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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.

== The beginnings of Christianity in After fighting a bloody revolution against Spain, the Philippines ==[[Image:Magellan's_Crossthen fought another war for its independence against the United States.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan's cross planted in Cebu in 1521]]Christianity was first introduced to However, the Philippines in the 16th century was annexed by Spain when the Philippines became United States in 1898 and remained a colonyuntil 1946. Religious tolerance was then instituted. Until The new American governor-generals then encouraged the Philippine Revolution spread of 1896, it was illegal for any non-the [[Roman CatholicAnglican Communion|Episcopal Church]] church to establish itself in the Philippines. The Archbishop of Manila served as both representative through government donations of the Spanish Inquisition and, during the absence of the governor-general, the Spanish Crownland.

After fighting a bloody revolution against SpainIn his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Philippines then fought another war for its independence against Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the United Statesworld in which so many nationalities come together as here.... HoweverThere are a considerable number of Armenians, and some Persians; and Tartars, Macedonians, Turks, and Greeks....so that he who spends an afternoon on the Philippines was annexed ''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 United States entire Spanish monarchy, and hardly in any other region in all the world."(Cited in Blair & Robertson's The Philippine Islands 1493-1898 and remained , 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 colony until 1946. Religious tolerance Russian [[parish]] was then institutedestablished in Manila, and the [[Patriarch]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The new American governor-generals Episcopal Church then encouraged 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 spread Mother of God. This also became the first Orthodox [[Anglican Communion|altar]] in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal ChurchCathedral 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] through government donations , in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of landthe newly independent Republic of the Philippines. Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and other buildings were established on the grounds of the base, for the Russian refugees.

== Orthodoxy in Tubabao, however, was (and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to typhoons, and at times inaccessible due to the Philippines ==Orthodoxy arrived in the Philippines when Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city ocean conditions. When a Russian commented on the island of Luzon their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to local Filipinos, they replied that there was nothing to worry about a century agobecause "your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now numbers " There were no more than 10 families who kept their Greek surnames and have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in typhoons or floods while the Philippines. They do not however speak GreekRussian refugees sheltered at Tubabao.

An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing Abp. John did not preach the Soviet regime occured during Orthodox faith to the American colonial regime[https://en. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray] -speaking inhabitants of Tubabao. No Filipino was established baptized, chrismated, ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in Manila, and the [[Patriarch]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicarPhilippines. The Episcopal Church then permitted FrAbp. Mikhail to use the north transept of their cathedral John himself was only present for worship. In 1937a few months, until the first Orthodox church camp was built set up and was named after the Iberian [[Icon]] running; during most of the Mother of God. This also became two years the first Orthodox [[altar]] refugees were at Tubabao, he was in America, lobbying the PhilippinesCongress for their reception into the USA. LaterThrough his persistent lobbying, both the Episcopal Cathedral refugees were allowed to settle in the United States and the Russian Orthodox church Australia beginning in Manila were destroyed during the Second World War1951. [[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]

===St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso1990s - Filipino Orthodox Christians===In 1949Around the beginning of the twentieth century, 5,500 Russian Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox from ChinaChristian sailors now number no more than 10 families, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John Maximovitch]], was relocated to Tubabao who have kept their Greek surnames and many of whom have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in the south central Philippines by , including serving as the International Refugee Organization and with Greek consulate in Manila. Though they do not speak the permission of Filipino language fluently, they were largely responsible for the newly independent Republic re-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippines. Abp. John Maximovitch then established a wooden church, orphanage, through their encouragement of Filipino converts and other buildings in Tubabao for the refugeesHellenic Orthodox Foundation.

Tubabao, however[[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 (and still isaka Alexander A. Adamson) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone who came to typhoonsLegaspi city in 1928. Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932, and at times inaccessible due to which is now owned by the Vincentian Fathers of the ocean conditionsRoman Catholic Church. When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to local Filipinos, they replied that there Adamopoulos was nothing appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to worry about because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night.” There were no typhoons or floods while Abptake charge of Greek interests in the Philippines. John He was therelater promoted to the rank of Consul General of Greece.

Arbp. John Maximovitch did not preach In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the Orthodoxy faith need to establish the native inhabitants of first true Greek Orthodox church in the Philippinesand thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. No Filipino Although he died in 1993 before the church was completed, the Orthodox Cathedral was converted into finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to the approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox Christian faith during his stay 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.

Through 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 persistent lobbying Orthodox Church by Metropolitan [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]] of Abp. John to the U[[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]].S. Congress On January 19, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysios, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, the refugees were allowed to settle in the United States and Australia beginning received by [[Chrismation|Holy Chrismation]] several Filipino Christians in 1951 Manila.

