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The House of the Virgin Mary Most scholars agree that the Virgin Mary lived for a time in Ephesus although some dispute that she died there.The evidence in favour of Mary having spent her last years in Ephesus is both factual and logical.The first factual evidence is the biblical historical documentation of Mary`s relationship St. John the Apostle.The Beloved John,brother of St. James,was the youngest of the twelve Opostles and,from John`s own modest testimony,”the one He loved the most.” The fact that he was favored is evident from his place next to Jesus at the Last Supper,and his being asked by the other Apostles to inquire of Jesus as to which of them would betray Him.He was the first identify Jesus after His Resurrection on the shore of Lake Tiberias.He is the only Apostle known to have been present at the Crucifixion.There is no dispute among historians that John,after the that of Jesus,went to Ephesus.While one one might argue that Mary would not leave her homeland,with all its memories of the Apostolic life of her Son,it is much more plausible to believe that when the persecutions broke out against the Christian in Jerusalem her safety would be paramount and that she would obey the command of her Son and follow John to Ephesus.Further evidence that Mary lived or near Ephesus is the fact that the third Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church was held in Ephesus.This council,which met in a large cathedral known as the Double Church of St. Mary,was primarily called to formalize the doctrine known as “Theotokos”,Greek for “Mary,Mother of God” In a letter from the Council Fathers,addressed to all the clergy announcing this doctrine,it added that the Council was conducted in Ephesus “in which place John the Theologian and the Holy Virgin Mary,Mother of God were.” The word “were” is interpreted as meaning “until death”. |