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Orthodoxy in the Philippines

7,520 bytes added, 02:17, October 3, 2019
Updated info on the Russian Orthodox Diocese of the Philippines with external links.
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. == The beginnings Arrival of Christianity 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). Christianity was first introduced to In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Philippines Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the 16th century 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 Manila will see all these nationalities pass by Spain when 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 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 Philippines became American colonial regime. In 1935, a colonyRussian [[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. Until Mikhail to use the Philippine Revolution north transept of 1896their cathedral for worship. In 1937, it the first Orthodox church was built and was illegal for any nonnamed 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. In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox from China, including then-[[Roman CatholicArchbishop]] church [[John (Maximovitch)]], were relocated to establish itself a former US Army base on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippines. The Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and other buildings were established on the grounds of Manila served as both representative of the Spanish Inquisition base, for the Russian refugees.  Tubabao, however, was (andstill is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to typhoons, during and at times inaccessible due to the absence of the governor-generalocean conditions. When a 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 night." There were no typhoons or floods while the Spanish CrownRussian 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. John himself was only present for a few months, until the camp was set up and running; during most of the two years the refugees were at Tubabao, he was in America, lobbying the Congress for their reception into the USA. Through his persistent lobbying, the refugees were allowed to settle in the United States and Australia beginning in 1951.
After fighting a bloody revolution against Spain=== 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 then fought another war , including serving as the Greek consulate in Manila. Though they do not speak the Filipino language fluently, they were largely responsible for its independence against the United Statesre-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippines through their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation. [[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral. Howeverjpg‎|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. Adamopoulos was appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to take charge of Greek interests in the Philippines . He was annexed by later promoted to the rank of Consul General of Greece.  In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the need to establish the United States first true Greek Orthodox church in 1898 the Philippines and remained a colony until 1946thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. Religious tolerance Although he died in 1993 before the church was then instituted. The new American governor-generals then encouraged completed, the spread of 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[[Anglican Communion|Episcopal Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]] through government donations in Metro Manila, the capital city of landthe Philippines. This cathedral was consecrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, 2000.
== Orthodoxy 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 Philippines ==Orthodoxy arrived in Orthodox Church by Metropolitan [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]] of the Philippines when [[Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Luzon about a century agoZelon]]. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now numbers no more than 10 families who kept their Greek surnames and have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals On January 19, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysios, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, received by [[Chrismation|Holy Chrismation]] several Filipino Christians in the Philippines. They do not however speak Greek Manila.
An influx In 1996, the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Russian emigrees fleeing Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for the Soviet regime occured during needs of the American colonial regime. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]] was established in Manila, and faithful under the [[PatriarchChurch of Constantinople]] 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 19372004, the first Theotokos Orthodox church was built and Church in Bajada, Masbate was named after the Iberian consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[IconNikitas (Lulias) of Hong Kong|Nikitas]] of Hong Kong and South East Asia. At present, the Mother nuns of God. This also became the first Theotokos Orthodox [[altar]] Monastery in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal Cathedral and Russian Orthodox church were destroyed during the Second World War. [[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.jpg|left|thumb|AbpBajada run a kindergarten. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]
===St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso=Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==In 1949, 5,500 Russian [[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox from Chinafaithful in Paranaque, including then-[[ArchbishopManila]] Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[John MaximovitchOrthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]], was relocated to Tubabao there are currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization , along with four nuns, and with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippinesare administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. Abp. John Maximovitch then established a wooden church, orphanageIn these communities, the Divine Liturgy and other buildings Orthodox worship services are said in Tubabao for the refugeesEnglish, Greek and Filipino.
TubabaoIn 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the Philippines[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], howeverwas established under the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]. In 2008, two Filipino denominations were received into the Antiochian church, including 32 communities with some 6000 believers. These denominations - one ex-protestant, led by Fr Jeptah Aniceto, was (and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humidone ex-independent, prone to typhoonsled by Fr Pascualito Monsanto - formed two vicariates, based in Davao and at times inaccessible due to Manila respectively. In 2009 Jeptah Aniceto [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines left the ocean conditions. When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp Orthodox Church] to local Filipinospursue native religious teaching in Africa, they replied that there was nothing to worry about because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every nightand now [https://www.facebook.” There were no typhoons or floods while Abpcom/BangsaLumad identifies as a Muslim]. John was thereMany of his followers left the Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]] group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).
ArbpIn 2013, clergy from both ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate responded to requests from Filipino groups for catechism. John Maximovitch did not preach Two dioceses of the Orthodoxy faith [http://www.ifi.ph/ Iglesia Filipina Independiente ("Aglipayans"] entered into a period of catechism, and 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 native inhabitants Iveron Icon of the Theotokos, originally established in 1935 but destroyed by bombing during World War II. In February, 2019, a [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5379588.html Diocese of the Philippines. No Filipino ] was converted into to established within the Russian Orthodox Christian faith during their stay in [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia]. [https://philippine-mission.org/about/clergy-of-the-philippine-diocese/ Eight priests] now serve the PhilippinesRussian 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.
One of the first Greek Orthodox to arrive in the Philippines was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos who came to Legaspi city in 1928. Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932. In 1989 Alexander Adamson 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 the true byzantium style with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece and is home to approximately 200 orthodox in the Philippines. This Cathedral was consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch on March 5, 2000. The only true Orthodox parish in Manila is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople which is spiritually administered by a [[priest]] from Greece.==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=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://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 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}}
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