Located
on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain
9 km ahead of Ephesus, the shrine of Virgin
Mary enjoys a marvelous atmosphere
hidden in the green. It is the place where
Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed,
she may have come in the area together
with Saint John, who spent several years
in the area to spread Christianity. Mary
preferred this remote place rather than
living in crowded place.
The house of Virgin Mary is a typical
Roman architectural example, entirely
made of stones. In the 4th century AD,
a church, combining her house and grave,
has been built. The original two-stored
house, which consisted of an anteroom
(where today candles are proposed), bedroom
and praying room (Christian church area)
and a room with fireplace (chapel for
Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins
and has been restored in 1940's. Today,
only the central part and a room on the
right of the altar are open to visitors.
From there one can understand that this
building looks more like a church than
a house. Another interesting place is
the "Water of Mary", a source
to be found at the exit of the church
area and where a rather salt water, with
curative properties, can be drunk by all.
Paul VI was the first pope to visit this
place in the 1960's. Later, in the 1980's,
during his visit, Pope John-Paul II declared
the Shrine of Virgin Mary has a
pilgrimage place for Christians. It is
also visited by Muslims who recognize
Mary as the mother of one of their prophets.
Every year, on August 15th a ceremony
is organized to commemorate Mary's Assumption.
