The house of the Virgin Mary near Selcuk is close to Ephesus ancient city ruins in Turkey’s Izmir province. Yet despite immense popularity, many people do not take a detour to visit the suspected mountain house where Mother Mary lived and died. Although the Catholic Church never confirmed the Virgin Mary’s house to be the place of her assumption, three popes have visited. The Catholic Church takes responsibility for running the house through donations and funding.
The Virgin Mary’s house is a pilgrimage place for Christians, but the Muslim Quran talks about the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi), which prompts Muslims to visit. Whether this, the holy place of the Virgin Mary is about belief and any hard-core atheist would scoff, some Christians have remarked to me that they felt an intense divine presence that will last a lifetime.
History of the Virgin Mary’s House near Ephesus
Christian Historians and religious experts agree that Saint John, Saint Paul, and the Virgin Mary lived in the ancient city of Ephesus that these days is one of Turkey’s top attractions. However, the discovery of the Virgin Mary’s house was from an unexpected source. In the early 19th century, a Christian nun named Anne Catherine Emmerich took to her bed, where she dreamed intensely. Some sources accused her of religious ecstasy, while others said she had contracted a fever. Her dreams and visions included stories of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Noted and published in a book, fifty-seven years after her death, a priest followed descriptions to locate the Mother Virgin Mary’s last resting place. Anne, the nun, and the priest, never went to Ephesus and, excavation work had not started. Was this coincidence or the divine truth? The priest believed he had found the Virgin Mary’s house, yet it took many years to convince others worldwide. These days as well as being a shrine, the house functions as a chapel and place of worship.
Visiting the Virgin Mary’s House Near Ephesus
On each visit, I drove up winding mountain roads. The first time, the narrow road was hair-raising if a coach whizzed around the corner from opposite directions. Thankfully, road conditions improved in later years, and after paying an entrance fee, visitors arrive at the Virgin Mary’s site and car park. Walking past souvenir shops and café, the first landmark is a baptism pool and a seating area for monthly religious services by the Catholic church and the house. The humble appearance of plain stone bricks and small size makes the house seem insignificant.
While the bottom half of the Virgin Mary’s house is original, the Catholic church top restored the top with an effort to maintain as much of the original appearance as possible. Walking through a metal door, visitors pick a candle before proceeding to the main area where a statue of the mother Virgin Mary stands. As a place of worship, do be silent and dress conservatively. While a religious person spends much time in the chapel, my agnostic beliefs mean I walk through quickly and pass through green and well-kept gardens to reach three taps of holy water.
Holy Water and Wishing Wall
Take a sip from any metal tap and make a wish. Local urban legends say each tap resembles an aspect of life. One reflects wealth, another signifies health, and the last one is fertility. They are not labelled, but whichever one you drink from will happen to you. Lastly, at the end of the tour, reach the wishing wall, a famous Turkish concept that also appears on trees. While tying a personal possession such as a napkin, handkerchief, or piece of paper, don’t forget to make a wish.
Religious people come away feeling lucky and blessed in life. I do not believe in either, but the Virgin Mary’s house is a quiet serene place and lends weight to the story that Mary lived part of her life in the ancient city of Ephesus, with Saint Paul and John. I am not religious but have visited on three occasions and enjoyed myself, even just for the peace. If you visit Ephesus, do take a two-hour detour, and see the house.
Ephesus Ancient Ruins: The house of the Virgin Mary sits near the Roman Ephesus ruins, which should be on everyone’s bucket list when they come to Kusadasi, Turkey. They are a great attraction and impress everyone who passes through her.
I am a catholic and visited Mary’s house, i always have a content feeling when i am in religious surroundings I left a message on the wishing wall in September, whether coincidence i don’t know but I don’t think so my wish did come true in November, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I will hopefully return one day to say thank you in person.
I visited the House of Mary a few years ago and have to say that it was the most peaceful and moving spot I have ever visited. I felt pure peace and tranquility. I would highly recommend it. I am a Catholic.
Dear Natalie: good morning and thank you very much for a very informative and entertaining description of the supposed residence of the Virgin Mary. For an avowed agnostic you have a very respectful attitude towards religion. Pleae keep enlightening us with your inner spirit and your worldly travails. A big kiss. Au revoir!
I lived in Selcuk for 8.5 years and visited this place many times.
I am neither Roman Catholic nor Orthodox so I could not relate to the outright Mary – worship that happens there at all.
The first service I attended there, I was actually very shocked by that.
