clarevmerry

#15 History of the Veneration of Mary

Early sources describing Mary’s death in Jerusalem include: De Orbitu S.Dominae, Transitus Mariae and Liber Requiei Mariae. Authorship of the prototype of these writings has been ascribed to Leucius Charinus a disciple of the apostle John. The writings dating from the 2nd century appear to be liturgies used at the Tomb of Our Lady. Devotion to Mary started by theContinue reading “#15 History of the Veneration of Mary”

#14 Ephesian Temple of the Goddess Artemis

Apparently in the 1st century, Ephesus had 25 to 30 temples to different gods and goddesses, but the biggest temple was for the goddess Artemis. The Temple of Artemis dating from 550 BC was not only big, but it was one of the seven wonders of the world of Classical Antiquity. The statue of the LadyContinue reading “#14 Ephesian Temple of the Goddess Artemis”

#13 Assumption of the Virgin John

The Basilica of St. John was constructed in the 6th century over the burial site of John the Apostle. It is located in what is now Selcuk about 3.5 km from Ephesus and 7 km from the ‘Doorway to the Virgin’ house on Mount Koressos. From Basilica of St. John Wikipedia: Legend has it that JohnContinue reading “#13 Assumption of the Virgin John”

#12 Doorway to the Virgin

The House of the Virgin Mary is located on Mount Koressos 7 km from Selcuk. When the ruin of the first century house was found in the 19th century, it was a venerated place visited by descendants of early Christians living in a nearby mountain village. They called it ‘Doorway to the Virgin’ and went thereContinue reading “#12 Doorway to the Virgin”

#11 The Apostle John in Ephesus

Did Mary spend the last days of her life in Jerusalem or in Ephesus? If she lived in Ephesus, then the Assumption occurred in that place and not from her tomb outside the walls of Jerusalem. Apostle John and the Virgin Mary The current Roman Catholic claim is that as it is known that theContinue reading “#11 The Apostle John in Ephesus”

#10 Ascension from the Mount of Olives

Acts 1:9-13 The Ascension of Jesus 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here lookingContinue reading “#10 Ascension from the Mount of Olives”

#9 Tomb of Mary

On the east side of Jerusalem there is a deep valley and ravine called the Kidron Valley or the Valley of the Cedron. Part of it is also called the Valley of Josaphat. There are olive groves and cemeteries on the other side of the valley. The Garden of Gethsemani was an olive grove. ChurchContinue reading “#9 Tomb of Mary”

#8 Mount Zion

It is known that Mary spent the remainder of her days after the crucifixion in the household of the apostle John: From the cross Jesus gave the care of his mother to his youngest apostle, John, and the care of John to his mother. This is what the Gospel of John records: “Near the crossContinue reading “#8 Mount Zion”

#7 The Ark of the Covenant

Mary living at the Temple is linked to her being symbolically the ‘Ark of the New Covenant’. Assumption is a belief connected not only to people, but also to the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden case covered with pure gold. The lid was elaborately designed with two cherubim. Continue reading “#7 The Ark of the Covenant”

#6 Mary Ward of the Temple

The tradition that Mary’s parents were called Anne and Joaquin is derived from the pseudepigrapha writing called the Gospel of James. The book presents Mary as being brought up as a ward of the Temple. The text is thought to have been written in the second century and not by James, the brother of Jesus. TheContinue reading “#6 Mary Ward of the Temple”