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 in the Philippines ==There are ===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 number of accounts about Jesuit historian describing their Order’s missionary labors in the Philippines, records the history presence of Orthodoxy Armenian and Greek settlers in the PhilippinesPhilippine 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).
It appears In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the first Orthodox Christians on the islands were Syrian world in which so many nationalities come together as here....There are a considerable number of Armenians, and Lebanese merchants some Persians; and sailorsTartars, Macedonians, Turks, and Greeks....so that he who arrived 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 Manila after Manila was opened to outside trade. The first recorded Orthodox Christians any other city in the Philippines were a Lebanese familyentire Spanish monarchy, referenced and hardly in any other region in all the world."(Cited in Blair & Robertson''who arrived?''s The Philippine Islands 1493-1898, Cleveland, Ohio: 1906, Vol. XLIV, p. 29) in 1802 ''(citation. [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. Many of the Lebanese families still reside in the Philippines and have become Filipino citizens0001.044;view=image;seq=33;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset;]
Around ===1930s - Russian Orthodox Christians===[[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.jpg|right|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]An influx of Russian émigrés fleeing the beginning of Soviet regime occurred during the twentieth centuryAmerican colonial regime. In 1935, Greek sailors settled a Russian [[parish]] was established in Legaspi city on Manila, and the island [[Patriarch]] of Luzon about a century agoMoscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Descendants Mikhail to use the north transept of these Greek their cathedral for worship. In 1937, the first Orthodox Christian sailors now number no more than 10 families, who have kept their Greek surnames church was built and many was named after the Iveron [[Icon]] of whom have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals the Mother of God. This also became the first Orthodox [[altar]] in the Philippines. They do notLater, however, speak Greekboth the Episcopal Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed by American bombing during the Second World War.
An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime. In 19351949, a 5,500 Russian Orthodox from China, including then-[[parishArchbishop]] was established in Manila, and the [[PatriarchJohn (Maximovitch)]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar, were relocated to a former US Army base on [https://en. The Episcopal Church then permitted Frwikipedia. Mikhail to use org/wiki/Tubabao Tubabao], in the north transept of their cathedral for worship. In 1937, south central Philippines by the first Orthodox church was built International Refugee Organization and was named after with the Iberian [[Icon]] permission of the Mother newly independent Republic of God. This also became the first Orthodox [[altar]] in the Philippines. LaterUnder Archbishop John's direction a wooden church, both orphanage, and other buildings were established on the Episcopal Cathedral and grounds of the base, for the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed during the Second World War. [[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabaorefugees.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]
===St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso===In 1949Tubabao, 5however,500 Russian Orthodox from Chinawas (and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humid, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John Maximovitch]]prone to typhoons, were relocated and at times inaccessible due to Tubabao in the south central Philippines by the International Refugee Organization and with the permission of the newly independent Republic of the Philippinesocean conditions. Abp. John Maximovitch then established When a Russian commented on their fear that a wooden churchtyphoon would destroy their camp to local Filipinos, orphanage, and other buildings in Tubabao exclusively for 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 refugeessheltered at Tubabao.
Abp. John did not preach the Orthodox faith to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray]-speaking inhabitants of Tubabao, however, . No Filipino was (and still is) an underdeveloped island which is humidbaptized, prone to typhoonschrismated, and at times inaccessible due to ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in the ocean conditionsPhilippines. When Abp. John himself was only present for a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their few months, until the camp to local Filipinoswas set up and running; during most of the two years the refugees were at Tubabao, they replied that there he was nothing to worry about because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every nightin America, lobbying the Congress for their reception into the USA.” There Through his persistent lobbying, the refugees were no typhoons or floods while Abp. John was thereallowed to settle in the United States and Australia beginning in 1951.
