Having started on Saturday, November 27th, 1982, these visits have not stopped to this day. The small house of Soufanieh will even become a place of pilgrimage as subsequently requested by the Virgin Mary in a "message."
On Sunday, November 28th, 1982, things could have become tricky. The family received the visit of the State Security. The news of the phenomenon spread across Damascus like a trail of gunpowder. During these agitated times in Syria and because of the economic crisis, necessitating the setting up of a considerable police network, some thought, with reason that "this was not the time to attract attention!"
When police officer Akram Abboud entered the house in order to make his investigation, Mrs. Chahade Hanoun was explaining to Myrna how to pray the rosary, several people having expressed the wish that it be recited before the icon.
The security officer, after having completed his report took some photos. Later, in the afternoon, he came back accompanied by three colleagues and a physician, doctor Saliba Abdel Ahad.
At first, they asked Myrna to wash her hands with soap in front of them and then to wipe her hands in the white paper handkerchiefs that they supplied her with. Having returned in the living room, the four agents surrounded the young woman while the physician stood before her. They asked her to pray, which she promptly did. Wasn't this the time for God to intervene? Myrna's Hands were covered with oil.
Doctor Saliba rubbed the palm of Myrna hands, and for a long time observed the oozing of oil.
-What do you think doctor? said one of the agents. The doctor pointed his finger to the heavens while saying:
-This is God's work.
One of the agents asked the family for permission to
disassemble the icon, since there was a rumor that the icon was fueled with oil
through small pipes. The agent examined carefully the wall, removed the small
reproduction from its protective plastic setting. Accidentally, he tore the top
right corner (see cover photo). Immediately oil oozed from the small picture.
The agent quivered. He placed the image in its original setting, prayed a moment
then they all left. From that day, the small house of Soufanieh will welcome
members of the government and of the army, no longer for investigation, but for
prayer.In the evening, around 19:00, Father Elias Zahlaoui, vicar of
the Greek-Catholic parish of Our Lady of Damascus Church, arrived.
-Extract from the translation of the French edition of 1988: "Les apparitions de DAMAS --- Christian Ravaz"
Thursday, December 16, 1982
Shortly after Dr. Jamil Marji, Mrs. Raquillé Kelta, and her son left, Commander Souheil Maarouf, head of the Bab-Touma police station, and Commander Abdel-Hadi Kifri, head of the Koussour police station, arrived. They inquired respectfully about what was happening. They eventually asked for a piece of cotton soaked in oil and left.
Nearly half an hour later, we saw the arrival of the Damascus police chief, General Walid Hammamieh, accompanied by his staff. This visit, too, was conducted with the utmost respect. And, in turn, the general inquired about what was happening.
I would later have the opportunity to meet General Hammamieh at his office. He will make sure he is ready to offer any necessary assistance, should the extraordinary crowds require it. It's no secret that the tension in the country is not particularly reassuring. Despite this, not a single shock, not the slightest disturbance.
Christmas 1982 in Soufanieh
I had promised the Nazzour family that I would come to Soufanieh to sing Christmas carols, with some members of the choir, after midnight mass. As soon as mass was over, I let the choir know, who were being treated to a small Christmas Eve dinner, that I would be arriving in Soufanieh ahead of them. Someone came to tell me that General Moustapha Tlass, the Minister of Defense, was waiting for me there.
In Soufanieh, soldiers were standing guard. I told them that the choir would be arriving and that they had nothing to fear. A few choir members arrived, accompanied by a large crowd. The head of the guard was worried:
"Are all these people," he asked me, "part of the choir?"
"My brother, they are all either choir members or simply believers. But don't be afraid."
He gestured to his men to step aside and left the door open to all.
In the living room, the general and I greeted each other with a hug. I shook hands with his wife, as well as with Mr. Mahmoud Ayyoubi, the former Prime Minister. The general welcomed me, informing me that oil had flowed from the image before their very eyes, shortly before my arrival. This wasn't the first time it had happened to him. He didn't hide his admiration for the phenomenon, to the point that during his first visit, seeing the oil flow from the image and the crowd of people, he had ventured to say to Nicolas:
"Indeed, this house will become a place of pilgrimage." I propose that we exchange it now for an apartment that the State will provide.
Nicolas had replied, "For a house blessed by heaven, I wouldn't trade anything in the world."
And a few days later, we saw the general arrive with some of the senior officers of the Syrian army, and with them, he entered the "Virgin's Room" and offered them cotton soaked in oil, saying:
"Take this blessing from Our Lady Mary."
On that Christmas night, General Moustafa Tlass was in Soufanieh. We talked for a while, then prayed and sang in the courtyard. Among the large crowd, we noticed the Syrian singer Mouaffak Bahjat, a Muslim.
At 1:30 a.m., the prayer began. General Moustafa Tlass stood on the threshold of the living room, with Mr. Mahmoud Ayyoubi to his right. Prayers and hymns continued until 2:20 a.m., without causing the slightest disturbance.
Much later, I visited General Tlass, accompanied by the Greek Catholic Bishop of Hauran, Bishop Boulos Bourkhoche, and his Vicar General, Father Mouaffak Al-Ide. The first visit was on April 26, 1985, at his home; the second was on February 11, 1987, in his headquarters office.
During both visits, General Tlass recounted the "unparalleled" emotion he felt that Christmas night. And both times, in the presence of the bishop and his vicar, he told me:
"Father Elias, when you write the story of this phenomenon, don't forget to mention that I witnessed it. Yes, I witnessed it!"
He said this while placing his hand on his chest.
Wednesday, February 11, 1987
Bishop Boulos Bourkhoche and Father Zahlaoui met with the Minister of Defense, General Mustapha Tlass.
They spoke at length about the events in Soufanieh.
The general, a Muslim, had witnessed the oil leak in Soufanieh on several occasions, a leak that had drawn members of the government and various Syrian figures.
Note: The Minister of Defense, General Mustapha Tlass, is a Syrian military officer, author, historian, and politician who served as Minister of Defense from 1972 to 2004.
-Excerpts from the book 'Chronicles' by Father Elias Zahlaoui