Restoration of the Old St. Michael’s Church
& Reconsecration to the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus
From Ephesus to the Southern Cross – A Walk Through Time
St. Mary’s time in Ephesus, Turkey, the present-day significance of the House of Virgin Mary, and our efforts to reinvigorate the power of spirit and prayer through the restoration of the historic old St. Michael’s Church as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus.A Chapel to pray and remember.
House of Virgin Mary - Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
Discovered in the 19th century, the House of Virgin Mary has become a place of worship and pilgrimage for Christians around the world as a shrine to Mary, Mother of Christ
House of the Virgin Mary, July 2009, © Gerhard Huber,
House of Virgin Mary - Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
Saint Mary was brought to this site by Saint John and spent the remainder of her earthly life here. By several accounts, this is the location of the ‘Assumption of Mary’
House of Virgin Mary - Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
Discovered following the visions of the Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a Roman Catholic Augustinian canoness, the Archbishop P. Sfair emphasized the significance of the site for both Christians and Muslims. There is shared interest in Marian devotion among both groups, with the Prophet Mohammad affirming the virginal conception and birth of Jesus Christ and celebrating and revering Mother Mary.
House of Virgin Mary - Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
A small expedition led by two Lazarist missionaries, Father Poulin and Father Jung, followed the account of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich to confirm the existence of the building in 1891. It was first discovered by French priest, the Abbé Julien Gouyet, in 1881..
House of Virgin Mary - Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
In 1914, plenary indulgence was granted to visitors of the shrine by Pope Pius X, reconfirmed in 1950 by Pope Pius XII and in 1962 by Blessed Pope John XXIII. Since discovery, the site has seen several papal visits, including Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC, USA
The basilica, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, serves as the patronal church of the Catholic Church in the USA.
Copyright: Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception
The Basilica houses the Our Lady of Ephesus Oratory, the inscription of which reads the following prayer:
"Most holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, who followed the beloved disciple into Asia and who at Ephesus was proclaimed Mother of God, we ask you to bestow your maternal and benevolent protection on the entire Church, both in the West and in the East, the cradle of our faith. Our Lady of Ephesus, Queen assumed into heaven, you who are Mother to all, guard and protect us from all perils, spiritual and physical. Intercede with your Divine Son for us who place in you all our trust and all our love. Amen"
Copyright: Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception
St. Mary’s Cathedral - Sydney, Australia
St Mary’s Cathedral stands on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia. Constructed in local sandstone, the Gothic Revival style of its architecture is reminiscent of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians. It is a blessing that our Chapel is made from the very same stone as the Cathedral.
Old St. Michael’s Church - Sydney, Australia
The Original Church of St. Michael’s, originally established in 1917, was enlarged in 1925, with 10,000 pieces of sandstone formerly part of the old Saint Mary’s Cathedral.
Reconsecration to Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus
We are embarking on a project to reconsecrate the church as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus, bringing the spirit of the House of the Virgin Mary to our community, restoring the site and conserving its historic legacy.