A place of peace, serenity, and hope. I felt all of these – and a gentle wash of kindness – as I ventured up the path toward the House of the Virgin Mary, or Mother Mary (Meryem Ana), located just a few miles away from the busyness of the ruins at Ephesus, Turkey. It was a hot day in spring, and we had a very important stop before exploring Ephesus. We were visiting a place of pilgrimage for many global religions – that of the House of Mother Mary.
History has it that when Jesus was on the cross, he tasked his apostle John with taking care of his mother. St. John and Mary relocated to this area, John to spread Christianity, and Mary to spend her last days. John is honored by a basilica over his burial site near Ephesus, the ruins of which you can also visit. Mary lived in a small stone cottage, far up on a mountainside. The structure of this building dates to around the 6 century AD, but the foundations date to around 1AD. It has been restored in the last century.
 near Selçuk, Ephesus, and Şirince, <strong><em>Meryem Ana</em></strong> is reached by driving up a narrow winding road. Park, and breathe a sigh of relief for being here at this quiet, historical outpost. Then wander to the outdoor café, where you can rest under beautiful shade trees and have a Turkish coffee – and perhaps a simit stuffed with chocolate, if you’re lucky.</p>
<p>
<img decoding=)
” target=”_blank”>stopped just 3 feet short of the house. For more information: ” target=”_blank”>http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,39846/house-of-virgin-mary.html
Tips for visiting the House of Mother Mary
Do not walk to Meryem Ana – the road is narrow, winding, and there are cars and buses utilizing it. Hire a taxi, drive your rental car, or take a bus tour there, for safety. You can also take a bus from Kusadasi for Sunday Mass – be sure to reserve your space on the bus; check the official website above for more information. You’ll know you are on the right path when you pass a very large statue of Mother Mary, guiding the way. There is parking here, so you can hop out and take photos.
 – the caretakers work hard on this, as you can see. I didn't see anything out of place here.</p>
<p>
<img decoding=)
” target=”_blank”>https://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/traveling/visiting-house-mother-mary.html Note: I was part of a group of that flew in to experience Turkey (thank you, eternally!). Stay tuned for more posts about this special country I’d love for you to explore – and check out our for inspiration from travel writers around the world. Jessie Voigts has a PhD in International Education, has lived and worked in Japan and London, and traveled around the world. She’s published six books about travel and intercultural learning, with more on the way. Jessie is constantly looking for ways to increase intercultural understanding, and is passionate sharing the world through her site, ” target=”_blank”>Writing Walking Women. All photos courtesy and copyright Wandering Educators
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.