Who Was Pope Theophilus? Why Did Saint Mary Appear to Him?

I. Pope Theophilus: Shepherd of the Alexandrian Church

Pope Theophilus served as the 23rd Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, from 385 to 412 AD, during a pivotal era in the life of the Church. He was the uncle and mentor of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, one of the greatest theologians in the Orthodox tradition. Known for his unwavering stand against paganism and his efforts to consolidate the Christian identity of Egypt, Theophilus was a father not only in doctrine but in pastoral care.

He was a bold reformer, remembered for transforming pagan temples into churches—most famously the Temple of Serapis in Alexandria, which he had converted into a Christian house of worship. His tenure marked the triumph of Christianity in Egypt after centuries of Roman pagan rule. Yet amidst his boldness, he was a man of deep Marian devotion, humility, and prayer. And it is precisely in this spirit that he was counted worthy of a divine vision.

II. Why Did Saint Mary Appear to Him?

The Virgin Mary appeared to Pope Theophilus not as a stranger, but as a mother who chooses one of her most faithful sons. In the Coptic mindset, visions are not random—they are entrusted to those who live lives of purity, humility, and ecclesial authority.

According to the manuscript tradition of The Vision of Theophilus, preserved in multiple Coptic and Arabic copies and later edited by Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala, Pope Theophilus prayed with tears, asking God to reveal to him the details of the Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt—a story beloved by the Egyptian Church, yet hidden in mystery.

The Lord heard his petition. That night, in a vision, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and told him:

“What you have asked has been heard before God. I will recount to you, my beloved Theophilus, all that we endured, all the places we visited, and how my Son sanctified Egypt with His footsteps.”

This encounter is not a dream of the imagination, but a sacred memory entrusted to a patriarch for the sake of the Church. It mirrors the biblical pattern—just as Joseph received divine guidance in dreams (Matthew 2:13), so too did Theophilus receive guidance from the Mother of God.

III. What Did She Tell Him?

In the vision, the Virgin Mary narrates the entire journey of the Holy Family through Egypt:

  • Their escape from Bethlehem by night (cf. Matthew 2:13–14).
  • Their arrival at Egyptian border towns such as El-Zaytoun, Matarya, and Old Cairo (Abu Serga).
  • The miracles performed along the way—idols falling, demons fleeing, trees bending, and springs flowing.
  • The dangers they faced—robbers, beasts, starvation, and rejection by villagers.
  • Their longest stay at Mount Qosqam, which today houses the Monastery of the Holy Virgin (Deir al-Muharraq).

She explained how her heart was pierced with sorrow, yet upheld by divine comfort.

“The sword shall pierce through your own soul also.” (Luke 2:35, NKJV)

Through her voice, the vision becomes not merely historical but theological—she interprets the journey as Christ’s silent conquest over Egypt, reclaiming it from idols and preparing it to be a cradle of Orthodox faith.

IV. What Did Pope Theophilus Do After?

Pope Theophilus, upon waking, wrote down everything he saw and heard, and shared the vision with the Church. The Coptic tradition affirms that this vision was read aloud liturgically during the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt (1 Baounah / June 1), and incorporated into devotional practices, pilgrimage routes, and iconography.

The vision became a spiritual map for the Egyptian Church—connecting believers with the footsteps of Christ, and reminding them that the land they walk on has been sanctified by the very feet of the Incarnate Word.

V. Why Do We Believe This Vision Is Authentic?

  1. Liturgical Tradition: The vision is part of the Coptic Synaxarium, read during liturgical celebrations, and has been preserved through multiple manuscript traditions in Coptic, Arabic, and Ethiopic sources—showing widespread acceptance.
  2. Manuscript Witnesses: The critical edition edited by Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala (2009) presents textual evidence of the vision’s consistency across centuries, with references to 10th–13th century Arabic texts copied from earlier Coptic sources.
  3. Patristic Alignment: The vision’s theology aligns with the teachings of the Fathers:
    • Origen identifies the Flight into Egypt as fulfillment of Hosea 11:1.
    • Athanasius and Cyril both emphasize the sanctifying power of Christ’s presence.
    • John Chrysostom interprets the journey into Egypt as a silent testimony to Christ’s universal lordship.
  4. Geographic Confirmation: The vision matches real geographic sites that have been venerated for centuries:
    • The Church of Abu Serga is built on a cave believed to be the resting place of the Holy Family.
    • Matarya’s sycamore tree still stands as a symbol of the Virgin’s rest.
  5. Consistent with Orthodox Visionary Tradition: The Church never separates spiritual truth from ecclesial discernment. Visions, when received by saints and bishops and confirmed by liturgy and tradition, are trusted as part of the living memory of the Church.

“The Church is the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15, NKJV)

VI. Why Does It Matter Today?

In a time when many question tradition, the vision of Pope Theophilus reminds us that:

  • God speaks through His Church, not just once in Scripture, but through holy men and women in every age.
  • The Holy Family’s suffering makes our own fear and exile sacred.
  • Egypt is not a place to escape from, but a place Christ chose to enter.

The vision is real, not because it is in the Bible, but because it has become part of the heartbeat of a Church that has walked with Christ in suffering for over 2,000 years.