The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-07
vlRdIN MARY's HOME.
Discovery at Ephrsuu OF the iahltAtion
IN Witch ChrisCs Mother Lived for
Time.


Tho interesting news has Just come
from Europe that some time since a
party OF Antiquarian. In digging over
the ruins OF the ancient city OF Ephcsus.
In Asia Minor came across the house In
which tho Virgin Mary lived after she
had left Jerusalem. and before Hho went
to Mount Sion. where she died.
II was well known that the Virgin had
spent some years OF her life In Ephosus.
and the ambition OF antlqunrians has
been TO ind the hahltation she occupied
Tho announcement has been made SOW
cral times that the place had been found.
but careful investigation proved, TO the
satisfaction OF the Vatican. that there
was no foundation for these announce
mcnts-that the antiquarlana IN their
ovcrEcal had made mistakes
Hut the habitation just uncarthed at
Ephcsus must hereafter be regarded AS
the one the Virgin occupied. for the Nau-
can hus officially declared II was-has
put the seal OF It's approval. 30 advioes
to hand state, on the announcement that
tho crumbling walls OF tho dwelling found
IN tho ruins OF ancient Epheaus once
sheltered the mother OF the Kodecmer.
This approval was not given hurriedly.
but only after most conclusive evidence
could bc no mistake about tho matter,
II will bo "A disappointment TO all inter
cHtcd In such matters that no details re-
spcoting tho hRbltation accompany the
announcement OF It's discovery. But the
house was probably OF the kind 10 COM
mon In those days-a plain. one-storied
structure. IL will be interesting 10
know In what condition II was found
ana II Il will be possible TO restore Il TO
It's original shape.
CATHEDRAL MAY BE BUILT.
Thus Ephesus will possess from this
time on n more than usual interest for
the Christian, and the probability Is that
stately cathedral will yet be erected
to mark the spot where the Virgin passed
some OF the later days OF her life. 1t
was from this place that she journeyed
TO Mount Zion. where she died. The
body WIS placed In u sepulchre In the
Garden OF Gothscm0nc, but when, u few
days later the apostles rolled the stone
away from the door OF the sepulchro,
the body was not there, Thence arose
the tradition OF the assumption OF the
Virgin into heaven. tradition that
Titan transferred to canvas and made
one of the greatest creations OF his
genius
Ephcsus was very ancient city on
tho west coast OF Asia Minor II was
partly on u fertile plain near the mouth
OF the river Cayster and partly on some
hills that rose gradually from it. IL
was famed among the anclents as the
site OF the Temple OF Diana. The place
was an important city and commanded
an extensive and varied commerce. Tra-
ditlon has Il that Il was originally In
habted by the mythical Amazons. II
was early conquered by the Ionians, the
time, according to tradition, being the
eleventh century II, c., and from that
event dates the history OF Ephesus as
u Greek possession. II figures In church
history also because It was at general
council Of the church held there In 4Sl
that the heresy of Nestorlus was con-
1emned.
The place will now figure further In
church history owing to the discovery In
Il OF the Virgins habitation.
THE FLIGHT TO EPHEsus.
Just why the Virgin sought refuge In
Ephesus there are several stories In the
that have come down to us
from the dim past, but the one that
seems to be most generally credited by
writer's Is that II was due TO prosecutions
that broke out In Jerusalem. After the
fnal scenes In the tragedy OF the Cruci-
1xlon had been enacted. Mary, accom-
panied by Mary Magdalene and st. John
the Evangelist. to whose care tho Re-
leemer had committed his mother, re-
paired to Jerusalem. There they re-
nalned until the prosecutions forced |
hem to seek safety elsewhere. and they
chose Ephesus. The Virgins flight into |
Gphesus, under the protection OF John, |
has been made the theme OF many a |
famous painting, In which the Virgin is |
generally pictured with halo about her |
lead and walking beside John, whose |
lemeanor is most reverential to her.
MARY's LIFE AT EPHEsUs.
So far as known, nothing has been |
handed down to us with regard to the |
lojourn Of the Virgin at Ephesus, no de-