The Church of Our Lady of Pilar is located in the center of the current city of Ayabaca, at 2715 meters above sea level. This place of veneration today is called the Shrine of the Lord Captive of Ayabaca, declared in 2002 by the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, through Bishop Daniel Turley.
At first, it was known as "Nuestra Señora del Pilar". Before the great faith that was had him to the image of the Captive Lord of Ayabaca, the title of Temple of the Captive Lord was given to him, but recently in year 2002 the level of Sanctuary of the Captive Lord has been granted.