So, we've seen the handprint of Mary in a Mosque in Istanbul and now they've found and restored the house that Mary lived in just outside of Ephesus. The story is that when Jesus was on the cross he asked John, The Baptist to see Mary as his own mother and to look after her, so apparently there are known findings that proved JTB was in Ephesus, a safe place for Christians, so that's logically where he would have taken Mary.
There's a real mixture of religions here in Turkey. The population is mainly Muslim, but they have Christian statues and paintings all over the place dating back to BC, so they have a respectful understanding and acceptance for other religions and the history of their country.
This was the house. When they found it there were only ruins left. The walls were about 3 feet high, so they've rebuilt it and drawn a line around the outside of the house in red paint to show which part was original and what they'd restored. It was hard to see the line in some areas because they'd done such a great job of it.
There are 3 fresh water fountains outside the house, they say one is for health, one is for wealth and one is for beauty.
Madds was tyring out a bit of beauty here.
I filled my water bottle with a bit of them all!
There is also a "wish wall" where people write down prayers or thoughts or wishes for Mary. They write on scrap pieces of paper, toilet paper, bits of fabric, what ever you have in your handbag.
One message said "Dear Mary, I'd like an iPhone 5."
Outside the grounds of the house there was some shops selling bits and pieces......
The statue of fertility
Appropriate?
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