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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.

The current Orthodox presence == Beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines is minimal, though a small Russian parish, exclusively for Russian nationals, once existed ==[[Image:Magellan's_Cross.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan's cross planted in Cebu in Manila, the capital city of 1521]]Christianity was first introduced to the Philippines, earlier in the twentieth 16th century. The presence of this Russian parish ceased to exist after by Spain, when the World War IIPhilippines became its colony. Another Orthodox parish under Until the [[jurisdiction]] Philippine Revolution of the 1896, it was illegal for any non-[[Ecumenical PatriarchateRoman Catholic]] was founded church to establish itself in the Philippines. The Archbishop of Manila served as both representative of the Spanish Inquisition and, during the early 1990sabsence 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 beginnings Philippine Islands 1493-1898, Cleveland, Ohio: 1906, Vol. XLIV, p. 27). 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 Christianity Armenians, and some Persians; and Tartars, Macedonians, Turks, and Greeks....so that he who spends an afternoon on the ''tuley'' or bridge of 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 entire Spanish monarchy, and hardly in any other region in all the Philippines 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===Christianity [[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 introduced to 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. In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox from China, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John (Maximovitch)]], were relocated to a former US Army base on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], in the 16th century south central Philippines by Spain when the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippines became . Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and other buildings were established on the grounds of the base, for the Russian refugees.  Tubabao, however, was (and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to typhoons, and at times inaccessible due to the ocean conditions. When a Russian commented on their fear that a colonytyphoon would destroy their camp to 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 Russian refugees sheltered at Tubabao.  Abp. John did not preach the Orthodox faith to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray]-speaking inhabitants of Tubabao. No Filipino was baptized, chrismated, ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in the Philippines. Abp. Until John himself was only present for a few months, until the Philippine Revolution camp was set up and running; during most of 1896the two years the refugees were at Tubabao, it he was illegal in America, lobbying the Congress for any nontheir reception into the USA. Through his persistent lobbying, the refugees were allowed to settle in the United 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. [[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paranaque, Manila]]One of the first Greek Orthodox to arrive in the Philippine province of Albay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos (aka Alexander A. Adamson), who came to Legaspi city in 1928. Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932, which is now owned by the Vincentian Fathers of the Roman Catholic]] church Church. Adamopoulos was appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to establish itself take charge of Greek interests in the Philippines. The Archbishop He was later promoted to the rank of Manila served as both representative 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 Spanish Inquisition 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 and40 expats[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]in Metro Manila, during the absence capital city of the governor-generalPhilippines. This cathedral was consecrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, the Spanish Crown2000.

After fighting a bloody revolution against SpainIn 1996, the Philippines then fought another war Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for its independence against the United Statesneeds of the faithful under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. However In 2004, the Philippines Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Masbate was annexed consecrated 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 His Eminence Metropolitan [[Anglican CommunionNikitas (Lulias) of Hong Kong|Episcopal ChurchNikitas]] through government donations of landHong Kong and South East Asia. At present, the nuns of the Theotokos Orthodox Monastery in Bajada run a kindergarten.

== Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==Orthodoxy arrived [[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in the Philippines during the American colonial regime due to the influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime. In 1935Paranaque, a Russian [[parishManila]] was established in Manila, and Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[PatriarchOrthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]] of Moscow , there are currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the Philippines, along with four nuns, and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail to use the north transept of their cathedral for worshipfrom Greece. In 1937these communities, the first Orthodox church was built Divine Liturgy and was named after the Iberian [[Icon]] of the Mother of God. This also became the first other Orthodox [[altar]] worship services are said in the Philippines. LaterEnglish, both the Episcopal Cathedral Greek and Russian Orthodox church were destroyed during the Second World War. [[Image:John Maximovitch TubabaoFilipino.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]

===St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso===In 1949, 5,500 Russian 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox from China, including then-Christian Mission in the Philippines[[Archbishop]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines] , was established under the [[John MaximovitchAntiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. In 2008, was relocated to Tubabao in two Filipino denominations were received into the south central Philippines Antiochian church, including 32 communities with some 6000 believers. These denominations - one ex-protestant, led by the International Refugee Organization Fr Jeptah Aniceto, and with the permission of the newly one ex-independent Republic of the Philippines. Abp. John Maximovitch then established a wooden church, orphanageled by Fr Pascualito Monsanto - formed two vicariates, based in Davao and other buildings in Tubabao for the refugeesManila respectively. In 2009 Jeptah Aniceto [https://en.wikipedia. Until org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines left the present time, older Filipinos still remember the holy manOrthodox Church] to pursue native religious teaching in Africa, and he is revered even by non-Orthodox in the south central Philippinesnow [https://www.facebook. Unfortunately, Arbpcom/BangsaLumad identifies as a Muslim]. Maximovitch did not receive any Filipino convert in Many of his followers left the Orthodox 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 ocean conditionsIveron Icon of the Theotokos, 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 destroy their camp to local Filipinos, they replied that there was nothing to worry about because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every nightOrthodox [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia].” There were no typhoons or floods while Abp[https://philippine-mission. John was thereorg/about/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 Abp. John to Philippines that use the U.S. 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.

==Orthodoxy in the Philippines TodaySee also==There are many groups today in * [[Exarchate of the Philippines|Exarchate of the Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox or [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches; however, they all lack [[apostolic successionEcumenical Patriarchate]] and do not adhere to the traditions and * [[canon law|canonsPhilemon (Castro)]] of either church.

*[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=Links7354&CFID=29993857&CFTOKEN=90155693 Ecumenical Patriarch Consecrates Annunciation Church in Manila]*[http://www.orthodox-communities.blogspotcn/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.comhk/faculty/2007dimitris/04metro/orthodox-communities-Phil_major_events.html Major Events of Orthodoxy in-philippinesthe Philippines] *[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_history.html A priest's description of Orthodox Communities missionary work in the Philippines]

*[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 Philippinesand their contributions to the Filipinos]*[http://wwwquod.cslib.ustumich.hkedu/facultycgi/dimitrist/metrotext/Phil_historytext-idx?c=philamer;idno=AFK2830.0001.044 The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 by Emma E.html Blair & James A priest's description . Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the University of missionary work in the Philippines]Michigan.*[httphttps://wwwphilippine-mission.exarchate.uni.ccorg/ The Annunciation Philippine Mission of the Theotokos Russian Orthodox CathedralChurch] {{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}