Arbp=== 1990s - Filipino Orthodox Christians===Around the beginning of the twentieth century, Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon. John Maximovitch did not preach the Descendants of these Greek Orthodox faith to 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 native inhabitants of Philippines, including serving as the Philippine islandsGreek consulate in Manila. No Though they do not speak the Filipino was baptizedlanguage fluently, chrismated, ordained and consecrated during his stay they were largely responsible for the re-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippinesthrough their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation.
Through [[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral.jpg|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paranaque, Manila]]One of the persistent lobbying of Abp. John first Greek Orthodox to arrive in the U.SPhilippine province of Albay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos (aka Alexander A. CongressAdamson), the refugees were allowed who came to settle Legaspi city in the United States 1928. Together with his brother and Australia beginning cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 19511932, which is now owned by the Vincentian Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church. == Reception Adamopoulos was appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to take charge of Greek interests in the first Filipino converts Philippines. He was later promoted to Orthodoxy ==the rank of Consul General of Greece.
In 19921989, a Filipino [[hieromonk]]Adamopoulos 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, Fr. Vincentius Escarcha (a former Benedictine Abbot the Orthodox Cathedral was finished in 1996 and a Roman Catholic priest for more than 20 years is constructed in Bajadatrue Byzantine style, Cataingan, Masbate island)with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece, together with four nuns and faithful members of his community, were received into the is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox Church by Metropolitan and 40 expats[[Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa|Dionysios]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines] in Metro Manila, the capital city of the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted Philippines. This cathedral was consecrated by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]]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 DionysiusDionysios, 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.
==Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==
[[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate'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 and Filipino.
In 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the Philippines[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], was 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, and 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 Orthodox Church] to pursue native religious teaching in Africa, and now [https://www.facebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a Muslim]. Many of his followers left the Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]] group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).
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.
==Orthodoxy in the Philippines Today==There are also some [[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral.jpgIndependent Orthodox churches|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathderal in Paranaque, Manilaindependent groups]]There are some groups today in the Philippines that claim to be Eastern use the term ''Orthodox; however, they all lack [[apostolic succession]] and do '' in their names but are not adhere to the traditions and [[canon law|canons]] of the in communion with or are recognized by any canonical Orthodox Churchchurch.
One ==See also==* [[Exarchate 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. The university was and is noted for its curriculum directed towards the needs |Exarchate of the Philippines in the areas of science, chemical and industrial engineering. Today Adamson University has attained recognition as on of the leading institutions for graduate education, law, arts, sciences, chemistry, computer education, engineering, commerce and architechture. The university has a student population of over 22,000. Ecumenical Patriarchate]] Alexandros Adamopoulos * [[Philemon (Alexander A. AdamsonCastro) was 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. ]]
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 true Byzantine style, with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to approximately 200 Orthodox in Metro Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. This cathedral was consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch on March 5, 2000. ==External links==
At present there are three canonically ordained Filipino *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orthodox priests -Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines. The Divine Liturgy and other - Orthodox worship services are said in English Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and in South East Asia]*[http://filorthodoxia.googlepages.com/church.htm History of the First Filipino vernacular. The only true Orthodox parish Community in Manila is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and is spiritually administered Philippines] by an ecclesiastical vicar from GreeceRev. 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.cn/news/20000420philippines_en.htm Orthodox Patriarch Visits Fledgling Local Orthodox Church]*[http://www.exarchatecs.uniust.cchk/faculty/dimitris/metro/ AUG03.pdf The Theotokos Orthodox Church & Monastery in Masbate] (Information in an issue of The Annunciation Censer)*[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_major_events.html Major Events of Orthodoxy in the Theotokos Cathedral Philippines] *[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/Phil_history.html A priest's description of Orthodox missionary work in Manila 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_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.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metroorg/Phil_major_events.html Major Events Philippine Mission of Orthodoxy in the Philippines]*[http://www.orthodox.cn/news/20000420philippines_en.htm Orthodox Patriarch Visits Fledgling Local Russian Orthodox Church]
{{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}
[[Category:Jurisdictions]]