Ermita Church

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia, commonly known as Ermita Shrine or Ermita Church, is a Roman Catholic church and shrine located in the district of Ermita in the city of Manila, Philippines. The church is home to the Marian image of the Immaculate Concepcion known as Nuestra Señora de Guía, which is considered to be oldest in the Philippines, and in whose honor the church is officially named after and dedicated to.^[3][4]

Ermita Church
Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia
Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guidance
La Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Guía (Spanish)
Church façade in September 2025
Ermita Church
14°34′43″N 120°58′47″E
Location	Ermita, Manila
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Former name	Hermitage of Our Lady of Guide
Status	Shrine
Founded	1606; 419 years ago (1606)
Dedication	Nuestra Señora de Guía
Associated people	Miguel López de Legazpi
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect	Carlos A. Santos-Viola
Architectural type	Chapel
Style	Modern
Groundbreaking	1947; 78 years ago (1947)
Completed	1953; 72 years ago (1953)
Administration
Archdiocese	Manila
Deanery	Nuestra Señora de Guia[1]
Parish	Nuestra Señora de Guia
Clergy
Rector	Estelito Villegas
Dean	Joel de Leon Rescober[2]
Assistant priest(s)	Solomon Jardinero Dave Bao

History

Church NHC historical marker installed in 1971

The church began as a rustic shrine made of bamboo, nipa, and molave wood that was built to house the image of Our Lady of Guidance in the area where it was found in 1571 by Spanish soldiers under Miguel López de Legazpi. The shrine eventually became a chapel built in 1606 as house for the image and was called La Hermita ("The Chapel" or "Hermitage" in English).^[5] The word also gave the name to the present district in Manila where the chapel is located. A Mexican Hermit-Priest came to the area and built a hermitage there, thus, transforming its name to Ermita. Juan Fernandez de Leon who was a hermit from Mexico before relocating to Manila, was responsible for building Hermita up.^[6]

The church was damaged many times due to earthquakes. In addition, the image had to be transferred to the Manila Cathedral for safekeeping during the British occupation of Manila in 1762–1764. A more permanent stone church was built in 1810; the image was returned to the church in 1918.^[4]

In 1945 near the end of World War II, the church was reduced to rubble during the Battle of Manila. However, the image was saved from destruction and was temporarily kept in a private residence.^[7] Work began for the reconstruction of the church in 1947 with a new design by architect Carlos A. Santos-Viola.^[8] On March 28, 1949, attorney and future senator Jose W. Diokno married Carmen Icasiano at Ermita Church. Diokno was also baptized here on September 3, 1922, his godmother and second mother was Paz Wilson. By 1953, the reconstruction was completed and the image was returned to the new church.

On December 3, 2005, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales elevated the status of this church to an archdiocesan shrine.^[9]

Vicariate of Nuestra Señora de Guia

The church is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila under the vicariate forane of Nuestra Señora de Guia. Aside from the parish church, the vicariate covers the following churches:^[1]

• Manila Cathedral
• San Agustin Church, Intramuros
• San Vicente de Paul Parish, Ermita
• Malate Church
• Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Malate
• Sto. Niño de Baseco Parish, Baseco, Port Area

Gallery

• 
  Old facade (2014)
• 
  Church interior in 2014
• 
  Nuestra Señora de Guia enshrined in the church altar
• 
  Archdiocesan Shrine markers
• 
  Ermita Shrine Welcome Arch