Did you know that the Virgin Mary is believed by many to have spent the final years of her life in Ephesus, located in Asia Minor? According to Christian tradition, she found refuge there during the time of persecution under the Roman Empire, when early Christians were being hunted.
She was accompanied by John the Evangelist, who is said to have built her a small home on the hills near Selçuk, close to Izmir. This site is now known as the House of the Virgin Mary, and it remains a place of pilgrimage for believers from around the world.
Today, visitors can explore the peaceful surroundings, visit the chapel, and drink from the nearby spring—an experience many describe as deeply spiritual and moving. For many faithful, it is a powerful place of connection with Mary, often honored as the Mother of Mercy and Peace, who gave birth to the Messiah, the Savior.