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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.

== 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 current Orthodox presence in 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 is minimalthen fought another war for its independence against the United States. However, early 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 20th first Orthodox Christians on the island. An eighteenth century document written by Murillo Velarde, a small Russian parishJesuit 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, exclusively for Russian nationalsVol. XLIV, once existed p. 27). In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the capital 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 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 Philippinesworld. "(Cited in Blair & Robertson's The presence 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 this Russian émigrés fleeing the Soviet regime occurred during the American colonial regime. In 1935, a Russian [[parish ceased ]] 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 exist after use the Second World Warnorth transept of their cathedral for worship. Another In 1937, the first Orthodox parish under church was built and was named after the Iveron [[jurisdictionIcon]] of the Mother of God. This also became the first Orthodox [[Ecumenical Patriarchatealtar]] was founded in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed by American bombing during the early 1990sSecond 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 south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the 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.

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 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 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. 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.  == The beginnings = 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 Christianity an Orthodox presence in the Philippines ==through their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation. [[Image:Magellan's_CrossManila_orthodox_cathedral.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan's cross planted The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Cebu in 1521Paranaque, Manila]]Christianity was One of the first introduced Greek Orthodox to the Philippines arrive in the 16th century by SpainPhilippine province of Albay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos (aka Alexander A. Adamson), when the Philippines became its colonywho came to Legaspi city in 1928. Until Together with his brother and cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932, which is now owned by the Philippine Revolution Vincentian Fathers of 1896, it was illegal for any non-[[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 the Spanish Inquisition and, during the absence of the governor-general, the Spanish CrownGreece.

After fighting a bloody revolution against SpainIn 1989, Adamopoulos saw the need to establish the first true Greek Orthodox church in the Philippines then fought another war for its independence against and thus established the United StatesHellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. HoweverAlthough he died in 1993 before the church was completed, the Philippines Orthodox Cathedral was annexed by finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the United States in 1898 interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox and remained a colony until 194640 expats[http://en. Religious tolerance was instituted during the American colonial regimewikipedia. The new American governor-generals then encouraged org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]in Metro Manila, the spread capital city of the [[Anglican Communion|Episcopal Church]] through government donations of landPhilippines. This cathedral was consecrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, 2000.

== Orthodoxy in the Philippines ==Orthodoxy arrived in the Philippines when Syrian and Lebanese merchants On April 20, 1990, a Filipino [[hieromonk]], Fr. Vincentius Escarcha (a former Benedictine Abbot and sailors arrived in Manila after Manila was opened to outside trade. The first recorded Orthodox Christian is a Lebanese family Roman Catholic priest for more than 20 years in 1802. Many Bajada, Cataingan, Masbate island), together with four nuns and faithful members of his community, were received into the Lebanese families still reside in Orthodox Church by Metropolitan [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]] of the Philippines [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and have become 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 citizensChristians in Manila.

An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]] was established in Manila1996, and the [[Patriarch]] Orthodox Metropolitanate of Moscow Hong Kong and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail to use Southeast Asia was created for the north transept needs of their cathedral for worship. In 1937, the first Orthodox church was built and was named after faithful under the Iberian [[IconChurch of Constantinople]] of the Mother of God. This also became In 2004, the first Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Masbate was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[altarNikitas (Lulias) of Hong Kong|Nikitas]] in the Philippinesof Hong Kong and South East Asia. LaterAt present, both the Episcopal Cathedral and nuns of the Russian Theotokos Orthodox church Monastery in Manila were destroyed during the Second World War. [[Image:John Maximovitch TubabaoBajada run a kindergarten.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. 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]], were 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 exclusively for the Russian 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 Orthodox 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 Philippine islandsTheotokos, originally established in 1935 but destroyed by bombing during World War II. No Filipino was baptizedIn February, chrismated2019, ordained and consecrated during his stay in 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.

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.

== Other Jurisdiction ==In December 2006, Fr*[http://www.facebook. Chris Gain, a deacon from com/pages/Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the [[Antiochian Philippines - Orthodox Archdiocese Metropolitanate of Australia Hong Kong and New ZealandSouth East Asia]], came to Manila, and, without informing the local hierarchy *[http://filorthodoxia.googlepages.com/church.htm History of the First Filipino Orthodox Church Community in the Philippines, registered a church bearing the name "Iglesia Orthodoxa ng Pilipinas" (] 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)] *[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_history. Their webpage describes their church as ''the'html A priest' s description of Orthodox Church missionary work in the Philippines]*[http://www. This church is seeking to receive Filipino clergymen through incardinationrocor.org. They do not provide information regarding the actual number au/lives/stjohnsanfranciscoshanghai Life of membersSt. This jurisdiction, represented by one Abbot Cristofor and based John Maximovitch]*[http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/03042007_KL1949.htm The Greek Community in New Castle, Australia, has no clergy, churches, nor parishes anywhere the Philippines]*[http://www.hri.org/forum/life/adamson.html Greeks in the Philippines and is not in communion with the parish under their contributions to the Filipinos]*[[Ecumenical Patriarchate]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 Constantinople, which has was established only in 1997Michigan.*[https://philippine-mission.org/ Philippine Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church]

There are some clandestine and cultic groups today in the Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox; however, they all lack [[apostolic successionCategory:Jurisdictions]] and do not adhere to the traditions and [[canon law|canons]] of the canonical Orthodox Church.