House of Virgin Mary

House of Virgin Mary is a popular shrine located on top of the Bulbul Mountain (Mt. Koressos), just 9 km ahead of Ephesus. Located in a magnificent atmosphere among the greenery, the house was discovered in 19^th century based on the visions reported by a Roman Catholic nun and visionary, Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824).  The House of Virgin Mary has maintained a steady flow of pilgrims since its discovery and Anne Catherine Emmerich was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2004. Catholic pilgrims visiting the shrine believe that Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus accompanied St John to this place and lived in this stone house until her Assumption. The shrine has merited visits from popes. The first among them was in 1896 by Pope Leo XIII and the recent papal visit was in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.