Egypt's Virgin Mary

For the past few days, Egyptians from all over - both Christian and Muslim - have gathered around one corner of the Nile. Why the spectacle? No, no, Mubarack has not announced his resignation to great fanfare. Egyptians are gathering to see the light of the Virgin Mary, apparently.

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Yes, the waste of time spent looking for Mary or Jesus in this or that light fixture or toast or underpass is not confined to American rednecks. Egyptians also believe the Virgin shows herself during tiring times.

Thousands of Egyptians, most of whom Christians (10% of Egypt's 80 million are Coptic Christians) and some Muslims; devote hours of their time every night at the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church - some traveled hours - to see some - they claim - mystery light above the church domes. Believers claim that it is the Virgin Mary - in a blue dress - blessing Egypt and that she apparently makes an appearance every 40 years or so. Some Egyptians claim the last time the Light showed up was in '68 - a few months after Egypt's military defeat at the hands of Israel. And the reason now? Well, Egypt lost a World Cup qualifying match to Algeria. Hum? Humiliating military defeat versus soccer lose? Which is worse. Clearly, great logic is [NOT] employed here.

Hundreds, if not thousands, have been lining up for hours every night at the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in a Cairo neighborhood just off the Nile. Many of them claim that a mysterious light hovering above the church's domes is an apparition of the Virgin Mary who will bring Christian Copts prosperity and relief in a time of national and religious struggle.

The crowds began appearing Thursday evening when a number of residents spotted a flickering light. No one was sure where the illumination was coming from, and word quickly spread that the light took the shape of the Virgin Mary wearing a blue gown and standing in the sky between the church's two high crosses.

Since then, many Copts, and more than a few Muslims, have spent their evenings camping outside the church to either be blessed by a glimpse of the "miraculous" scene or to figure out just what's happening in the night sky. It has turned into a pilgrimage for the curious and the devout at a time when Egypt is beset by poverty, high unemployment and a bruised sense of identity, especially after the national soccer team's recent loss to Algeria knocked it out of contention for the World Cup.

If the light is actually there, it is either some ploy by youth or some erratic light flicking from elsewhere that has happened to hit this church. Amusing.

H/T: L.A. Times' Babylon & Beyond