The house of the Virgin Mary, Turkey
Catholic Shrines | August 2, 2010The house of the virgin is located in turkey between Ephesus and Seljuk. This place is said to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. This site has been sacred to both the Christians as well as the Muslims. This place gets lots of visitors throughout the year. Also is famous place for religious pilgrimage. And this place gets a lot of pilgrims throughout the year.
According to legends, john the Baptist who was one of the twelve apostles brought Mary to Ephesus. Over here you will find Saint Johns basilica.
Many archeologists who have come here have examined the building and found the house of the virgin to be dating from the sixth or the seventh century. Although the foundations it has are much older and date back from the first century. This was the approximate time when Mary was alive.
For a very long time this place was a frequent place of visit for orthodox Christians over many centuries.
This place was actually discovered by a German nun called Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich who apparently never ever traveled away from her home.
She apparently woke up one night in a trance with the stigmata and many visions that included the Virgin Mary traveling along with john the Baptist from Jerusalem all the way to Ephesus.
Mary’s house was later describes in detail and was record by a writer at her bedside called Brentano.
Sister Emmerich later described the house to be rectangular and made of stone. This apparently was the house that john had built for Mary. This place also had a fireplace, and a big round back wall. The room which came next has a spring going right into the room and this apparently was Mary’s bedroom.
According to sister Emmerich, The Virgin Mary was died at the age of sixty four and was buried near a cave right near her house. When the coffin was later check it was empty. This place was later converted into a chapel.
In about eighteen ninety one , two priests of the Lazarus order decided to set out to Ephesus to see the house of he virgin Mary. This place later became a catholic pilgrimage site. And about eighteen ninety seven, this place was turned into a shelter for visitors.
Later, popes john Paul the sixth and john Paul the second, both visited this place and confirmed that it is an appropriate place for Christians to pilgrimage at. In the year two thousand and six, pope benedict also celebrated mass here.
In fact a French clergyman named gouyet read Brentano’s writings and the Frenchman later traveled all the way to Ephesus to find the house of the Virgin Mary. He apparently found the house matching sister emeriches description, he also sent work to the many bishops of Paris and Rome but strangely he didn’t not get any response.
The lazars priests usually come here to celebrate mass; twice everyday. The t shaped building which is made of stone is made of a bedroom and a kitchen on the left side of it. The interior of this place is made quite simply with fitted with an alter with many sacred images of the Virgin Mary along with the infant Jesus.
There were people from a nearby mountain village who are believed to have been venerated from a long time from the descendants of the Christian from Ephesus. This place was called the panaya kapulu. This place was called the chapel of the most holy.
They also believed that mother Mary had died here and every year there is a feast that the Christians celebrate called the assumption of the Virgin Mary.
There is a belief that the spring that runs under the virgin Marys house, has healing properties. Infect inside the house there are crutches and canes which are left behind by the people who have been healed here.
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I am wondering, it has been mentioned that Muslim Pilgrims also visit House of virgin Mary.. I am really curious to know the reason of their visit.
@Rosalie: Mary’s name is taken in very high regards in holy Qur’an..According to Qur’an Maryam (Marry)Father was a muslim and her belief in god was a symbol purity and faith.It is also stated that Allah was the sole provider to Mary..