Overview:

The House of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic and Muslim shrine located in the city of Izmir (formerly Smyrna) in Turkey. It is believed to be the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary spent her last days and was visited by Saint John. The house is recognized as a Catholic shrine by the Vatican, and is visited by many pilgrims and tourists each year. The shrine is composed of a small chapel, an outdoor altar, a garden, and a grotto. The nearby ruins of the Basilica of the Apocalypse, where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation, are also part of the pilgrimage site. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Turkey
Prominent Features:

, the House of the Virgin Mary is a Christian pilgrimage site located on top of Mt. Koressos in Izmir. This site is believed to be the place where Mary lived her final years with Saint John the Apostle. According to Christian tradition, Mary was taken to the mountainous area near Ephesus, which is now the site of the town of Selçuk. Historical documents dated from the 15th century claim that the house was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The original building was destroyed in the 17th century, but it was reconstructed in 1951 by the Pontifical Oriental Congregation. The current structure is made up of a chapel and a grotto, with shrines at the entrance. Inside are five altars and an alleged stone the Virgin Mary sat on. The other key feature of the house is an inner chamber which contains a spring believed to be the same source that the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Apostle used. Each year the feast of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated at the site and attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Turkey.

History:

The House of the Virgin Mary, also known as the Meryemana, is an ancient site located just outside of Ephesus (near the modern city of Selçuk in Izmir) in Turkey that is believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The site is directly associated with the Catholic and Orthodox traditions of Christianity, though it is also considered to be a holy site by members of other Christian denominations, as well as some Muslims. The original structure of the house has been lost to time but it has been rebuilt and reconstructed over the years. The earliest known reference to the house can be found in the 4th century Vita Constantini, which documents Saint Helena’s discovery of the Cross of Christ. It is said that during her pilgrimage, she visited the house and found the Virgin Mary living in a grotto in the hillside. From that point on, the house became a revered pilgrimage site for Christians. In the 16th century, a chapel was built at the site and is still standing today. The chapel is adorned with an ornate and ancient icon of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus which is believed to have been given by the Apostle John. During the Ottoman period in the 19th century, a large shrine was added to the site. The Catholic Church declared the House of the Virgin Mary a holy shrine in the early 20th century and since then, the site has been visited by millions of pilgrims from around the world. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI declared the House of the Virgin Mary a “sacred place of prayer and contemplation.” The Pope added, “The House of the Mother of God is a place where the Church and humanity come together to seek grace and pray for reconciliation and peace.” Visit one of the famous monuments of Turkey with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The House of the Virgin Mary is a Christian shrine located on the top of Mt. Koressos, near Ephesus in Izmir, Turkey. 2. It is believed by many to be the last home of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. 3. Pope John Paul II visited the House of the Virgin Mary in 1979 and confirmed its authenticity. 4. According to Christian tradition, it was St. John who brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary was an important part of the earliest Christian communities. 5. The site is also considered to be one of the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. 6. The House of the Virgin Mary is a popular pilgrimage site, visited by thousands of people every year who come to honor the mother of Jesus. 7. The pope declared the House to be a Holy Shrine, under the direct jurisdiction of Rome. 8. The shrine contains a stone altar where pilgrims lay flowers and give offerings. 9. Many miracles have been attributed to the site over the years. 10. Pilgrims often carry water from the site home with them, believing it has healing properties. One of the historical monuments of Turkey, it tells the story of a bygone era