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Kusadasi is a larger coastal town located about 20 kilometers from Ephesus. It is a popular tourist destination with a wide range of hotels, resorts, and beachfront accommodations. Kusadasi offers a vibrant atmosphere, various dining options, and entertainment activities. While staying in Kusadasi, you can enjoy the nearby beaches and take advantage of the amenities and services available in the town. Selcuk is the closest town to Ephesus, located just a few kilometers away. It offers a range of hotels, guesthouses, and boutique accommodations catering to different budgets and preferences.
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In more recent history, the House of the Virgin Mary was also visited in 1979 by Pope John Paul II, and in 2006 — by Pope Benedict XVI, during his four-day pastoral trip to Turkey. All three of these popes celebrated a holy mass at the place of pilgrimage. Another line of argument in favour of Ephesus as the place where St. Mary lived is the existence of the Church of St. Mary in Ephesus. Additional arguments brought during the debate over the authenticity of the House of the Virgin Mary are the choice of Ephesus as the venue of the Council of Ephesus. It was convened in 431 to resolve the dispute concerning the determination of the unification of human and divine nature in Jesus Christ and the title of Mary as the Mother of God.
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Virgin Mary painting worth $2 million donated to Palm Beach church - Palm Beach Daily News
Virgin Mary painting worth $2 million donated to Palm Beach church.
Posted: Thu, 29 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Its interior walls have been adorned with Quranic verses and Islamic symbols since the 1980s, while the rest of the building is dominated by Christian symbolism. In the understanding of many, even Turkish Muslims, the Qur'anic figure of the Maryam is a sublime and sincere woman who can intercede with God. Moreover, traditionally, in some areas of Turkey, it is common practice, especially among the destitute and the women who can not make their pilgrimage to Mecca to visit the House of Mary instead.
Why is the Virgin Mary’s House in Turkey?
Aesthetic considerations aside, the statue immediately draws the attention with its shiny exterior, it is also an excellent viewing point towards Ephesus and Selçuk. Pope Pius XII gave the House of the Virgin Mary the status of a Holy Place and the Catholic place of pilgrimage in 1951, following the definition of the dogma of the Assumption. In this dogma, the Pope had decided not to specify the location of death and the ascension of the Blessed Mother. This privilege was subsequently confirmed and made permanent by Pope John XXIII.
As early as the August of 1897, more than 200 local Orthodox Christians from the Şirince area made the pilgrimage to the newly rediscovered holy site. The ruined house was reconstructed between 1898 and 1902 as a chapel, while a residential building for guests and some sisters was built on the forecourt in 1903. Marie de Mandat-Grancey, the benefactress of the centre, often stayed in the grounds, taking care of the design and management as well as welcoming visitors and pilgrims.
The material evidence for the existence of a tradition placing the tomb of Mary in Jerusalem is the basilica erected above the sacred spot in Gethsemane, about the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries. This single-story house is a shrine, called Meryemana Evi, translated as “the House of Mother Mary” in Turkish. The original two-stored house consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room and a room with fireplace. The House of the Virgin (Meryemana in Turkish), located in a nature park between Ephesus and Seljuk, is believed to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
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Various types of florals and fruits are grown nearby, and additional lighting has been installed within the vicinity of the shrine for further monitoring of the site. A water fountain or well is also located nearby, believed by some pilgrims to have miraculous powers of healing or fertility. These days only the central part of the house and a room to the right of the altar are open to pilgrims. The house was declared the Shrine of the Virgin Mary by Pope John-Paul II in the 1980s. Every year a pilgrimage and ceremony take place to honour Mary’s Assumption.
Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary from Istanbul
The final transfer of the ownership was made in 1955 when it was purchased by the American telecommunications entrepreneur George B. Quatman. The American Society of Ephesus that he had founded also sponsored the construction of the priests' home and the home for nuns, adjacent to the House of Mary. Eugène Poulin told his exciting life story in a book "The Holy Virgin's House, The True Story of its Discovery". There, he related that as a young priest in France he used to mock the "women visionaries". His perspective changed dramatically when he moved to Smyrna, where he found the book by Catherine Emmerich. He found it very engaging but failed to secure the support of other priests who laughed at these writings as nonsense and "girlish dreams".
Ephesus Timeline
I am not religious but have visited on three occasions and enjoyed myself, even just for the peace. Perched on a hillside overlooking Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone structure that resonates with religious significance. According to a tradition dating back to the 4th century CE, this humble abode is believed to be the place where Mary spent her final years.
After the deaths of Mary and John, Ephesus remained an important organizational center of the early Christian movement. Ephesus was the site of the third ecumenical council in 431, which was called to address the Nestorian Heresy. His successor, Pius X, received in 1912 the founder of the sanctuary during an audience. Although this was not the case, he granted a group of visitors to the pilgrimage site in 1914 a complete indulgence of sins. We may very well have to wait for several decades, or even centuries, until any formal declaration, either way, gets made.
The guide spoke perfect English and we were joined on the tour by 8 Americans. Hagia Sophia Research Team (HSRT) consists of a group of people who likes to research Byzantine Heritage in Turkey by visiting and taking photos of the historical places. This day trip from Istanbul to Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Asia Minor.
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