Karagozler, Fevzi Çakmak Cd. No:49, 48300 Fethiye/Muğla, Türkiye
🏡 Virgin Mary’s House (Meryem Ana Evi) – A Sacred Pilgrimage Site
📍 Location: Bulbul Mountain, near Ephesus, Turkey
✝️ Significance: Believed to be the final home of the Virgin Mary
🕌 Religious Importance: Christian & Muslim pilgrimage site
⛪ Declared an official Catholic pilgrimage site
📖 History & Discovery
🏛️ Ancient Origins: The foundation of the house dates back to the 1st century AD.
📜 Christian Tradition: The belief that St. John brought Mary to Ephesus after Jesus’ crucifixion.
👀 Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824): A German nun, who never visited Ephesus, described a small stone house on a hill where the Virgin Mary spent her final years.
🔍 Rediscovery in 1881: A French priest found the house based on Emmerich’s descriptions.
🙏 Catholic Recognition: Officially blessed by Pope Paul VI in 1967 & visited by Pope John Paul II & Pope Benedict XVI.
🏛 What to See at Virgin Mary’s House
✅ The Chapel: A restored Byzantine-era stone house, now a place of prayer & reflection.
✅ The Holy Spring: A small sacred water source that many believe has healing properties.
✅ The Wishing Wall: A place where visitors tie written prayers & wishes on white fabric.
✅ Annual Pilgrimage (August 15th): Celebration of the Assumption of Mary with prayers & Mass.
🕌 Importance in Islam
☪️ Muslims also revere Mary (Meryem) as the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus).
💧 They believe she visited this site & drank from the sacred spring.
🕌 It is a place of respect & pilgrimage for people of both faiths.
📍 How to Visit Virgin Mary’s House
🚗 By Car: 15 minutes from Ephesus, 10 km from Selcuk
🚶♂️ By Foot: Possible hike from Ephesus (around 1 hour uphill)
🚍 By Tour: Many guided tours from Kusadasi, Izmir & Selcuk
📌 Why Visit?
✅ One of the most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites
✅ A peaceful, spiritual place with breathtaking views
✅ Experience the interfaith connection between Christianity & Islam
✅ Visit the nearby ancient city of Ephesus
📌 A must-see for spiritual travelers, history lovers & those seeking a peaceful retreat!
