If we were asked to tell the most influential names in the Christian world, one of the first names that comes to mind would be Saint Mary.
The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana in Turkish) is a sacred site located on Mt. Koressos in the vicinity of Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey. According to Christian tradition, the house is believed to be the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived her final years.
The structure is a small stone house, restored in the 19th century based on the visions of a Roman Catholic nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), despite her never having visited Ephesus. Emmerich described in detail the layout of the house and its location, and German author Clemens Brentano popularized her accounts in his book “The Life of The Blessed Virgin.” In 1891, French priest Abbé Julien Gouyet discovered the house, guided by Emmerich’s descriptions.
The House of the Virgin Mary is a popular place for Christian pilgrimage. The house itself is modest and is a shrine to Mary – a place of pilgrimage for believers, who drink from a spring under the house said to have healing properties. A special area outside the shrine is set aside for lighting candles.
The Catholic Church has never pronounced in favor or against the authenticity of the house but nevertheless maintains a steady flow of pilgrimage to the site. The shrine has also been visited by several popes, including Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI.
Despite the debates over its authenticity, the peaceful site set in natural surroundings provides solace and is a must-visit for those who are in the vicinity of Ephesus.