Photos of the House of Virgin Mary

The chapel, the garden, the wall of prayers, the spring — our own photographs of Meryem Ana Evi through the seasons, so you can see where your prayer will rest.

Photography is not permitted inside the chapel of the House of Virgin Mary — a rule every visitor comes to love, because it keeps the little rooms silent. Everything else on the mountain, we photograph often: the stone house under its plane trees, the wishing wall heavy with prayers, the spring, the pilgrims of the Assumption feast. These are the places we walk to with your prayers. The whole mountainside lies within the UNESCO World Heritage area of Ephesus; the shrine’s history is summarised well on Wikipedia and told chapter by chapter on our own pages below.

The wishing wall at the House of Virgin Mary in Ephesus, covered with thousands of white paper prayers — The wishing wall in the lower garden — thousands of prayers, tied one over another.

The House of Virgin Mary near Ephesus, Turkey — the stone chapel among plane trees — The stone house on Bülbül Mountain, restored as a chapel.

The shrine inside the House of Virgin Mary with the statue of Mary and candles — The shrine inside: the statue of Mary in the apse, candles, and quiet.

Close view of folded paper prayers and wishes on the wishing wall — Each folded paper is somebody’s hope — from every corner of the world.

A handwritten prayer note on the wishing wall reading “I wish for peace and a long healthy life” — “I wish for peace and a long healthy life…” — one of the notes resting on the wall.

A visitor placing her written prayer on the wishing wall at the House of Virgin Mary — A visitor placing her prayer among the thousands already there.

The old stone cistern beside the House of Virgin Mary — The old cistern beside the house — water has been gathered here for centuries.

Entrance of the House of Virgin Mary near Ephesus — The entrance to the house, found in 1891 by following a nun’s visions.

Inside the restored chapel of the House of Virgin Mary — Inside the chapel: the ancient home’s layout, kept.

Assumption service on 15 August at the House of Virgin Mary — The Feast of the Assumption service, every 15th of August.

Feast of the Assumption gathering in the garden of the House of Virgin Mary — Pilgrims of many nations gather under the pines for the Assumption.

A pilgrim at the House of Virgin Mary in 1962 — A pilgrim at the house in 1962 — the shrine as an older generation knew it.

Statue of the Virgin Mary at the House of Virgin Mary — The statue of the Virgin in the garden.

An icon of the Virgin and Child.

Did you know? 📷

You will not find photos of the chapel’s interior taken by pilgrims — photography is forbidden inside the House of Virgin Mary. The rule keeps the two small rooms as quiet as a prayer.

“One thing I ask from the Lord… to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

Psalm 27:4

Go deeper

The places in these photos

The Wishing Wall

Thousands of folded prayers on one wall — the tradition your prayer becomes part of.

Discover the tradition →

The old cistern beside the House of Virgin Mary

The Holy Water Spring

The spring that led the discoverers to the house — and still fills pilgrims’ bottles today.

About the spring →

Did Mary live in Ephesus?

The story of the stone house on Nightingale Mountain — and how we know it was hers.

Read the story →

Now you know where your prayer will rest

Send it to us and we will place it on the wishing wall you see above — free, with reverence.

Send my prayer now

Free · No donations asked · Any language · Placed by our family in person