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Orthodoxy in the Philippines

7,050 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 in the Philippines is minimal. However, early in the 20th century a small Russian parish, exclusively for Russian nationals, once existed 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 beginnings Beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines ==
[[Image:Magellan's_Cross.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan'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). Orthodoxy arrived In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the Philippines when Syrian 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 him, behold their costumes, and Lebanese merchants hear their languages - something which cannot be done in any other city in the entire Spanish monarchy, and sailors arrived 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 was opened to outside tradewere destroyed by American bombing during the Second World War. The first recorded  In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox Christian is from China, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John (Maximovitch)]], were relocated to a Lebanese family former US Army base on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], in 1802. Many the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the Lebanese families still reside in newly independent Republic of the Philippines . Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and have become Filipino citizensother buildings were established on the grounds of the base, for the Russian refugees.
An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime. In 1935Tubabao, however, a Russian [[parish]] was established in Manila(and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to typhoons, and at times inaccessible due to the [[Patriarch]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicarocean conditions. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to use the north transept of their cathedral for worship. In 1937local Filipinos, the first Orthodox church they replied that there was built and was named after the Iberian [[Icon]] of the Mother of Godnothing to worry about because "your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night. This also became the first Orthodox [[altar]] in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal Cathedral and " There were no typhoons or floods while the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed during the Second World War. [[Image:John Maximovitch refugees sheltered at Tubabao.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]
===StAbp. John of Shanghai and San Franciso===In 1949, 5,500 Russian did not preach the Orthodox from China, including then-faith to the [[Archbishop]] [[John Maximovitch]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray]-speaking inhabitants of Tubabao. No Filipino was baptized, chrismated, were relocated to Tubabao ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippines. Abp. John Maximovitch then established himself was only present for a wooden churchfew months, orphanageuntil the camp was set up and running; during most of the two years the refugees were at Tubabao, and other buildings he was in Tubabao exclusively America, lobbying the Congress for their reception into the USA. Through his persistent lobbying, the Russian refugeeswere allowed to settle in the United States and Australia beginning in 1951.
Tubabao=== 1990s - Filipino Orthodox Christians===Around the beginning of the twentieth century, howeverGreek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now number no more than 10 families, was (who have kept their Greek surnames and many of whom have become distinguished public figures and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humidintellectuals in the Philippines, prone to typhoons, and at times inaccessible due to including serving as the ocean conditionsGreek consulate in Manila. When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to local FilipinosThough they do not speak the Filipino language fluently, 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 Abp. John was therelargely responsible for the re-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippines through their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation.
Arbp[[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral. John Maximovitch did not preach jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paranaque, Manila]]One of the first Greek Orthodox faith to arrive in the native inhabitants 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 Philippine islandsVincentian Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. No Filipino Adamopoulos was baptized, chrismated, ordained and consecrated during his stay appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to take charge of Greek interests in the Philippines. He was later promoted to the rank of Consul General of Greece.
Through In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the persistent lobbying of Abp. John need to establish the Ufirst true Greek Orthodox church in the Philippines and thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc.S. CongressAlthough he died in 1993 before the church was completed, the refugees were allowed to settle Orthodox Cathedral was finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the United States interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox and Australia beginning 40 expats[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]in 1951Metro 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.
In 1996, the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for the needs of the faithful under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. In 2004, the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Masbate was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Nikitas (Lulias) of Hong Kong|Nikitas]] of Hong Kong and South East Asia. At present, the nuns of the Theotokos Orthodox Monastery in Bajada run a kindergarten.
== Other Jurisdiction Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==In December 2006, Fr[[Image:Filipinorthodox. Chris Gainjpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, a deacon from Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Metropolitanate of Australia Hong Kong and New ZealandSoutheast Asia]], came to Manila, and, without informing the local hierarchy of the there are currently three Filipino Orthodox Church priests in the Philippines, registered a church bearing the name "Iglesia Orthodoxa ng Pilipinas" (Orthodox Church of the Philippines)along with four nuns, and are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. Their webpage describes their church as ''In these communities, the'' Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox Church worship services are said in the Philippines. This church is seeking to receive Filipino clergymen through incardination. They do not provide information regarding the actual number of members. This jurisdictionEnglish, represented by one Abbot Cristofor Greek and based in New Castle, Australia, has no clergy, churches, nor parishes anywhere in the Philippines and is not in communion with the parish under the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of ConstantinopleFilipino.
==Orthodoxy In 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the Philippines Today==[[Imagehttp:Manila_orthodox_cathedral//en.wikipedia.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], was established under the [[Antiochian Orthodox Cathderal in Paranaque, ManilaArchdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]]There are . In 2008, two Filipino denominations were received into the Antiochian church, including 32 communities with some clandestine 6000 believers. These denominations - one ex-protestant, led by Fr Jeptah Aniceto, and cultic groups today one ex-independent, led by Fr Pascualito Monsanto - formed two vicariates, based in Davao and Manila respectively. In 2009 Jeptah Aniceto [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines left the Philippines that claim Orthodox Church] to be Eastern Orthodox; howeverpursue native religious teaching in Africa, they all lack and now [[apostolic successionhttps://www.facebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a Muslim]] and do not adhere to . Many of his followers left the traditions and Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[canon law|canonsOld Calendarist]] of the canonical Orthodox Churchgroup under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).
==Links==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 ("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 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] was established within the Russian Orthodox [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 Russian mission which now numbers approximately thirty parishes and mission communities.
There are also some [[Independent Orthodox churches|independent groups]] in the Philippines that use the term ''Orthodox'' in their names but are not in communion 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.exarchatefacebook.com/pages/Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia]*[http://filorthodoxia.unigooglepages.cccom/ The Annunciation church.htm History of the Theotokos Cathedral 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-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 Philippines and their contributions to the Filipinos]
*[http://wwwquod.cslib.ustumich.hkedu/facultycgi/dimitrist/metrotext/Phil_historytext-idx?c=philamer;idno=AFK2830.html A priest's description of missionary work in the Philippines]*[http://www20001.mfa044 The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 by Emma E.gr/wwwBlair & James A.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/03042007_KL1949Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the University of Michigan.htm The Greek Community in the Philippines]*[httphttps://wwwphilippine-mission.cs.ust.hkorg/faculty/dimitris/metro/AUG03.pdf The Theotokos Philippine Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church & Monastery in Masbate]
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
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