The Catholic Defender: The Virgin Mary reported to have appeared in Shoubra, Egypt 1986
- Donald Hartley
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The apparitions of the Virgin Mary at St. Demiana Church in Shoubra, Egypt, starting in 1986, were officially approved by the Coptic Church, led by Pope Shenouda III, who formed a committee to investigate, finding them to be a blessing for Egypt and the Church. These events, witnessed by millions, involved lights and visions of Mary on the church domes, alongside reported healings, leading to unity in approval from the Coptic Church, the Vatican, and the Egyptian government.
Began March 25, 1986, with apparitions continuing until 1991.
St. Demiana the Martyr Church in the Papadouplo area of Shoubra, Cairo.
The Virgin Mary appeared as a luminous figure, sometimes with doves, surrounded by light, often near the church's domes and altar, blessing the crowds.
Patriarch Shenouda III approved the phenomena as spiritual blessings for Egypt and the Coptic Church after investigation by a special committee.
Hundreds of thousands, even millions, including Coptic Catholics, government officials, and people of various faiths, saw the apparitions.
Documented healings and phenomena such as lights surrounding the church were reported.
This event followed the famous apparitions in Zeitoun (1968-1971), also approved by the Coptic Church, reinforcing Egypt's significance as a place of Marian apparitions.
Witnesses described the Virgin Mary as a figure of light, often accompanied by supernatural radiant lights and the flight of luminous white doves.
While these events were occurring in the Shoubra district, they are often compared to the famous 1968 apparitions at Zeitoun, which were also officially approved by the Coptic Church.
On June 21, 1986, a church Delegation report presented to the Holy Synod and headed by Patriarch Shenouda III formally approved the apparitions as authentic.
The Vatican has acknowledged Marian apparitions in Egypt, particularly the widely witnessed events in Zeitoun (1968-1971) and later in Shoubra (1986-1991) at St. Demiana's Church
with Vatican envoys investigating and confirming the phenomena, though the Coptic Church leads official recognition; these apparitions involved luminous figures of the Virgin Mary appearing over church domes, drawing huge crowds and receiving high-level spiritual approval, with Shoubra's events featuring apparitions both inside and outside the church, even showing Mary holding Jesus, uniting Coptic and Orthodox faiths in recognizing the divine manifestations.
Key Details of the Shoubra Apparitions (1986-1991)
Location: St. Demiana the Martyr Coptic Orthodox Church in the Shoubra district of Cairo.
Nature of Apparitions: Unlike some other apparitions, these occurred both at night and during the day, visible inside the church (near the altar/dome) and outside, sometimes as brilliant lights, luminous figures, or even the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus.
Witnesses: Tens of thousands, including people of different faiths, saw the apparitions.
Official Response: Coptic Pope Shenouda III established a committee, and a Vatican envoy investigated, reporting favorably, with unified approval from the Coptic and Roman Catholic leadership.
Connection to Zeitoun (1968-1971)
The Shoubra events followed the famous Zeitoun apparitions (Our Lady of Zeitoun), where the Virgin Mary appeared over St. Mary's Coptic Church for years, also recognized by the Coptic Church and investigated by the Vatican.
Both phenomena are seen as significant Marian manifestations in Egypt, with the Coptic Church confirming both.
Vatican's Stance
While the Vatican doesn't issue official declarations for apparitions in non-Catholic churches, their envoys confirmed the reality of the light and figures, with Pope Paul VI deferring to the Coptic Patriarch but approving investigation, signifying implicit recognition.
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