Pilgrimage Practices in Ephesus across the Centuries

Since classical antiquity, Ephesus had enjoyed the status of an important pilgrimage center, with the cult of Artemis and her temple, considered one of the wonders of the world, at the heart of the cult. However, the city did not lose this status in Christian times. On the contrary, it remained an international pilgrimage destination for centuries to come. From the early Byzantine period onwards, however, special veneration was particularly directed towards Saint John the Theologian, for whom an impressive basilica was to be erected on Ayasoluk Hill. In addition, a special cult developed around the Seven Sleepers, who were particularly venerated in a necropolis of the ancient city. Furthermore, a number of other saints and martyrs are recorded for Ephesus, although their place of veneration is unknown. In contrast, a special veneration of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus and its surroundings is only documented from the 19th century onwards.