Church of Mary

The Church of Mary in Ephesus is one of the oldest churches in the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary — an early Christian basilica dating to around the early 5th century, now preserved as an extensive ruin within the ancient city of Ephesus. Its historical weight is exceptional: in 431 AD it hosted the Council of Ephesus, at which church fathers declared Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God), a decision that fundamentally shaped Christian doctrine. The Byzantine basilica was rebuilt and expanded across several centuries before falling into ruin. Today visitors walk among the foundation walls, column stubs, and apse remains within the broader UNESCO World Heritage site of Ephesus — a quiet, atmospheric testament to early Christian life in Asia Minor.