Church of Our Lady of the Pillar, Catholic church in Ayabaca, Peru

The Church of Our Lady of the Pillar, now the Santuario del Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca, stands at 2,715 meters above sea level in the center of Ayabaca. Its colonial-style altar is made of wood covered in gold paint, holding four saints and, at its center, the approximately two-meter-tall image of the Señor Cautivo, flanked by two angels supporting the altar columns. Inside, the Cuadro de las Ánimas depicts heaven, purgatory and paradise, and a carved mahogany altar shows the crucified Jesus with Mary Magdalene and Mary at his feet. Metal grilles surround the exterior, and a fountain by the secondary entrance is lit at night.

The church began as Nuestra Señora del Pilar in the centre of Ayabaca, at 2,715 metres above sea level. Devotion to the image of the Señor Cautivo de Ayabaca led to its being retitled Templo del Señor Cautivo. In 2002 Pope John Paul II, through Bishop Daniel Turley, granted it the rank of Santuario del Señor Cautivo.

The church is where the community of Ayabaca gathers to practice and celebrate their faith together. The daily worship and seasonal festivities shape the social life of the town.

The church is centrally located in Ayabaca and is generally open to visitors on most days. Check with locals about current opening times since religious festivals and ceremonies may affect regular access.

The name references a specific devotion to the Virgin Mary associated with a pillar, a veneration practice found across Catholic communities in Spanish-speaking regions. This particular spiritual focus connects the local congregation to broader religious traditions beyond Ayabaca.