Weekly Devotional

Apparitions of the Holy Virgin Mary

by Fr. Dr. Derrence Ross Dmitri Th D, New Zealand

Saturday 2 April 2011 (24 Paremhat; 24 Baramhat)
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne;Wulfram of Holland;Martin of Braga.Visitation at Zeitoun

Cast me not off in my old age; as my strength fails, forsake me not.
(Psa. 71:9)

CONSIDER THIS:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him, must worship Him
in Spirit and in Truth.
(John 4:24)

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, Like a mighty man
who shouts because of wine.
(Psa. 78:65)

Repentance is a new pure heart, which God gives
to the sinners to love Him with.
(Pope Shenouda III)

For over 20 Centuries, the Church has chanted and prayed the
Psalms in seven daily prayers. These are the prayers with which
the Saints, the Ascetics, and the Martyrs have thrived.
(Heguman Pishoy Kamel)

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the
name of the God of Jacob defend you; may he send you
help from the Sanctuary.
(Psa. 20:1-2)

Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."
(John 5:8)

God created man to glorify Him, and kept him living perfect
and wise, so that he may obtain Eternity.
(St. Hillary Bp. of Baitier)

My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.
(Psa. 7:10)

Repentance is critical awareness and a sure watch over oneself.
(John Climacus)

REFLECTION:

When people age, everything gradually leaves them, but God
comes to them. Eternity also comes-with its duration without
end and its day without night.

Ageless Lord, let us not fear old age with its many diminishments
Enable us to embrace it as the last state before our entrance
into a new and endless life.
(Francis de Sales)

SAYING OF THE DESERT FATHERS:

On Judging:

A brother asked Abba Poemen," I am troubled in spirit, and want to leave this place."

And the Old Man said: "Why?"
And he said: "I have heard unedifying stories about one of the brothers."

The Old man said, "Are these stories true.?"
And he said, "Yes Father. The brother who told me is a man of trust."

The Old man answered: "The brother who told you is not a man of trust. For if it was so, he would not have told you those stories. When God heard the cry of the men of Sodom, he did not believe it until he had gone down and seen with his own eyes."

And the brother said, " I too have seen it with my own eyes."

When the Old man heard this, he looked down and picked off the ground a wisp of straw, and he said, "What is this?"

And he answered, "Straw."

Then the Old man reached up and touched the roof of the cell and said, "What is This?"

And he answered, "It is the beam that holds up the roof." The Old man said, "take it into your heart that your sins are like this beam, and that brother's sins are like this wisp of straw."

VISITATION AT ZEITOUN.

Since the evening of Tuesday of Tuesday April 2, 1968 (24 Baramhat, 1684 A.M.), the apparitions of the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, have continued at her Church in Zeitoun, Cairo. The apparitions have been on several nights and are continuing.

The Holy Virgin sometimes appears surrounded with a halo of shining light. She was seen in different locations such as on the windows of the domes of the church. And, she was observed walking on the roof of the Church. When she knelt in reverence to the Cross, the cross shone with a bright light. Waving her blessed hands and nodding her head, she blessed the people who had gathered to observe the miracle.

She sometimes appeared in a cloud of light and sometimes as a figure of light. Her apparitions were sometimes preceded with heavenly bodies shaped like doves moving at high speeds. The apparitions continued for long periods, up to 2 hours and 15 minutes as in the dawn of Tuesday April 30, 1968 (22 Baramouda, 1684 A.M.), where she appeared continuously from 2.45am till 5.00am.

Thousands of people of different denominations and religions, Egyptians and foreign visitors observed the miracles. The description of each apparition as of the time, location and configuration was identically witness by all people, which makes this apparition unique and sublime.

Two important aspects accompanied this miracle: The first is an incredible revival in the faith of many, repentance of many, and the return of many who had strayed away from the Faith.

The second are the numerous miracles of healing which were verified by many Physicians to be miraculous in nature. The Church confirmed the apparition after a thorough investigation by the Church Council, assigned by His Holiness Pope Cyril (Kyellos), who observed the miracle as well.

Therefore, the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate declares with great joy and humility of the heart, the confirmation that the Holy Virgin Mary appeared clearly on several nights, at different times, for periods lasting on occasions more than 2 hours. The location of the Church in Zeitoun is on the path that the Holy Family took when visiting Egypt. Mat God make this miracle a symbol for peace in the world, and a blessing for our nation as it has been prophesied: "Blessed is Egypt My People."

ONE MIRACLE:

Moslems and Christians alike, they have shuffled through the sandy yard of Zeitoun's Church of St. Mary for three months, since the Virgin was first said to have appeared miraculously floating over the Church's dome. She is held in high regard by the Moslems. As a result, Zeitoun has quickly become a major center of worship and of the ancient art of faith-healing. Many of the ailing say that they feel better after having come here.

'With the help of the Virgin it is easy to draw the devils out', said a muscular young Coptic Priest Fr. Youhanna Boulos, smiling in the light of the pilgrim's candles, one recent evening. With a silver cross in his hand, he bent over a burly epileptic who was sprawled on a sheet in the Churchyard.

"What is your name? Speak or I will burn you with fire." Fr. Boulos shouted in Arabic. He was not addressing the sick man, a Moslem tannery foreman named Mohammed Ahmed Abbassy, but the devil that was in him. The devil answered that he had been in him for 20 years and his name was Sergious.

Sergious come forth, he gave him a sign that he will depart from the man coming out of the left foot. A moment later, Mr. Abbassy's left foot rose from the sheet and trembled in the air as though something was trying to escape from it.

Then it fell back limply. "Now go and peace be with you," the priest cried exultantly.

Beyond the candle a woman made a shrill trilling cry. Through this act the man became a Christian, as it was a Christian Priest who had exorcised the Devil.

Hopefully another miracle will happen at Zeitoun to bring peace to that beleaguered land.

Researched by Fr. Dmitri.

Today's Readings:

Morning: Psalm 65:2-3; Luke 15:3-10.
Liturgy: Gal. 5:16-6:2; James 5:7-11; Acts 26:1-18;
Psalm 143:1-2; Gospel Matt. 23:14-39.

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