Originally published at The Crux
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ALFONSO, Philippines — The House of the Virgin Mary is a shrine located in Ephesus, Turkey, where the mother of Jesus is believed to have spent her final years. Thousands of miles away, nestled in a field outside Manila, a replica in the Philippines welcomes devotees in Asia’s biggest Catholic nation.
“The idea began as a place of refuge,” said Father Dennis Paez, the priest who led the project. “This is a place where no questions (are) asked.”
The replica was inaugurated in 2024 in Alfonso, a town in Cavite province about 70 45 miles south of the capital. Since opening, it has hosted Catholic pilgrimages, including celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in mid-July. The 720-square-foot structure mirrors the exact dimensions, shape and look of every stone at the original site.
The Ephesus House, a replica of the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey, now stands at Alfonso town, Cavite province, Philippines on July 16, 2026. (Credit: Aaron Favila/AP.)
