🏠 Ephesus (House of the Virgin Mary)
Turkey
About This Sacred Site
The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana) is a small stone chapel on Mount Koressos near the ancient city of Ephesus, believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary spent her last years. The site was discovered in 1891 based on the detailed visions of the German mystic Anne Catherine Emmerich. Though the Catholic Church has never officially confirmed the identification, multiple popes have visited and celebrated Mass here. The site is also sacred to Muslims, who revere Mary (Maryam) as one of the holiest women in the Quran.
Key Facts
- •Discovered in 1891 based on the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich
- •Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have all visited
- •Sacred to both Christians and Muslims, who revere Mary as Maryam in the Quran
- •A wishing wall near the house is covered with thousands of paper prayer notes
- •The nearby Ephesus ruins include the site of the Council of Ephesus (431 CE)
Location
Coordinates: 37.9383, 27.3267
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