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).
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 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 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= The Arrival Of Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Christians 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 were destroyed by American bombing during the Second World War.
'''Antiochian In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox Christians'''It appears that the first Orthodox Christians on the islands from China, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John (Maximovitch)]], were Syrian and Lebanese merchants and sailors, who arrived in Manila after Manila was opened relocated to outside tradea former US Army base on [https://en. The first recorded Orthodox Christians wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], in the south central Philippines were Syrian by the International Refugee Organization and Lebanese sailors in 1802 according to with the Syrian Consulate in Manila. Many permission of the Lebanese sailors married and their families still reside in newly independent Republic of the Philippines . Under Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, orphanage, and have become Filipino citizens, including other buildings were established on the owners grounds of a famous pizza parlor in Manila. The oldest Orthodox Christian in the Philippinesbase, a Lebanese by for the last name of Assad, was born around 1904 and is still aliveRussian 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.
'''Russian Abp. John did not preach the Orthodox Christians'''An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing faith to the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime[https://en.wikipedia. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]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]], were 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 exclusively for the Russian 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 need to establish the first true Greek Orthodox faith to church in the native inhabitants of Philippines and thus established the Philippine islandsHellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. No Filipino Although he died in 1993 before the church was baptizedcompleted, chrismatedthe Orthodox Cathedral was finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece, ordained and consecrated during his stay is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox 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.
== Greek 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 Christians 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 Rebirth nuns of Orthodoxy ==the Theotokos Orthodox Monastery in Bajada run a kindergarten.
==Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==[[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate'''The Arrival s [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]], there are currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the Philippines, along with four nuns, and are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. In these communities, the Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox worship services are said in English, Greek Orthodox Christians'''and Filipino.
Around In 2007 the beginning of Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the twentieth centuryPhilippines[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on was established under the island [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Luzon about a century agoAustralia and New Zealand]]. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now number no more than 10 familiesIn 2008, who have kept their Greek surnames and many of whom have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in two Filipino denominations were received into the PhilippinesAntiochian church, including serving as the Greek consulate in Manila32 communities with some 6000 believers. They do not These denominations - one ex-protestant, howeverled by Fr Jeptah Aniceto, speak Greek. They also helped to reand one ex-independent, led by Fr Pascualito Monsanto -establish an Orthodox presence 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 by helping Orthodox Church] to bring the first Filipino converts to Orthodoxy and by building an Orthodox temple pursue native religious teaching in Africa, and now [https://www.facebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a few chapels in the 1990s for the use of converted Filipino Orthodox ChristiansMuslim]. They were also influential in the establishment Many of his followers left the Metropolitan of Hong Kong and Southeast AsiaAntiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]] group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).
'''Ordination 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 First Filipino Philippines] was established within the Russian Orthodox Christians'''[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.
In 1992, a Filipino There are also some [[hieromonkIndependent Orthodox churches|independent groups]], 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 that use the term ''Orthodox Church '' in their names but are not in communion with or are recognized by Metropolitan [[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]] of the [[Greek any canonical Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]]church.
On January 19==See also==* [[Exarchate of the Philippines|Exarchate of the Philippines, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysius, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, received by Ecumenical Patriarchate]]* [[Chrismation|Holy ChrismationPhilemon (Castro)]] several Filipino Christians in Manila.
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.==External links==
==Orthodoxy in the Philippines Today==*[[Imagehttp:Manila_orthodox_cathedral//www.jpg|left|thumb|The Annunciation facebook.com/pages/Orthodox Cathderal in Paranaque, Manila]]There are some groups today -Church-in -the -Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox; however, they all lack [[apostolic succession]] and do not adhere to the traditions and [[canon law|canons]] of the canonical Orthodox Church. At present there are three canonically ordained Filipino Orthodox priests /187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. 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 the Ecumenical Patriarchate Metropolitanate of Constantinople Hong Kong and is spiritually administered by an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. ==Links==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=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.exarchatecs.uniust.cchk/ The Annunciation faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_history.html A priest's description of Orthodox missionary work in the Theotokos Cathedral in Manila 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_KL1949.htm The Greek Community in Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the Philippines]*[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/AUG03University of Michigan.pdf The Theotokos Orthodox Church & Monastery in Masbate]*[httphttps://wwwphilippine-mission.orthodox.cnorg/news/20000420philippines_en.htm Orthodox Patriarch Visits Fledgling Local Philippine Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church]
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]
