Church of the Virgin Mary, Zeitoun

On a street in Cairo’s Zeitoun district stands a church whose name is tied to one of the most famous religious events in modern Egyptian history: the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun. Many people know it simply as the Zeitoun Church or the Church of the Apparition in Zeitoun. It is a Coptic Orthodox church associated with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that began in 1968.

But the story doesn’t begin with the apparitions: the church itself dates back to the early 20th century, and only later became a destination for visitors from far and wide after the events that took place here.

Where is the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun?

The Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun is in Cairo’s Zeitoun district, at 122 Touman Bey Street. It sits in a well-established residential neighbourhood in northern Cairo, close to several of the area’s main streets and roads.

Address: 122 Touman Bey Street, Zeitoun

Nearest metro station: Hadayek El-Zaytoun

According to specialist church sources, the church’s location is also associated with Tawfik Khalil Street, which branches off Touman Bey Street.

The story of the Zeitoun church

The church’s story begins in 1924, when a group of Copts in Zeitoun decided to build a church to serve local residents, as the neighbourhood had none at the time.

After the death of Khalil Ibrahim, who had pledged to help fund the building, his son Tawfik Khalil took on his father’s wish and completed the project, which became the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun.

Over the years the church expanded its work, adding buildings and social services alongside its religious activities.

The apparition of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun

According to Egyptian church sources, the main reason for the church’s fame is the apparition of the Virgin Mary above its domes, events that began in April 1968.

The apparitions were seen above the church’s domes and witnessed by large numbers of people, and the phenomenon continued for a period that year.

Today the church keeps material, photographs and testimonies relating to these events, and its official website has a section titled “The Church and the Apparition” with material on the apparitions, the eyewitnesses and their history.

Documents from the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority on the Holy Family route state that the Virgin appeared above the church’s domes on 2 April 1968.

Why did the church become so famous?

Before 1968 the church served Zeitoun’s local community, but the apparitions made its name known far more widely, both in Egypt and abroad.

Since then the church has been linked to many memories and testimonies of the apparitions, and the surrounding area has welcomed visitors keen to see the place where these events happened.

That’s why visiting this church is different from visiting many of Cairo’s historic churches: its fame rests not just on the age or design of the building, but on a religious story tied to the site in the 20th century.

The church and its domes

The church is known for its domes, which are inseparable from the image of the apparitions – so much so that the domes themselves have become central to the site’s identity.

Photos of the church, its domes and related material can be found on the official website of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun, which has a dedicated photos and icons section alongside a section on the history of the church and the apparition.

The Zeitoun church and the Holy Family

Zeitoun is also linked to the route of the Holy Family’s journey in Egypt. A document issued by the Tourism Development Authority states that the Holy Family stayed in Zeitoun for a time, and connects the area with the Church of the Virgin Mary that now stands on Touman Bey Street.

This adds another layer of significance for anyone interested in Coptic history and the places associated with the Holy Family’s journey through Egypt.

What can you learn on a visit?

Visiting the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun is about more than seeing a religious building: it’s a chance to discover a side of modern Cairo’s history and of the Coptic Church in the 20th century.

Topics you can explore include:

• How the church was founded
• The story of the apparition of the Virgin in Zeitoun
• Photographs and testimonies relating to the apparitions
• The history of the church and its services
• The domes associated with the apparitions
• Zeitoun’s link to the Holy Family’s journey

Church services and activities

Alongside its liturgies and religious activities, the church runs a range of services and church activities. Its official website lists services including spiritual meetings, confession, Sunday schools and a deacons’ school, among others.

The church also has buildings and social services that have grown up over its history, including services for the elderly and for people living away from home, as well as other facilities.

Celebrations of the Zeitoun apparition

The church commemorates the anniversary of the apparition with special events. Its official website announces celebrations and activities marking the anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun.

So if you’re planning to visit for a particular religious occasion, it’s best to check the church’s official announcements for the times of liturgies, celebrations and available services.

Discover more in Zeitoun

If you’re exploring Zeitoun in Cairo, you can find more churches and religious sites, restaurants, cafés, services and local spots in the area on Things in Cairo.

Discover the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeitoun and the story behind one of the best-known religious sites in modern Cairo’s history.