== Other Jurisdiction ==In December 20061996, a deacon from the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Metropolitanate of Australia secretly visited Manila Hong Kong and without informing Southeast Asia was created for the local Orthodox Church hierarchy in needs of the Philippines clandestinely registered an underground church at faithful under the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) bearing [[Church of Constantinople]]. In 2004, the name "Iglesia Orthodoxa ng Pilipinas" (Theotokos Orthodox Church in the PhilippinesBajada, Masbate was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Nikitas (Lulias)of Hong Kong|Nikitas]] of Hong Kong and South East Asia. This churchAt present, represented by Abbot Cristofor, has no churches or parishes and is not in communion with the canonical nuns of the Theotokos Orthodox Church Monastery in the PhilippinesBajada run a kindergarten.

==Orthodoxy in the Philippines Todaytoday==[[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedralFilipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Filipino Orthodox Cathderal faithful in Paranaque, Manila]]There Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]], there are some clandestine and cultic groups today currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox , along with valid orders four nuns, and sacraments; howeverare administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. In these communities, they all lack [[apostolic succession]] and do not adhere to the traditions Divine Liturgy and [[canon law|canons]] of the canonical other Orthodox Churchworship services are said in English, Greek and Filipino.

One of In 2007 the first Greek Antiochian Orthodox to arrive Christian Mission in the Philippines was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos who came to Legaspi city in 1928[http://en. Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932wikipedia. The university org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], was and is noted for its curriculum directed towards established under the needs of the Philippines in the areas [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of science, chemical Australia and industrial engineeringNew Zealand]]. Today Adamson University has attained recognition as on of In 2008, two Filipino denominations were received into the leading institutions for Graduate EducationAntiochian church, Lawincluding 32 communities with some 6000 believers. These denominations - one ex-protestant, Artsled by Fr Jeptah Aniceto, Sciencesand one ex-independent, Chemistryled by Fr Pascualito Monsanto - formed two vicariates, Computer Education, Engineeringbased in Davao 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, Commerce and Architechturenow [https://www. The university has facebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a student population Muslim]. Many of over 22,000his followers left the Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]] group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).

During World War II Alexandros Adamopoulos In 2013, clergy from both ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate responded to requests from Filipino groups for catechism. Two dioceses of the [http://www.ifi.ph/ Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Alexander A"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]. Adamson) In 2017 a hieromonk was appointed sent from Russia to reestablish the parish of the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos, originally established in 1942 1935 but destroyed by the Greek government to take charge bombing during World War II. In February, 2019, a [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5379588.html Diocese of Greek interests in the Philippines. He ] was later promoted to established within the rank Russian Orthodox [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html Patriarchal Exarchate of Consul General Southeast Asia]. [https://philippine-mission.org/about/clergy-of Greece-the-philippine-diocese/ Eight priests] now serve the Russian mission which now numbers approximately thirty parishes and mission communities.

In 1989 Alexander Adamson saw the need to establish the first true Greek There are also some [[Independent Orthodox church churches|independent groups]] in the Philippines and thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc.. Although he died in 1993 before the church was completed, that use the term ''Orthodox Cathedral was finished '' in 1996 and is constructed their names but are not in the true byzantium style communion with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece and is home to approximately 200 orthodox in the Philippines. This Cathedral was consecrated or are recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch on March 5, 2000any canonical Orthodox church.

At present there are three canonically ordained Filipino Orthodox priests in ==See also==* [[Exarchate of the Philippines. The Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox worship Services are said in English and in the Filipino vernacular. The only true Orthodox parish in Manila is under |Exarchate of the Philippines, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople which is spiritually administered by an Ecclesiastical Vicar from Greece.]]* [[Philemon (Castro)]]

==LinksExternal links==

*[http://www.exarchatefacebook.unicom/pages/Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia]*[http://filorthodoxia.googlepages.cccom/ The Annunciation 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 CathedralChurch & Monastery in Masbate](Information in an issue of The Censer)*[http://orthodox-communitieswww.cs.blogspotust.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://wwwquod.cslib.ustumich.hkedu/facultycgi/dimitrist/metrotext/Phil_historytext-idx?c=philamer;idno=AFK2830.0001.html 044 The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 by Emma E. Blair & James A priest's description . Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the University of missionary work in the Philippines]Michigan.*[httphttps://www2.mfaphilippine-mission.grorg/www.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/03042007_KL1949.htm The Greek Community in Philippine Mission of the PhilippinesRussian Orthodox Church] {{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}