Ephesus was one of The Seven Churches of Revelation of Asia together with, Smyrna (Izmir), Laodicea ad Lycum (Goncali), Sardis (Sart), Pergamum (Bergama), Philadelphia (Alasehir) and Thyatira (Akhisar). It was a very important center for Early Christianity from the AD 50s.

According to some authorities Apostle Paul lived in this city for almost three years during his third missionary journey. Between the years 53-57 AD, He wrote the letter 1 Corinthians in Ephesus. It is very possible that he wrote it from the tower where its said that he was imprisoned for a while.

The Gospel of John might have been written in Ephesus also.

The Church of Mary was the church where the third ecumenical council of 431 AD at which the question of the Virgin Mary being the Mother of God was debated. In this council it was decided that Christ had a double nature as God and man, and the Virgin Mary was theotokos,

(Revelation 2:1-7)

(1) “Write a letter to the leader of the church in Ephesus and tell him this:

“I write to inform you of a message from him who walks among the churches and holds their leaders in his right hand.

“He says to you: (2) I know how many good things you are doing. I have watched your hard work and your patience; I know you don’t tolerate sin among your members and you have carefully examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but aren’t. You have found out how they lie.

(3) You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

(4) “Yet there is one thing wrong; you don’t love me as at first! (5) Think about those times of your first love (how different now!) and turn back to me again and work as you did before; or else I will come and remove your candlestick from its place among the churches.

(6) “But there is this about you that is good: You hate the deeds of the licentious Nicolaitans, just as I do.

(7) ” Let this message sink into the ears of anyone who listens to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God.