Is it a castle where the prince and princess live? No, but it looks like. What is it? Well, it's a Monastery of Birhen sa Lindogon. We called it Simala Church or The Miraculous Castle Church. It is located in the southern part of Cebu particularly in Lindogon, Sibonga.
Have you been there hivers?
There were many restrictions inside the shrine. Actually, most of the areas inside were closed due to pandemic. This time, the shrine has a few number of devotees who visited there. I was not used to it because this is one of the most visited place in Cebu. Everytime I visit there before the pandemic there was always a long que going inside but when I visited it yesterday, the place was quite. Parking areas were empty, restaurant near the shrine was also empty.
Well, for those who haven't knew about it, I'll give you a concise history about the monastery.
How it was started?
History of Simala Shrine
The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist popularly known as the Simala Shrine or Simala Church is located in Marian Hills, Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, Cebu. It was built in 1998 by the Marian Monks from Pampanga. It used to be just an ordinary church until after the incidents of miraculous events. One of which is the shedding of tears of the Mother Mary's image. It paved the way for the shrine's popularity with devotees constantly flocking the area, some were not devotees but are just curious of the amazing structure and architecture of the shrine.source
This is where we usually passed going inside the shrine to offer prayer. This area has a long que before. Even the weather was so hot but people don't cared about it as long as they can get inside.
While we were standing in the long queue we were well-entertained by the stunning architectural design.
It seems that we are in the different country. We rarely see like this in the Philippines unlike in the countries of Europe.
I asked the guard if I can get inside just to take photos but he doesn't allow me. So I just took few pictures of the shrine.
Since devotees were not allowed to get inside, they transferred the votive candle stand outside the church and it is now located few steps away in the threshold of the shrine.
Look at those votive candle stand, maybe all of them were transferred outside.
The votive candle stand with the colored candles.
Do you know the meanings/symbols of the colored candles?
I don't know how true it is because everytime I light a candle, I don't mind the color because for me it's not the color that counts but it's my belief that God will surely answer my prayer in his own beautiful time.
Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!
Namaste! I am fond of reading books, watching korean, american and filipino series/movies and I am also fond of gardening. I love listening to different life stories and I am always captivated with the beauty of nature so travel is my escape when life turns into blue. But hey, how could I forget my photography hobby? It is one of the best, so follow me as I will be featuring my experiences of the stuff that I am passionate with.
Kada bday jud naq mo ari q. Magpa salamat maam hehe
Mao man sad atung naandan sa mga taga dri, pasalamat jud nga napun an pa ang edad hehe
buotana boss 😉😊😁
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Hello @kellyane. People say that you’ve not really been to the southern part of Cebu province in the Philippines unless you have visited the Marian Shrine in Simala. This is simply true due to that landmark’s religious significance and of course, its remarkable architecture. As a devotee myself, I’ve personally witnessed the site’s humble beginnings many years ago until its magnificent transformation to a colossal church today. No wonder it has also become the ultimate pride of the municipality of Sibonga. Thank you for presenting this sacred marvel to our A+D community! 😊
It's true and even non-catholics also enticed to visit the shrine because of the stunning architecture.
Hello @ kellyane I greet you from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Thank you very much for showing us the beautiful and significant Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, popularly known as the Simala Sanctuary or Simala Church, I loved its structure and its miraculous history; Thank you. Receive a strong virtual hug full of blessings, positive energy and lots of light.
I am glad that you like it. Thank you for appreciating my content. Have a great day to you!
I visited the place and heard some stories on how it began. Simala became an icon of Cebu south. The design of the monastery resembles a castle but what I find peculiar is that they do not have ramps for the disabled (when I visited the place few years ago). !PIZZA
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I had also noticed that @juecoree. Hope they would provide ramps for PWD someday. Thanks for dropping by.
Hello @kellyane, I remember as soon as we alighted at the gates of Simala, one of my nieces uttered, "Ooh a Harry Potter Castle!" It is a really unusual religious architecture in the south. I had memorable experiences here. My favorite would be writing love letters/prayers to God and dropping them at the box with big questions which were all answered shortly after. My sister who traveled to Cebu for a short visit back in 2017 found a job that she loves immediately after her visit here.
Hi @discoveringarni, I wrote petitions too and dropped it in the box. I believed that the monks' prayer is more powerful. There were many testimonies that God answered their prayer after they'd visited in the miraculous church some of them were healed from the terminal illness. Your sister is living proof that it is indeed a miraculous church.
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