The Coptic Orthodox Church affirms with great emphasis the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and the perpetual virginity of Mary, who is venerated as Theotokos (God-bearer, in Coptic: 'Theotokos Mariham'). Marian veneration in the Coptic tradition is among the most intense of any Christian church: the liturgical calendar includes at least 33 Marian feasts throughout the year, more than any other Christian tradition.

The month of Kiahk (roughly November–December) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and Coptic tradition observes special liturgical celebrations and hymns in her honor during this period. Apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Zeitoun, Egypt (1968–1971) were witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people and endorsed by both the Coptic Church and the Egyptian government; they hold great significance in contemporary Coptic piety. The Virgin Mary is seen as the paramount symbol of the Church, of faith, and of human cooperation with divine grace.