approves the authenticity of the apparitions in a statement: "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."
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| 2010 |
End of the apparitions at Warraq El-Hadar. |
Description of the Virgin
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
http://www.wataninet.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?A=25232
Click here to read the statement >>
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.
Source: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/7648
Articles
Miracle or Spectacle: Virgin apparition over Christmas (eTurboNews - Hazel Heyer - 4 January 2010)
Egypt: Christians see Our Lady in the lights that appear in the sky above Cairo (Asia News - 29 December 2009)
AFP - 24 December 2009: Virgin Mary sighting a glimpse of hope for Egypt Christians
Daily News Egypt - 23 December 2009: Thousands flock to Zeitoun, Masarra churches following apparition reports
Watani - 20 December 2009: Holy Virgin appears at Warraq, Giza
Egypt: exorcism and Virgin Mary apparitions, mystery in Cairo (ANSAmed - 16 December 2009)
EGYPT: Is it the Virgin Mary or just a curious flash of light? Los Angeles Times (blog) - 15 December 2009
Crowds flock to Giza as news spreads of an apparition of the Virgin Mary
Almasry Alyoum. The Virgin Mary appears: Truth or dare? December 30, 2009.
Links
Apparitions of the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary at El-Warraq Coptic Orthodox Church, Greater Cairo, Egypt, December 2009
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