Mary, mother of Jesus

Tuesday marks the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God for Bulgaria's Orthodox Christians, reported bTV. 

Known to Catholics and Anglicans as Assumption of Mary, the holiday marks the day Christians believe the mother of Christ passed away, aged 64, and was accepted in Heaven.

The Assumption fast begins today and continues until August 15 when one of the greatest Christian feasts, the Assumption of Virgin Mary is marked, BGNES reports.

The assumption Fast is one of the four multiday periods for prayer and chastity during the year.

On July 25 the Orthodox Church commemorates the Dormition of Saint Anna, according to BGNES.

Saint Anna was a member of the Aaron family and mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

She is perceived as one of the main Christian symbols of maternity.

A Catholic nun in Spain has sparked outrage in the Catholic Church after suggesting that Virgin Mary might not have been a virgin after all. Sister Lucia Caram was speaking on a talk show over the weekend when she let slip her belief that contradicts one of the key pillars of her faith.

Greek-American TV personality Maria Menounos has been at the side of her mother Litsa, since she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Maria recently attended the liturgy at Saint Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Los Angeles and prayed for the recovery of her mother.

Aegean province ?zmir's Selçuk district, home to the House of the Virgin Mary, which is a pilgrimage site for Christians, will soon have a massive statue of the mother of Jesus. 

Speaking at a tourism conference, Selçuk Mayor Zeynel Bak?c? said they had rolled up their sleeves for the construction of the structure. 

Contrary to general belief, the life in the ancient city of Ephesus did not end in the 7th century, claims leader of excavations, Sabine Ladstaetter The recent excavations in the ancient city of Ephesus, located in ?zmir, have revealed significant historical data, according to the statement by the head of excavations, Sabine Ladstaetter.

The town of Selçuk, in the western Turkish province of ?zmir, which hosts around 2.5 million tourists visiting the nearby ancient site of Ephesus every year, is hoping to improve its faith tourism potential and draw more tourists.

Residents of the small Turkish town of Selçuk, located in the western province of İzmir, will be honored to host the visit of Pope Francis on Nov. 28, the town’s mayor said Nov. 15.