Sunday, August 15
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This has always been my favorite Marian feast day, mostly because of the complete and utter mystery of it. It was made even better for me when Dan and I visited the House of the Virgin Mary a few years ago outside the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. According to local tradition the Assumption is said to have happened here but there is another tradition placing the Assumption in Jerusalem where this Whapster is inclined to believe it actually happened. Either way, seeing the house where the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Apostle lived was an incredible opportunity.
While on the trip, I came across another interesting tradition thanks to our guide. According to her, there is a tradition in the East that St. John was also assumed bodily into Heaven and that it happened not six miles from this house in Ephesus. In the 1920's, a 6th century basilica built by Justinian dedicated to the Assumption of St. John was uncovered nearby. I've asked several priests and none have ever heard of this tradition. Does anyone have any information on the subject?
![[SMMMHDH]](http://www.mgilleland.com/music/smmmhdh.png){kind=small}
