House of The Virgin Mary

In the year AD 53, the apostle St. Paul, followed later by the apostle St. John and Mary, came to Ephesus with the intention of spreading Christianity. Located approximately 7 kilometers south of Ephesus, on the western slope of Mount Aladağ, the House of the Virgin Mary, also known by Christians as the “Panaya Kapulu,” is a chapel in the shape of a cross and holds the distinction of being the first church built in honor of Mary. In AD 431, the third Ecumenical Council, where the fundamental principles of Christianity were determined, was held in this church. The House of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by Roman-era structures and mosaics dating back to the 1st century AD, exhibits architectural features dating to the 6th century AD and later periods. While the tomb of Mary cannot be found in this area, since 1892, Christians have considered the region sacred, even a place of pilgrimage, and it is visited annually by Catholics with the permission of the Catholic Church of Izmir. It is believed that the waters flowing from the fountains found on the lower terrace of the house possess healing properties.