To discover and witness the ancient wonder of Ephesus is one amazing experience for any traveler. Though, it was our second time to visit this ancient city near the Aegean Sea, we still marveled at the sight of this. Ephesus was once a bustling port and a center of trade and culture in the Mediterranean region.
The excavated remains of Ephesus reflect its rich history, from classical Greece to the Roman Empire and to the spread of Christianity. It’s known for its magnificent architecture. Inside the city ruins, one can see what’s left of some of the grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period like the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsius, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika, the Great Theater and the Temple of Hadrian.
Ephesus also played a vital role in the spread of Christianity in this Region. The first Christian community in Ephesus was established by St John. In his honor, the Basilica of St. John, was constructed in the 6th century at a site (about 3.5 kilometers from Ephesus), where John the Apostle was said to have been buried. It is said that St John brought Mama Mary to Ephesus after the death of Jesus Christ. This was where Mary lived until her death. Since the 5th century, the House of the Virgin Mary, now a chapel about 7 kilometers from Ephesus, became a major place of Christian pilgrimage.
Ephesus is also the place where St. Paul lived for three and a half years and preached early Christianity to its people. It is also believed that he wrote his letters to Ephesians while in captivity in Ephesus.
It’s truly an incredible feeling to walk along the paved marble streets where the likes of Anthony and Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Apostles John and Paul and Mama Mary, walked thousands of years ago.
It’s time to add this to your growing travel bucket list.
