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Orthodoxy in the Philippines

8,952 bytes added, 02:17, October 3, 2019
Updated info on the Russian Orthodox Diocese of the Philippines with external links.
{{cleanup}}This article seeks to be a clearinghouse of information and links regarding the history and state of '''[[Orthodox Christianity]] in the Philippines'''. The current Orthodox presence in the Philippines is minimal. However, early in the 20th century a small Russian parish served émigrés in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The presence of this Russian parish ceased to exist after the Second World War. Another Orthodox parish under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] was founded in Manila during the early 1990s.
== Beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines ==[[Image:Magellan's_Cross.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan''Orthodoxy s cross planted in Cebu in 1521]]Christianity was first introduced to the Philippines in the 16th century by Spain, when the Philippines became its colony. Until the Philippine Revolution of 1896, it was illegal for any non-[[Roman Catholic]] church to establish itself in the Philippines'''. The Archbishop of Manila served as both representative of the Spanish Inquisition and, during the absence of the governor-general, the Spanish Crown.
After fighting a bloody revolution against Spain, the Philippines then fought another war for its independence against the United States. However, the Philippines was annexed by the United States in 1898 and remained a colony until 1946. Religious tolerance was then instituted. The new American governor-generals then encouraged the spread of the [[Anglican Communion|Episcopal Church]] through government donations of land.
== Arrival of Orthodoxy =====1600s -Armenian and Greek Orthodox Christians===One source suggests that the Armenians, Greeks and Mecedonians were the first Orthodox Christians on the island. An eighteenth century document written by Murillo Velarde, a Jesuit historian describing their Order’s missionary labors in the Philippines, records the presence of Armenian and Greek settlers in the Philippine capital city of Manila as early as 1618. [http://merlot.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;q1=morenos;rgn=full%20text;idno=afk2830.0001.044;didno=AFK2830.0001.044;view=image;seq=31;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;] (Blair & Robertson's The Philippine Islands 1493--1898, Cleveland, Ohio: 1906, Vol. XLIV, p. 27).
== The beginnings In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the world in which so many nationalities come together as here....There are a considerable number of Armenians, and some Persians; and Tartars, Macedonians, Turks, and Greeks....so that he who spends an afternoon on the ''tuley'' or bridge of Christianity Manila will see all these nationalities pass by him, behold their costumes, and hear their languages - something which cannot be done in any other city in the Philippines entire Spanish monarchy, and hardly in any other region in all the world."(Cited in Blair & Robertson's The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, Cleveland, Ohio: 1906, Vol. XLIV, p. 29). [http://merlot.umdl.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=philamer;cc=philamer;q1=morenos;rgn=full%20text;idno=afk2830.0001.044;didno=AFK2830.0001.044;view=image;seq=33;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;]
===1930s - Russian Orthodox Christians===
[[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.jpg|right|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]An influx of Russian émigrés fleeing the Soviet regime occurred during the American colonial regime. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]] was established in Manila, and the [[Patriarch]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail to use the north transept of their cathedral for worship. In 1937, the first Orthodox church was built and was named after the Iveron [[Icon]] of the Mother of God. This also became the first Orthodox [[altar]] in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed by American bombing during the Second World War.
Christianity was first introduced In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox from China, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John (Maximovitch)]], were relocated to the Philippines in the 16th century by Spain when the Philippines became a colonyformer US Army base on [https://en. Until the Philippine Revolution of 1896wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], it was illegal for any non-Roman Catholic Church to establish in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and punishable by death for Filipinos to convert from with the Roman Catholic Church. The Archbishop permission of Manila served as both representative the newly independent Republic of the Spanish Inquisition Philippines. Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and, during other buildings were established on the absence grounds of the Governor-Generalbase, for the Spanish CrownRussian refugees.
The first recorded Orthodox Christians came during the 18th Tubabao, however, was (and 19th century due still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to trade typhoons, and were mostly Antiochians who later married Filipino women and was forced at times inaccessible due to convert the ocean conditions. When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to Roman Catholicism due local Filipinos, they replied that there was nothing to worry about because "your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night." There were no typhoons or floods while the InquisitionRussian refugees sheltered at Tubabao.
After fighting a bloody revolution against Spain, Abp. John did not preach the Philippines then fought another war for its independence against Orthodox faith to the United States[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray]-speaking inhabitants of Tubabao. However No Filipino was baptized, chrismated, ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in the Philippines . Abp. John himself was annexed by the United States in 1898 and remained only present for a colony few months, until 1946. Religious tolerence the camp was then instituted set up and running; during most of the Spanish Inquisition two years the refugees were at Tubabao, he was abolished in 1898America, lobbying the Congress for their reception into the USA. The new American governor-generals then encouraged Through his persistent lobbying, the spread of refugees were allowed to settle in the Episcopal Church through government donations of landUnited States and Australia beginning in 1951.
=== 1990s - Filipino Orthodox Christians===
Around the beginning of the twentieth century, Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now number no more than 10 families, who have kept their Greek surnames and many of whom have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in the Philippines, including serving as the Greek consulate in Manila. Though they do not speak the Filipino language fluently, they were largely responsible for the re-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippines through their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation.
---- == Orthodoxy [[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paranaque, Manila]]One of the Philippines ==  Orthodoxy arrived first Greek Orthodox to arrive in the Philippines due to the influx Philippine province of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime during the American colonial regimeAlbay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos (aka Alexander A. In 1935Adamson), a large Russian parish was established who came to Legaspi city in Manila 1928. Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932, which is now owned by the Patriarch Vincentian Fathers of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Episcopal the Roman Catholic Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail to use the north transept of their cathedral for worship. In 1937, the first Orthodox cathedral Adamopoulos was built and was named after appointed in 1942 by the Iberian Icon of the Mother Greek government to take charge of God. This also became the first Orthodox altar Greek interests in the Philippines. Later, both He was later promoted to the Episcopal and Russian Orthodox cathedrals were destoryed during the Second World Warrank of Consul General of Greece.
