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 == Beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines is minimal, though a small Russian parish, exclusively for Russian nationals, once existed ==[[Image:Magellan's_Cross.jpg‎|left|thumb|Replica of Magellan's cross planted in Cebu in Manila, the capital city of 1521]]Christianity was first introduced to the Philippines, earlier in the twentieth 16th century. The presence of this Russian parish ceased to exist after by Spain, when the World War IIPhilippines became its colony. Another Orthodox parish under Until the [[jurisdiction]] Philippine Revolution of the 1896, it was illegal for any non-[[Ecumenical PatriarchateRoman Catholic]] was founded church to establish itself in the Philippines. The Archbishop of Manila served as both representative of the Spanish Inquisition and, during the early 1990sabsence 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. == The beginnings Arrival of Christianity 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).Christianity was first introduced to In his book ''Historia de Philipinas'' (published in Manila, 1749), the Philippines Jesuit historian Velarde wrotes: "I believe that there is no city in the 16th century by Spain when the Philippines became world in which so many nationalities come together as here....There are a colonyconsiderable number of Armenians, and some Persians; and Tartars, Macedonians, Turks, and Greeks.... Until so that he who spends an afternoon on the Philippine Revolution ''tuley'' or bridge of 1896Manila will see all these nationalities pass by him, it was illegal for 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 nonother 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 [[Roman Catholicparish]] church to establish itself was established in Manila, and the Philippines[[Patriarch]] of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Archbishop of Manila served as both representative Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail to use the north transept of their cathedral for worship. In 1937, the Spanish Inquisition first Orthodox church was built and, during was named after the Iveron [[Icon]] of the absence Mother of God. This also became the governor-generalfirst Orthodox [[altar]] in the Philippines. Later, both the Episcopal Cathedral and the Russian Orthodox church in Manila were destroyed by American bombing during the Spanish CrownSecond World War.

After fighting 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 bloody revolution against Spaintyphoon 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 Philippines then fought another war for its independence against Orthodox faith to the United States[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waray_language Waray]-speaking inhabitants of Tubabao. HoweverNo Filipino was baptized, chrismated, ordained or consecrated during the refugees' stay in the Philippines . Abp. John himself was annexed by only present for a few months, until the United States in 1898 camp was set up and remained a colony until 1946. Religious tolerance running; during most of the two years the refugees were at Tubabao, he was then institutedin America, lobbying the Congress for their reception into the USA. The new American governor-generals then encouraged Through his persistent lobbying, the spread of refugees were allowed to settle in the [[Anglican Communion|Episcopal Church]] through government donations of landUnited States and Australia beginning in 1951.

== Orthodoxy in the Philippines = 1990s - Filipino Orthodox Christians===Orthodoxy arrived in Around the beginning of the Philippines when twentieth century, Greek sailors settled in Legaspi city on the island of Luzon about a century ago. Descendants of these Greek Orthodox Christian sailors now numbers 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. They Though they do not however speak Greekthe Filipino language fluently, 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.

An influx of Russian emigrees fleeing the Soviet regime occured during the American colonial regime. In 1935, a Russian [[parish]] was established Image:Manila_orthodox_cathedral.jpg‎|left|thumb|The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Paranaque, Manila, and the [[Patriarch]] One of Moscow and All Russia appointed Father Mikhail Yerokhin as vicar. The Episcopal Church then permitted Fr. Mikhail the first Greek Orthodox to use arrive in the north transept Philippine province of their cathedral for worshipAlbay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos (aka Alexander A. In 1937Adamson), the first Orthodox church was built who came to Legaspi city in 1928. Together with his brother and was named after cousin he co-founded Adamson University in 1932, which is now owned by the Iberian [[Icon]] Vincentian Fathers of the Mother of GodRoman Catholic Church. This also became Adamopoulos was appointed in 1942 by the first Orthodox [[altar]] Greek government to take charge of Greek interests in the Philippines. Later, both He was later promoted to the Episcopal Cathedral and Russian Orthodox church were destroyed during the Second World Warrank of Consul General of Greece. [[Image:John Maximovitch Tubabao.jpg|left|thumb|Abp. John Maximovitch in Tubabao]]

===St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso===In 19491989, 5,500 Russian Adamopoulos saw the need to establish the first true Greek Orthodox from China, including then-[[Archbishop]] [[John Maximovitch]], was relocated to Tubabao church in the south central Philippines by and thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc. Although he died in 1993 before the church was completed, the International Refugee Organization Orthodox Cathedral was finished in 1996 and is constructed in true Byzantine style, with all the permission of interior furnishings imported from Greece, and is home to approximately 520 Filipino Orthodox and 40 expats[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exarchate_of_the_Philippines]in Metro Manila, the newly independent Republic capital city of the Philippines. Abp. John Maximovitch then established a wooden churchThis cathedral was consecrated by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, orphanage, and other buildings in Tubabao for the refugees2000.

