What are your feelings on the miracle, all you who are Oriental Orthodox???
Cannot be described. I was born about 10 years after the holy apparition of the Theotokos, the Lady of us all, yet the documented stories of miracles, healing, conversions, change of persons and other amazing testimonies are a never ending source of blessings. My close relatives saw her in 1968. Whenever the first sign of her apparition each night would begin, manifested in lights and doves, the chanting of songs and glorification hymns would begin in and outside the tiny Zeitoun church (at the time). In average 10,000 people would, in one voice, in a strong hold of islamic fanatics, chant hymns and songs. WHen the Lady appeared, emotions could not be contained. My relative could not describe it, yet I can relate. Peace, being full of grace, courage, love for the Lord, ..... mixed feelings.
Yet, it is an event among a series of monumental events in the history of the persecuted Coptic Orthodox Church. It was not the first time the Theotokos appeared, or any of the angels or saints. This is quite common in our church. Yet this event needs special attention for many reasons. It was a year long event, the Theotokos would appear for each and every night with many signs that sent by the Lord to honor His Holy Mother. The event was so big that it could not even be denied by the local newpaper, who never mention anything uplifting about the persecuted Copts. This time it was too big to deny. The apparition came at a time when a new wave of persecution was starting, and it gave a great support to the Coptic nation to pass these troubles that lasted till now.
The relation between the Theotokos and the Copts can be dated back since Egypt offered refuge to the Lord and the Holy Family. The holy sites that they visited are still in Egypt. It was a Copt (St.Cyril) who defended the title of the Theotokos, and the Coptic nation assisted in the effort by numerous glorification songs for the Lord and His Mother, confirming the divinity of Christ that was denied by Nestorius, Diodore, Theodore, Theodret, Ibas and other heretics.
It seems that the Theotokos therefore intercedes on the behalf of the Copts, who defended the divinity of the Son and her title, at all times. In the 10th century, in the most difficult crises under the islamic rule that faced the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Holy Virgin appeared to Pope St.Abraham and told him about an unknown saints (St.Samaan the Tenner). The latter would move the Mukatam mountain as requested by the Khalif EL-Muez, the great Fatimite Khalif, who thought at the time to trap the Church by verifying the scripture or the whole Coptic Nation would be exterminated. It was moved by the prayers of Pope Abraham, the humility of St.Samaan the Tenner and before all, the intercession of the Theotokos. The Khalif became a monk, his body is in the monastery of Muharak in Egypt, and the Coptic Orthodox Church was saved.
During the Abbasids rule of Egypt, another miracle saved about 600 churches from demolition and destruction. We can go on and on.
We were blessed to defend the Theotokos against the whole heretical churches, and by that defend the divinity of Christ, and we have been blessed by the amazing love of the Theotokos in her apparitions.