In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the need to establish the first true Greek Orthodox church in the Philippines and thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. Although he died in 1993 before the church was completed, the Orthodox Cathedral was finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox and 40 expats[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]in Metro Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. This cathedral was consecrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, 2000.
----On April 20, 1990, a Filipino [[hieromonk]], Fr. Vincentius Escarcha (a former Benedictine Abbot and a Roman Catholic priest for more than 20 years in Bajada, Cataingan, Masbate island), together with four nuns and faithful members of his community, were received into the Orthodox Church by Metropolitan [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]]. On January 19, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysios, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, received by [[Chrismation|Holy Chrismation]] several Filipino Christians in Manila.
StIn 1996, the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for the needs of the faithful under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. John In 2004, the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Masbate was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Nikitas (Lulias) of Hong Kong|Nikitas]] of Shanghai Hong Kong and San FrancisoSouth East Asia. At present, the nuns of the Theotokos Orthodox Monastery in Bajada run a kindergarten.
==Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==
[[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]], there are currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the Philippines, along with four nuns, and are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. In these communities, the Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox worship services are said in English, Greek and Filipino.
In 1949, 5,500 Russian 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox from China, including then Archbishop John MaximovitchChristian Mission in the Philippines[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], was relocated to Tubabao in south-central Philippines by established under the International Refugee Organization [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. In 2008, two Filipino denominations were received into the Antiochian church, including 32 communities with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippinessome 6000 believers. Archbishop John Maximovitch then established a wooden church These denominations - one ex-protestant, orphanageled by Fr Jeptah Aniceto, and other buildings in Tubabao for the refugees. Until the present timeone ex-independent, older Filipinos still remember the "Holy Man" and he is still revered led by nonFr Pascualito Monsanto -Orthodox formed two vicariates, based in south-central PhilippinesDavao and Manila respectively. In 2009 Jeptah Aniceto [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines left the Orthodox Church] to pursue native religious teaching in Africa, and now [Imagehttps:John Maximovitch Tubabao//www.jpgfacebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a Muslim]. Many of his followers left the Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]]group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).
TubabaoIn 2013, however, was (clergy from both ROCOR and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone the Moscow Patriarchate responded to typhoonsrequests from Filipino groups for catechism. Two dioceses of the [http://www.ifi.ph/ Iglesia Filipina Independiente ("Aglipayans"] entered into a period of catechism, and at times inaccessible due beginning in 2015 several parishes were received in mass baptisms[http://orthochristian.com/82584.html][http://orthochristian.com/81728.html]. In 2017 a hieromonk was sent from Russia to reestablish the parish of the Iveron Icon of the ocean conditionsTheotokos, originally established in 1935 but destroyed by bombing during World War II. When In February, 2019, a [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5379588.html Diocese of the Philippines] was established within the Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destory their camp to local Filipinos, they replied that there was nothing to worry Orthodox [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia]. [https://philippine-mission.org/about because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night.” There were no typhoons or floods while Archbishop John Maximovitch was there/clergy-of-the-philippine-diocese/ Eight priests] now serve the Russian mission which now numbers approximately thirty parishes and mission communities.
Through There are also some [[Independent Orthodox churches|independent groups]] in the persistent lobbying of Archbishop John Maximovitch to Philippines that use the US Congress, the refugees were allowed to settle term ''Orthodox'' in the United States and Australia beginning their names but are not in 1951communion with or are recognized by any canonical Orthodox church.
==See also==
* [[Exarchate of the Philippines|Exarchate of the Philippines, Ecumenical Patriarchate]]
* [[Philemon (Castro)]]
==External links==
*[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia]*[http://filorthodoxia.googlepages.com/church.htm History of the First Filipino Orthodox Community in the Philippines] by Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis*[http://www.orthodoxnews.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=WorldNews.one&content_id=7354&CFID=29993857&CFTOKEN=90155693 Ecumenical Patriarch Consecrates Annunciation Church in Manila]*[http://www.orthodox.cn/news/20000420philippines_en.htm Orthodox Patriarch Visits Fledgling Local Orthodox Church]*[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/AUG03.pdf The Theotokos Orthodox Church & Monastery in Masbate] (Information in an issue of The Censer)*[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_major_events.html Major Events of Orthodoxy in the Philippines Today] *[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_history.html A priest's description of Orthodox missionary work in the Philippines]*[http://www.rocor.org.au/lives/stjohnsanfranciscoshanghai Life of St. John Maximovitch]*[http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/03042007_KL1949.htm The Greek Community in the Philippines]*[http://www.hri.org/forum/life/adamson.html Greeks in the Philippines and their contributions to the Filipinos]*[http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=philamer;idno=AFK2830.0001.044 The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 by Emma E. Blair & James A. Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the University of Michigan.*[https://philippine-mission.org/ Philippine Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church]
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
There are many groups today in the Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox Churches, however, they all lack the apostolic succession and do not adhere to the traditions and canons of either church.  In 1997, Greek ship owners established a parish under the Ecumenical patriarchate and is headed by a priest from Greece. There are currently plans to re-establish a Russian Orthodox presence in the Philippines and to begin missions for Filipinos due to the strong need to teach Eastern Orthodoxy in the Philippines to Filipinos in the vernacular. The members of the Russian Orthodox Church hopes to build on the half of century of trust and respect gained by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco to help the Philippines discover the richness of Orthodoxy. Links:[http[Category://www.rocor.org.au/lives/stjohnsanfranciscoshanghaiJurisdictions]]
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