Why, you might wonder, is the Virgin Mary apparently spending so much of her time at the moment in Cairo?

The Coptic Pope, Shenouda III, has an explanation: "The Virgin Mary loves Egypt, where she stayed for three-and-a-half years when Jesus was a child," he told worshippers in his weekly sermon. "She misses Egypt, and – from time to time – chooses to bless it with her appearance."

Her first reported appearance in the current series came on December 10 – hovering over a church in al-Warraq district. Since then, thousands are said to have seen the apparition and numerous videos have been posted on YouTube.

Many others are sceptical but, as Pope Shenouda assured his congregation, "If you don't believe in the Virgin Mary or in her divine intercession, you won't be able to see her."

Atef Beshay, a Coptic scriptwriter quoted in the Los Angeles Times, offers an alternative theory:

"What is going on now is a result of people's massive feeling of corruption, social injustice and the financial gap between various classes in Egypt. Some people are desperately seeking 'aid' from anyone, even if this aid will only come from the Virgin Mary's apparition.

"We also shouldn’t disregard the increasing religious tensions between Muslims and Copts. Some Copts wait for [a] phenomenon like this because it gives them some sort of mental advantage over Muslims."
   

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 26 December 2009.