From H.H. Pope Shenouda III’s
The Holy Virgin St. Mary
(English edition translated from Arabic, 1999)
“The Virgin’s Fast“
The Church celebrates the fast of our Lady the Virgin beginning with the first of Mesra, (the 7th of August). It is a fast for which people care very much, and they practice it with forceful asceticism. Some add days to it, in regard of the great love of people for The Virgin.
The fast of The Virgin is an occasion for spiritual renaissance in the majority of churches.
They prepare a spiritual program for daily sermons, and daily masses too in some churches, even the churches which are not named by the name of The Virgin.
There is a great feast for our Lady The Virgin, which is celebrated in her ancient church in Mostorod.
Feasts of other saints are also celebrated in these days:
The feast of Saint George at the monastery in Mit Damsis, is celebrated in the second half of August, and also the feast of Saint Abba Macarius the Great, and the feast of Saint George in his monastery at Ruzeykat.
In the same fast of The Virgin, we celebrate the feasts of reknowned saints: like Saint Baïssa (2 Misra, 6 August), Saint Julitta (6 Misra, 12 August), Saint Marina (15 Misra, 21 August).
In the fast of The Virgin, we also celebrate the feast of the glorious Transfiguration (13 Misra, 19 August).
In the same month (7 Misra, 13 August), we celebrate the feast of the annunciation, by the Angel Gabriel to Joachim, of the birth of The Virgin Mary.
The feast of The Virgin is not the only occasion on which the Church celebrates the feasts of The Virgin, but more is celebrated in the month of Kiahk which is full of hymns, doxologies, and psalms for the Saint Virgin Mary.
Copts in Egypt, and especially women, take care for the fast of The Virgin, in a manner that exceeds description.
There are many who fast it (with water and salt), that is without oil. Many add a third week to it, as a kind of vow. There are also those who vow to fast this fast without eating or drinking ’till the appearance of the stars in heaven.
What then is the secret behind this care?
First: The love of Copts for The Virgin who had visited and blessed their country, and left her traces in numerous places where churches have been built.
Second: The multiple miracles which happened in Egypt through the intercession of our Lady The Virgin, made many people optimistic to build churches dedicated to her name.
The apparition of The Virgin in her church at Zeitoun, and the many miracles that accompanied this apparition, have certainly increased the affection of the Copts for The Virgin, and for the fast which bears her name.
Giorgina S. Paiella, Ph.D. 