House of the Virgin Mary

Located on Mount Koressos, about 9 km from the ancient city of Ephesus in western Türkiye is the House of the Virgin Mary.

According to ancient Christian tradition, after Jesus' crucifixion, the Apostle John took Mary into his care, following Jesus' words from the Cross: "Behold your mother" (John 19:27)

Many Christians believe John later settled near Ephesus, where he preached and led the early Church. Tradition holds that Mary accompanied him and spent her final years in a modest stone house on the hillside.

Interestingly, the location was unknown for centuries. In the early 1800s, a German Augustinian nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich, described in detailed visions a small stone house where Mary had lived near Ephesus. Although she never traveled there, her descriptions were published after her death.

In 1891, French Lazarist priests compared her descriptions with the geography around Ephesus and discovered ruins that closely matched them. Archaeological study found that parts of the foundation dated back to the first century, while much of the visible structure was rebuilt in later centuries.

There is no definitive archaeological proof that Mary lived there.

However:

• The site has been venerated by Christians for well over a century.

• The foundations are ancient.

• The tradition is considered plausible by many historians, though not certain.

• The Catholic Church has not declared it to be the actual house of Mary, but it has approved it as a place of pilgrimage and prayer

The building itself is quite small and simple, much like the photograph suggests. Inside is a quiet chapel where Mass is celebrated daily. Outside you'll also find:

• A spring whose water many pilgrims drink or collect.

• A long "wishing wall" where visitors tie prayers written on paper or cloth.

• Beautiful gardens and shaded walkways that encourage reflection and prayer.

Devotion Statue , a bronze cast of "Our Lady of Lourdes"

Residing in a small chapel within the shrine is a devotion statue , a bronze cast of "Our Lady of Lourdes", likely installed late 1800s or early 1900s.

The shrine does contain something genuinely ancient: archaeologists believe the foundation stones beneath the chapel date to the 1st century AD, while the visible building was reconstructed centuries later. Thus, although the statue is relatively modern, the site itself is considered by many scholars to preserve the footprint of a much earlier structure.

One of the unique features of this shrine is that it is revered by many Christians and Muslims. In Islam, Mary (Maryam) is honored as one of the holiest women in history, so Muslim pilgrims also visit the site in large numbers.

The photo captures the peaceful entrance to the shrine, with the mature tree growing beside the stone building—a scene that has welcomed millions of pilgrims from around the world seeking a place of prayer, reflection, and remembrance.