At Christmas, for most of those years, it was the only place short of Izmir that had any sort of Service so we would go.
However, as a protestant, it was “an education” !
I studied Reformation history but had been to RC services before – I used to attend Rosary with an old Italian Roman Catholic lady whose family wouldn’t go, so I’d had some exposure to this phenomenon before.
But this was another level altogether.
Jesus was barely mentioned – except in the context of being Mary’s son – and the expected Christmas caols and hymns were instead all worshipping Mary eg “Hail Regina” which, as a protestant, I found pretty mind-blowing.
But I got used to it. That’s the sort of place it is.
We sometimes had tshirt-wearing “Marian” customers at our hotel – tourists who spent all their annual leave visiting Mary-shrines around Europe and the Middle East – and of course “Mereyemana” was one of them.
Despite the religious culture shock, I always REALLY liked the staff.
I think everyone who knew him pretty much adored dear Father Tarcy (from Goa) and lovely Sister Antoinette (from America) was a sweetie. She once stopped me in the middle of the saturday market to give me a medal of Mary which i still have. She said I needed it’s help and she was praying for me. I wore it for a long time. She had a very thread-bare cloak – even in winter. I used to worry about her austerity and poverty. Although skinny, Father Tarcy didn’t evoke that concern in me.
There was an open invitation at our hotel that any of the Mereyemana staff could use it (loos, drinks, shelter, rest etc) when in town (typically during Saturday market) and Father Tarcy did.
He was gorgeous – i didn’t know anyone who didn’t like him. Skinny as a pole and very spry ! Brimming with love and acceptance of everyone.
He wouldnt give me communion though – ever so nicely – bc I wasn’t a confirmed RC – and “the Holy Father said so”. But he’d bless me instead. We understood each other ?.
I loved how they loved it so much.
They were from religious orders devoted to Mary and this was as good as it got for them.
I could see how they just revelled in being staff there.
Whenever any of them needed anything dental / medical, as I was a nurse familiar with local services, he’d always call me for advice.
LOTS of lovely memories of him (and them all).
He had a stroke and died (in Italy) after I left.
No, no holy presence. None whatsoever.
But i found the story of its discovery fascinating and am aware of much more detail than was written in this article.
All rather spooky and intrigiuing !
As I learned more and more I went from being 100% sceptical (very easy to be after studing reformation history re the authenticity of alleged relics and sites) to being able to believe that – historically alone – it is possible it could be an authentic site of where Mary once resided.
I enjoyed explaining the dozen or so factors as to why to tourists, most of whom who were completely unaware – many of whom decided to visit afterwards – and enjoyed the thrill & excitement of the Mary-pilgrims.
It is indeed a pretty site.
The house is tiny – literally a single room.
thank you for all the good information. we will be traveling to turkey next year on a mediterranean cruise. How many miles up is the house of the virgin mary? I don’t care for heights. Thank you. Nancy, Michigan
You can visit house of virgin mary 360 degrees virtual tour with this linkif you want.
http://www.mekan360.com/360fx_thehouseofvirginmaryefesmeryemanaevi-selcuk-the-house-of-virgin-mary-efes-meryemana-evi.html
I love this place…it is so peaceful for me when I go. We did see a Nun but she was praying. I also fill up a few bottles of water to take back with me…….just the road going up the mountain freaks me out…..not use to those type of roads so high up. Thanks again for the great post.
We visited many years and another life time ago on our way to Ephesus. I can remember the cool serenity on a baking hot August day.
There was a young nun singing Ave Maria as we walked through. A spine-tingling moment which made distant religious roots from a far off time and land tangible. A few words from an old hymn we used to sing at school have just gone through my mind – “And did those feet in ancient times….”
I’m not sure how in the world I’ve missed going there in the three times I’ve been to Ephesus…next time I will go for sure. Thank you Natalie. A great post as always.
My son and I visited the site many years ago . We were alone and were greeted by the delicate fragrance of roses as we neared the statue of the Blessed Mother. We were in awe of this Holy experience and will hold that moment in our hearts forever.
Visiting the “home of the Holy Mother” presumed to be her domain in her remaining years of her life” was the highlight of our travel to Eastern Europe . It was a wonderful awesome trip. Getting inside the house gave me goosebumps, a experience in my life beyond words. I am just thankful to have the opportunity to come to Turkey and visit this place. I also drank from the fountain believed to be a source of miraculous healing and I sure do believe in faith that it does. In fact, I filled up some bottles and brought back home with me to California..