Category Archives: Assumption

#17 Allowing and Banning of Religious Images in Church Councils

The veneration of Mary was allowed by church councils from early on, but it was not very long before there were attempts to ban religious images as objects of veneration.  Thus, there was an acknowledgment of excess as well as a clinging to this type of piety. Eucumenical Church Councils The initial Council of JerusalemContinue reading “#17 Allowing and Banning of Religious Images in Church Councils”

#16 Novenas, Litanies and Mediatrix

The 15th August has been Mary’s day since the 5th century both in the East and West.  Popes of the West in the 9th century put the Feast of the Assumption on a par with Christmas and Easter by adding various solemnities to it. The recognized forms of prayer to Mary include the Hail Mary on the beadsContinue reading “#16 Novenas, Litanies and Mediatrix”

#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”