House of Virgin MaryPlaces to Visit in Izmir

In 1812, a German nun named Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich experienced a series of visions in which she witnessed St. John and the Virgin Mary journeying to Ephesus. According to her revelations, St. John constructed a rectangular stone house for Mary, featuring a fireplace, an apse, and a rounded rear wall. Mary's bedroom was situated adjacent to the apse, with flowing water nearby.

Sister Emmerich believed that Mary resided in this house until her death at the age of 64. Her coffin was initially placed in a nearby cave; however, when the tomb was later opened, both the coffin and burial cloth were found to be empty. The site around the house later became a chapel frequented by pilgrims.

Years later, a man named Gouyet searched for the house using Sister Emmerich’s descriptions and eventually discovered it. He sent letters to authorities in Paris and Rome but did not receive any replies. Finally, in 1891, two Catholic officials and a Lazarist priest traveled to Ephesus to inspect the house personally. They found a small chapel containing a barely recognizable statue of Mary.

Additional priests were dispatched to the site, and by 1892, it was opened for pilgrimage visits. The house was restored in 1897, and a protective shelter was constructed outside for visitors. Today, the Virgin Mary House remains a well-known attraction for travelers to Ephesus.

A unique event is celebrated at the shrine every year on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. On this day, Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic clergy come together to conduct a joint service. This rare gathering unites all three faiths in a spirit of harmony.

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