Prayer time at Ephesus

God is omnipresent. There are special places, however, where you can feel and hear Him more than ever.  Each opportunity you can, get away with Him. As you hear His voice and bask in His embrace, you will feel the peace and comfort despite all the trials that surround you.

These are the thoughts in my head as I wait for the typhoon to weaken. The wind outside my home is howling and the rain pours down in torrents. I retreat to my room to pray. As I read the archaeological study bible, I retrace my trip to Ephesus in Turkey a few months back.

Interesting to note, our Holy Bible begins in Turkey, with Abraham’s vocation in Harran (southeast Turkey) and also ends in Turkey with the Book of Revelations revealed in the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor.

I will never forget the comfortable experience onboard Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Ephesus. Established in 1933 with a fleet of only five airplanes, Turkish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, is today a four-star airline with a fleet of 228 aircraft (passenger and cargo) flying to 236 cities around the world with 40 domestic and 196 international destinations. One of the fastest growing airline companies, it has received several “Passengers Choice Awards” from the consumer ranking group Skytrax.  Based on 2013 results, Turkish Airlines was chosen “Best Airline in Europe” the third year running, continued to be “Best Airline in Southern Europe.”

Driving from the Izmir airport to the charming town of Ephesus, my best friend Bum Tenorio Jr. and I already knew this was a land blessed by favor. Magnificent fields of oranges, cherries, lavender and olives welcomed our sight and the sweet fragrance of this fresh produce wafted in the air. The gentle breeze kissed our cheeks and the stunning hills and mountain ranges that lay ahead stimulated our imagination as we excitedly awaited the discoveries that beckoned.

A city where the Apostle Paul founded a dynamic Christian community, it was here where he wrote the epistles. It is also the site of a beautiful basilica constructed around the tomb of the Apostle John. A place of prayer, silence and reflection, flocks of Christians and Muslims gravitate here to visit the place where the Most Blessed Virgin Mary lived after the crucifixion of Jesus.

 According to P. Oriano Granella, rector of the Sanctuary of Meryem Ana, “It is written in the gospel that, shortly before his death on the Cross, Christ commended his mother, the Virgin Mary, to the safekeeping of the Apostle John. An indelible trace of The Virgin Mary’s presence in John’s Gospel (John 19:26-27), written in Ephesus, reads: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’  Then saith he to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

 It is believed, and generally accepted, that John left Jerusalem after the Crucifixion, in the wake of the persecution of Christ’s followers, and took Mary with him to Ephesus.

Bum and I took a 10-minute drive from Ephesus to the lovely summit of Bulbul-dag, which means Nightingale Hill, to pay homage and honor to the Queen of Queens. There we were at a small and modest sanctuary surrounded by lush, verdant woods. While praying the rosary, we were moved to tears as we realized that the Virgin Mary, who bore the infant Jesus in her womb for nine months, actually lived and spent significant years of her life here.

On a separate occasion, our dear friends Valerie and  Ping Sotto together with their children Patricia and Miguel also visited this sacred house. They recounted that they even lined up twice to be able to spend as much time here as possible.

Meryem Ana Evi (House of Mother Mary) was rediscovered in 1891 but its excavations made at various times indicate that its foundation started from the 1st century AD. In the book Meryem Ana,  Oriano Granella disclosed that in the 18th century,  a German visionary nun, Sr. Anne Catherine Emmerich, who never traveled away from her home “discovered” this house. Although confined to bed and hardly able to move, Sister Emmerich awoke in a trance with the stigmata and visions that included the Virgin Mary and Apostle John traveling from Jerusalem to Ephesus. She requested Fr. Jung and Fr. Poulin from Izmir to verify the truths about these visions. The expedition to the site led by Fr. Jung proved the veracity of Sr. Emmerich’s visions. Several other expeditions produced maps, sketches, drawings and photographs and above all, they gave the certainty that they had found what Sr. Emmerich had described from her sickbed.

Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, who confirmed its appropriateness as a place of pilgrimage, later visited the Meryama Ana Evi. Sr. Emmerich died on Feb. 9,1824 of lung paralysis. On Oct. 3, 2004, Pope John Paul II beatified Sr. Emmerich.

After the touching visit to Mother Mary’s home, we proceeded to the most wonderful bed and breakfast called Ephesus Boutique Hotel — a lovely paradise set on a magnificent hill. Closely located to the House of Virgin Mary, it is a heavenly sanctuary with a cool climate, the most charming rooms in pink and bright happy colors with billowing white diaphanous tresses over comfortable bed. The gracious owner of Ephesus Boutique Hotel, Mustafa Ciplak, who lives there with his beautiful wife and daughter, even arranges cooking classes replete with picking fresh, organic ingredients from their garden as well as early morning visits to the local market. Mustafa holds a master’s degree in Tourism and Hotel Management and has been a part-time lecturer at Golden Horn University’s Tourism Department for several years. He is a highly spirited raconteur who can arrange any itinerary in Turkey that you wish.

Mustafa shared that Ephesus is the best-preserved ancient city in Turkey, famous for its Celsus Library, Temple of Artemis, Temple of Hadrian, Terrace Apartments, great theater, marble streets, temples and hamam baths. Its greatness and relevance to world history is evidenced by its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is, arguably, no greater, more complete, more historically interesting Roman archaeological site in the world. Its theater, with a capacity of approximately 25,000, remains one of the most beautiful and completely intact examples of its kind.

Ephesus was an important center of commerce, trade, and politics at least five centuries before Christ was born.  It has been the life work of many scholars and students of antiquity. Its stunningly beautiful and evocative remains continue to be a source of fascination to people from all cultures and all parts of the world.

It is always eventful to recall journeys to soulful places that are a wellspring of inspiration and invigoration. As we meditate on God’s stunning creations that resonate His sublime presence, let us thank Him for His countless kindnesses.  God is everywhere but during our prayer time in Ephesus, we truly felt He dwelled in our hearts.

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Turkish Airlines GSA Manila is located at G/F SGV II Bldg. 6758 Ayala Avenue Makati City.  Please call 864-0598/864-0600 or e-mail sales@thy.com.ph.

E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.