The Feast of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary at Zeitoun
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the Feast of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary at Zeitoun as a spiritual occasion that confirms God’s work and His visitation to His people, encouraging believers to hold firmly to faith and hope.
He affirms that the apparition of the Virgin Mary declares the truth of the immortality of the soul and that death is not the end of life, but a transition to eternal life, confirming the Church’s faith in the resurrection of humanity and the life of the saints with God.
He also explains that her appearance as light symbolizes spiritual glory and the calling that God gives to believers to walk in the light and holiness, to stay away from the works of darkness, and to let their lives bear witness to Christ.
He highlights that the apparition of the Virgin confirms the continuing relationship between heaven and earth, that the saints care for God’s children and pray for them, and that God visits His people through His saints.
He also reflects on the symbolism of the doves that appeared during the apparition, considering them a symbol of the Holy Spirit, peace, purity, and simplicity, calling believers to remain steadfast in the work of the Holy Spirit and to live in peace and love.
He points to the blessing of the land of Egypt that received the Holy Family, and to the importance of the holy places visited by the Virgin Mary, calling for care of these places because of their spiritual, historical, and faith value.
He encourages believers to care for the Church life, worship, and service, explaining that the fruits of the Virgin’s apparition appear in repentance, the growth of spiritual life, the love of God, and the service of others.
He concludes by affirming that the apparition of the Virgin Mary is a call for every person to lift his heart toward heaven, live in the light of Christ, remain steadfast in faith and hope, and await the eternal glory prepared by God for His children.
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