House of the Virgin Mary

Description

A sacred pilgrimage site, believed by Christian faith to be where the Virgin Mary spent her last years and ascended to heaven.

Story

The House of the Virgin Mary (Panaya Kapulu) is a sacred place for both Christians and Muslims, located on Bülbül Mountain near the ancient city of Ephesus, within the borders of the Selçuk district. According to the Catholic Church, this is where the Virgin Mary spent her last years and ascended to heaven, having been brought there by the Apostle John after Jesus' crucifixion. The existence of the House of the Virgin Mary was determined in the early 19th century as a result of the dreams and visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German nun. The location described in Emmerich's visions coincided with the ruins of this stone house near Ephesus following research conducted in 1881. The house was originally used as a small Byzantine chapel or hermitage (monk cells), but subsequent research suggested that its foundations might belong to an earlier period, the era believed to be when the Virgin Mary lived. The structure was later restored and organized as a Christian pilgrimage site. The visits of Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 reinforced the site's international religious significance. A major liturgy is held here annually on August 15th (the Feast of the Assumption of Mary). In the garden of the House of the Virgin Mary, there is a **wish wall** where visitors make wishes and **three healing spring fountains** believed to be sacred. This place is also accepted as a symbol of interfaith peace and tolerance; it is one of the rare sacred sites jointly visited by Christians and Muslims. This house, adding spiritual depth to the historical and mythological richness of Ephesus, solidifies İzmir's place in cultural and faith tourism.

Visit Tips

• Access to the area is provided by a special road branching off from Ephesus; entrance fees may apply (House of Virgin Mary).
• Visit the natural water sources and the wishing wall in the sacred area.
• It is located on the same route as the Ancient City of Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John.
• Pay attention to maintaining silence and the sacred atmosphere.

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