{"id":804,"date":"2022-11-10T15:01:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T15:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestephesustours.com\/blog\/?p=804"},"modified":"2026-03-01T08:40:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T08:40:39","slug":"history-of-the-church-of-ephesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestephesustours.com\/blog\/history-of-the-church-of-ephesus.html","title":{"rendered":"History of the Church of Ephesus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The construction of the church of Ephesus<\/strong> (also known as the Church of Mary) dates back to the 5th <\/strong>century. It is assumed that the church was constructed specifically for the Third Ecumenical Council in 431<\/strong>, above the ruins of an earlier pagan structure that was abandoned in the 3rd century<\/strong>. The Church of Ephesus is also a highlight of our Biblical Ephesus Tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \ud83d\udccd<\/span> Guide’s Note: Church vs. House\n <\/h3>\n

\n Many visitors confuse these two distinct locations. Please note they are completely different sites<\/strong> located 7 km (4.5 miles) apart<\/strong>:\n

\n 1. The House of the Virgin Mary<\/a>:<\/strong> Located high up on Mt. Koressos<\/strong> (outside<\/em> the ancient city). It is a small stone shrine believed to be her final home. (Requires a separate admission fee).<\/em>\n

\n 2. The Church of Mary (This Site):<\/strong> Located inside<\/em> the Ephesus Ancient City<\/strong> near the harbor. It is the massive cathedral ruin where the 3rd Ecumenical Council<\/a><\/strong> actually took place in 431 AD<\/strong>. (Included in your main Ephesus ticket).<\/em> On my Biblical tours, we make sure to visit both!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Church
Church of Ephesus<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The north side of the construction area was occupied by the Olympeion, built around 130 AD<\/strong> for the Imperial Cult of Hadrian<\/a>, similar to Zeus <\/strong>in Olympos. The Church of Mary<\/strong> was replaced on the southern side of the porticoes surrounding the temple sanctuary. It was 145 <\/strong>meters long and 30 <\/strong>meters wide. The extra-long dimension of the church building can be explained by being a part of an early pagan structure. In later times, two more churches<\/strong> were built inside this ancient building, arranged one behind the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3D
3D model of The Church of Ephesus<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\n \ud83e\udd2b<\/span> Insider Tip: The “Hidden” Church\n <\/h3>\n

\n Here is a secret that many standard group tours won’t tell you: Although the Church of Mary is inside the ancient city limits (near the Harbour Bath), it requires a slight detour. Because of this, large rushed groups often skip it entirely, and visitors exit without seeing this historic spot!\n <\/p>\n

\n \ud83d\udccd How to find it:<\/strong> As you walk towards the Lower Gate (Exit) at the end of your tour, look for the ancient Milestones and Sarcophagi. Immediately to your LEFT<\/strong>, you will see a dirt path leading down through the trees. It\u2019s only a peaceful 5-minute walk, and best of all\u2014entrance is Free<\/strong> (already included in your Ephesus ticket).\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Church at Ephesus was rebuilt several times, so the structure we can see today does not really reflect the actual appearance of the Church of Ephesus from the time of the Ecumenical Council<\/strong>. After the first church fell into ruins, it was replaced by the new basilica, but with smaller dimensions, in the space of the old church. The new church entrance was replaced through the apse of the old one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Church<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This small new church was reconstructed with two additional rows of columns supporting the roof. Finally, the whole structure collapsed, and the space was mostly used as a cemetery. It is not known when exactly the Church of Ephesus collapsed. But there are the icons of the Virgin Mary from the 12th-century<\/strong> mentions of the \u201cold church\u201d. Thus, it is believed that the church must have survived at least until the end of the 12th century<\/strong>. But is known that the Church of Mary functioned as a cemetery church only, after the seat of the bishop moved to the Basilica of St John<\/a> in the 7th century AD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Church of Ephesus Building Phases<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The best-preserved part of the structure is a baptistery, located in the northern part of the atrium. There was a pool, in the central part of this Baptiste, where the baptized people could be fully submerged in water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Church of Ephesus Baptism Pool<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\ud83d\udca7 The Ancient Baptistery<\/h4>\n

\n When you look at the keyhole-shaped pool in the baptistery, remember that in early Christianity, baptism was mostly for adults and involved full body immersion<\/strong>. The bishop would stand on the side while the initiate walked down the steps into the holy water.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Third Ecumenical Council<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Council of Ephesus<\/a>, also known as the third ecumenical council of the great church of Mary, was convened in 431<\/strong> by Emperor Theodosius II. This was one of the most significant Christian events that took place in the ancient city of Ephesus. More than 250 delegates<\/strong> and archbishops <\/strong>from different Patriarchs, such as Rome<\/strong>, Alexandria<\/strong>, Constantinopolis<\/strong>, and Antioch<\/strong>, arrived at Ephesus. One of the purposes of this council was to settle the dispute on the understanding of the person of Jesus. Accordingly, one of the main subject issues discussed was the concern about Mary’s title<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Council
Council of Ephesus, Declares Mary to be Theotokos (“God-bearer”), Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvi\u00e8re, Lyon<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Either the Mother of God or the Mother of Jesus. The Syrian churchman Nestorius <\/strong>emphasized the true humanity of Jesus by insisting that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, gave birth to Christ, not God himself. Thus, he used the term christotokos <\/strong>(Christ-bearer) for Mary rather than Theotokos<\/strong>. Nestorius <\/strong>also emphasized that only Christ, not God<\/strong>, died on the Cross. The Council of Ephesus decreed that Mary is the Theotokos <\/strong>as one divine person from two natures (divine <\/strong>and human<\/strong>) intimately united. In the canons of the third ecumenical council city of Ephesus is described as \u201cwhere John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary lived and were buried\u201d<\/em>. Therefore, Mary has always been strongly linked to Ephesus through the decision of the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \u2696\ufe0f<\/span> A Clash of Titans: The Story Behind the Council\n <\/h4>\n

\n Why does this Council matter so much? Picture a heated debate that would shape the future of Christianity. It was a fierce clash between two powerful figures: Nestorius<\/strong> (Patriarch of Constantinople) and Cyril<\/strong> (Patriarch of Alexandria).\n <\/p>\n