Biblical Ephesus Tour

This very special tour is designed for those who wish to follow the trail of Christian heritage in Ephesus. The tour is led by specialist guides who will help you discover the important Christian history of this ancient city. You will spend time at the Great Theater, where St. Paul once preached to the people of Ephesus. Next, we will visit the Church of Mary, believed to be the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and was the site of the Third Ecumenical Council in 431 AD. Although the church is only a few dozen meters from the main route through Ancient Ephesus, it is not included in most tours. Then, just three miles away, near the top of Mount Coresos, we will visit the peaceful and beautiful House of the Virgin Mary. It is believed that Mary, the mother of Christ, spent her final years and died here. The site has been visited by three popes and is considered holy by both Christians and Muslims. Our next stop will be St. John’s Basilica, located on a hillside above the town of Selcuk. According to tradition, St. John accompanied Mary to Ephesus and stayed with her until her death. He later died in Ephesus at the age of 100 and was buried on this hillside. Early Christians later built a magnificent basilica over his grave. As an optional extra, you can visit a rarely seen site, the sacred and secret grotto of St. Paul. The grotto is normally closed to the public, so at least three days’ notice is required, and the entrance fee must be paid in advance to have it specially opened for you. The grotto was discovered in 1906 and excavated by the Austrian Archaeological Institute. During the excavation, Karl Herold, the leader of the restoration team, uncovered important 6th-century frescoes and inscriptions that had been covered by plaster. These include images of the Virgin Mary, St. Paul, and St. Thecla. The grotto contains the only known depiction of St. Paul in Ephesus and the first known image showing him together with his female disciple, St. Thecla..