View source for Patriarchal Exarchate of the Philippines

The '''Patriarchal Exarchate of the Philippines''' is a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople governed by the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia (OMHKSEA).

==History==
Between 1983 and 1995 the pious embraced the Orthodox faith in the Philippines but belonged to no canonical Orthodox jurisdiction. In 1995, the group leader received sacerdotal formation from His Grace Bishop Sotirios of Zela (now Metropolitan of Korea) and Rev. Father [[Philemon (Castro)|Philemon]] was canonically ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Dionysios of New Zealand at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Seoul, Korea, on [[April 2]], 1995. 
On Sunday, [[April 9]] Fr. Philemon was received by His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I during a Patriarchal liturgy.

At the end of 1996, the Holy Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided the creation of a new Metropolitanate, the one of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia and on [[January 12]], 1997, the Enthronment of His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas took place at the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Luke, Stanley Fort, Hong Kong. The Orthodox Church of the Philippines was assigned to this Metropolitanate.

==Parishes==
There are three parishes and three chapels belonging to the Exarchate:
;Exarchate Parishes in the Phiippines:
* The Holy Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Paraňaque, [http://www.geocities.com/vlatoja/orthodoxphilippines] Metro Manila
* The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Los Baňos, [http://holytrinity.faithweb.com/a1_Holy-Trinity.html] Laguna and 
* The Theotokos Orthodox Church in Cataiňgan, [http://holytrinity.faithweb.com/a0_01Masbate.html] Masbate island. 

;Exarchate chapels in the Philippines: 
* Chapel of St Nectarios in Quezon City, Metro Manila, 
* Chapel of St. Eleftherios in Sorsogon, Bicol, and 
* Chapel of the Holy Resurrection in Cotabato, Mindanao island. 

There is additionally, one more church, the Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Siniloan, Laguna, is functioning alternatively, in connection with the Holy Trinity parish of Los Baňos.



==See also==
* [[Orthodoxy in the Philippines]]
* [[Philemon (Castro)]]

==External links==
* http://holytrinity.faithweb.com/
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
[[Category:Ecumenical Patriarchate Dioceses]]