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 ==

== The Arrival Of Orthodoxy ==  ''In his book 'Antiochian Orthodox Christians'Historia de Philipinas''It appears that the first Orthodox Christians on the islands were Syrian and Lebanese merchants and sailors, who arrived (published in Manila after Manila was opened to outside trade. The first recorded Orthodox Christians in , 1749), the Philippines were Syrian and Lebanese sailors Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in 1802 according to the Syrian Consulate world in Manilawhich so many nationalities come together as here.... Many 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 Lebanese sailors married ''tuley'' or bridge of Manila will see all these nationalities pass by him, behold their costumes, and hear their families still reside languages - something which cannot be done in any other city in the Philippines entire Spanish monarchy, and have become Filipino citizens, including hardly in any other region in all the owners of a famous pizza parlor world."(Cited in Manila. Blair & Robertson's The oldest Orthodox Christian in the PhilippinesPhilippine Islands 1493-1898, Cleveland, Ohio: 1906, a Lebanese by the last name of AssadVol. XLIV, was born around 1904 and is still alivep. 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;]

'''In 1949, 5,500 Russian Orthodox Christians'''An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime. In 1935from China, a Russian 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 grounds of the Episcopal Cathedral and base, for the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed during the Second World Warrefugees. [[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.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 the persistent lobbying of Abp. John to the U.S. Congress, the refugees were allowed to settle in the United States and Australia beginning in 1951[[Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral. == Greek Orthodox Christians and the Rebirth of Orthodoxy == '''jpg‎|left|thumb|The Arrival of Greek Annunciation Orthodox Christians''' Around the beginning of the twentieth century, Greek sailors settled Cathedral in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon about a century ago. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now number no more than 10 familiesParanaque, 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 Greek, they were largely responsible for the re-establishment of an Orthodox presence in the Philippines through their encouragement of Filipino converts and the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation. '''The Hellenic Orthodox Foundation''' ]]One of the first Greek Orthodox to arrive in the Philippines 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. The university was and , which is noted for its curriculum directed towards the needs of the Philippines in now owned by the areas of science, chemical and industrial engineering. Today Adamson University has attained recognition as on Vincentian Fathers 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 22,000Roman Catholic Church.

Alexandros Adamopoulos (Alexander A. Adamson) 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 , 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, 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 200 520 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 the His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, 2000.

'''Reception 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 first [[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 converts to Orthodoxy'''Christians in Manila.

On April 20In 1996, 1990, a Filipino the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for the needs of the faithful under the [[hieromonkChurch of Constantinople]]. In 2004, Fr. Vincentius Escarcha (a former Benedictine Abbot and a Roman Catholic priest for more than 20 years the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Cataingan, Masbate island), together with four nuns and faithful members of his community, were received into the Orthodox Church was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan [[Dionysios Nikitas (PsiahasLulias) of ProussaHong Kong|DionysiosNikitas]] of Hong Kong and South East Asia. At present, the nuns of the [[Greek Theotokos Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] and assisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]]Monastery in Bajada run a kindergarten.

On January 19==Orthodoxy in the Philippines today==[[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysius, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, received by Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Chrismation|Holy ChrismationOrthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]] several , there are currently three Filipino Christians Orthodox priests in Manilathe 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 2004, 2007 the Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church Christian Mission in Bajadathe Philippines[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], Masbate was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan established under the [[Nikitas (Lulias) Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Hong Kong|NikitasAustralia and New Zealand]] of Hong Kong and South East Asia. At presentIn 2008, two Filipino denominations were received into the nuns of 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 Theotokos Orthodox Monastery Church] to pursue native religious teaching in Bajada run Africa, and now [https://www.facebook.com/BangsaLumad identifies as a kindergartenMuslim]. Many of his followers left the Antiochian Church; some connected with an [[Old Calendarist]] group under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).

==Orthodoxy in In 2013, clergy from both ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate responded to requests from Filipino groups for catechism. Two dioceses of the Philippines Today==[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[Imagehttp:Manila_orthodox_cathedral//orthochristian.com/82584.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathderal in Paranaque, Manilahtml][http://orthochristian.com/81728.html]There are some groups today in . In 2017 a hieromonk was sent from Russia to reestablish the parish of the Philippines that use Iveron Icon of the term "Orthodox"; howeverTheotokos, they are not originally established in communion with or are recognized 1935 but destroyed by any canonical Eastern or Oriental 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 Church[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 '''Ecumenical Patriarchate'Orthodox''in their names but are not in communion with or are recognized by any canonical Orthodox church.

Currently, there are three canonically ordained Filipino Orthodox priests in ==See also==* [[Exarchate of the Philippines under the spiritual jurisdiction |Exarchate of the Philippines, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. ]]* [[Philemon (Castro)]]

==Links== *[http://www.rocorfacebook.org.aucom/livespages/stjohnsanfranciscoshanghai Life Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines - Orthodox Metropolitanate of St. John MaximovitchHong Kong and 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.exarchate.uni.cc/ The Annunciation of the Theotokos Orthodox Cathedral in Manila]*[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]