Photos: Thousands of Christian worshippers flock to see 'miracle' statue of the Virgin Mary after it begins to 'weep oil'

Thousands of people have flocked to a small town in northern Israel to view a statue of the Virgin Mary that residents say 'weeps' oil.

Members of a Christian family from Tarshiha, near the Lebanon border, said they believe to have witnessed a miracle in their living room.

The statue's owner Osama Khoury said that his wife Amira came home to find the statue inexplicably  'covered with oil'.

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Hundreds of devout Christians have flocked to see a statue of the Virgin Mary in northern Israel which is said to weep oil

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Homage: Worshipers pray next to a the Virgin Mary statue in Tarshiha, a small town in northern Israel

Amira said the statue 'spoke to her' and told her not to be afraid. After a neighbor witnessed the oil, word soon spread.

 

Parts of the statue appear to be slick with moisture, even after it is wiped off.

The family says it is most striking when a 'tear' seems to roll down the statue's cheek. They say some 2,000 people have come to see the statue over the last week.

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'Miracle': Parts of the statue appear to be slick with moisture, which is said to return after it is wiped off

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The statue's owner Amira Khoury said that it spoke to her and told her not to be afraid

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Pilgrims: The family says some 2,000 people have come to see the statue over the last week