🎨 Artwork Journey: Meryemana, Turkiye

Meryemana: The House of the Virgin Mary

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🎨 Artwork Journey

Artwork Journey is a section of the Emily Lupita ❤️‍🔥 Creativity Series featuring new Lupita paintings I made while reflecting on my world journey - with accompanying short travel essays.

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Meryemana: The House of the Virgin Mary in Turkiye

By Emily Lupita

Near Ephesus, Turkiye, 2006

About the Painting:

This painting is called Meryemana. I went to visit Meryemana, The House of the Virgin Mary, in the summer of 2006. I’d spent the summer teaching in Spain and flew from there to Turkiye to meet Alper, who was staying with his family in the coastal city of Bodrum.

Years before, I’d watched a documentary about Meryemana that moved me. The interviews with people who had just emerged from the small shrine were so full of emotion, some were even crying. And also, such joy. I remember saying aloud to myself, “I want to go to this place one day.”

It’s believed that the Holy Mother came to Meryemana with St. John a few years after the crucifixion of Jesus and lived there for the remainder of her life. The building itself is very small. From the outside it looks very modest and humble. On the inside, there’s a center altar to the Holy Mother and a small alcove. That’s all. It’s incredibly simple.

When I entered, I felt this overwhelming sense of calm. It was hot that day, over 100 degrees, and there were tons of people gathered outside the shrine talking. Yet the inner alcove was cool and quiet. There was a sense of protection and peace as I’d never felt before. I walked out of the shrine and lit a candle, said a prayer.

It was one of the most comforting visits I’ve had in a sacred place. I remember the giant tree in front. I remember the shade it gave as I took one last breath to whisper my prayer.

Artwork available online here.

This is a short video that gives a glimpse of the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus. I like how the tour guide explains what happens when people visit.

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Good journey,

❤️‍🔥Emily Lupita

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