TubabaoOn April 20, however1990, was a Filipino [[hieromonk]], Fr. Vincentius Escarcha (a former Benedictine Abbot and still isa Roman Catholic priest for more than 20 years in Bajada, Cataingan, Masbate island) an underdeveloped island which is humid, prone to typhoonstogether 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 at times inaccessible due to the ocean conditionsassisted by [[Sotirios (Trambas) of Korea|Bishop Sotirios of Zelon]]. When a Russian commented on their fear that a typhoon would destroy their camp to local Filipinos On January 19, 1994, Metropolitan Dionysios, assisted by Bishop Sotirios, 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 therereceived by [[Chrismation|Holy Chrismation]] several Filipino Christians in Manila.

Arbp. John Maximovitch did not preach In 1996, the Orthodoxy faith to Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was created for the native inhabitants needs of the Philippinesfaithful under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. No Filipino In 2004, the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Bajada, Masbate was converted into to 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 Christian faith during his stay Monastery in the PhilippinesBajada run a kindergarten.

Through ==Orthodoxy in the persistent lobbying Philippines today==[[Image:Filipinorthodox.jpg‎|left|Filipino Orthodox faithful in Paranaque, Manila]]Within the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Abp. John to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]], there are currently three Filipino Orthodox priests in the U.SPhilippines, along with four nuns, and are administratively under an ecclesiastical vicar from Greece. CongressIn these communities, the refugees were allowed to settle Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox worship services are said in the United States English, Greek and Australia beginning in 1951Filipino.

==Orthodoxy In 2007 the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Mission in the Philippines Today==There are many groups today in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Mission_in_the_Philippines], was established under the Philippines that claim to be Eastern Orthodox or [[Oriental Antiochian OrthodoxArchdiocese of Australia and New Zealand]] churches; however. 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, they all lack 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 [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 either churchgroup under Bishop Kleopas (Daclan).

One of In 2013, clergy from both ROCOR and the first Greek Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate responded to arrive in requests from Filipino groups for catechism. Two dioceses of the Philippines was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos who came to Legaspi city in 1928[http://www.ifi. Together with his brother ph/ Iglesia Filipina Independiente ("Aglipayans"] entered into a period of catechism, and cousin he co-founded Adamson University beginning in 2015 several parishes were received in 1932mass baptisms[http://orthochristian.com/82584.html][http://orthochristian.com/81728.html]. The university In 2017 a hieromonk was and is noted for its curriculum directed towards sent from Russia to reestablish the parish of the Iveron Icon of the needs 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 in ] was established within the areas Russian Orthodox [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5330863.html Patriarchal Exarchate of science, chemical and industrial engineeringSoutheast Asia]. [https://philippine-mission. Today Adamson University has attained recognition as on org/about/clergy-of -the-philippine-diocese/ Eight priests] now serve the leading institutions for Graduate Education, Law, Arts, Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Education, Engineering, Commerce Russian mission which now numbers approximately thirty parishes and Architechture. The university has a student population of over 22,000mission communities.

During World War II Alexandros Adamopoulos (Alexander A. Adamson) was appointed in 1942 by the Greek government to take charge of Greek interests There are also some [[Independent Orthodox churches|independent groups]] in the Philippines. He was later promoted to that use the rank Consul General of Greeceterm ''Orthodox'' in their names but are not in communion with or are recognized by any canonical Orthodox church.

In 1989 Alexander Adamson saw the need to establish the first true Greek Orthodox church in ==See also==* [[Exarchate of 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 the true byzantium style with all the interior furnishings imported from Greece and is home to approximately 200 orthodox in |Exarchate of the Philippines. This Cathedral was consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch on March 5, 2000. At present there are three canonically ordained Filipino Orthodox priests in the Philippines. The only true Orthodox parish in Manila is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople which is spiritually administered by a ]]* [[priestPhilemon (Castro)]] from Greece.

==LinksExternal links==

*[http://www.exarchatefacebook.unicom/pages/Orthodox-Church-in-the-Philippines/187805037902231 Affiliate in the Philippines - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia]*[http://filorthodoxia.googlepages.cccom/ The Annunciation 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 CathedralChurch & Monastery in Masbate](Information in an issue of The Censer)*[http://orthodox-communitieswww.cs.blogspotust.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://wwwquod.cslib.ustumich.hkedu/facultycgi/dimitrist/metrotext/Phil_historytext-idx?c=philamer;idno=AFK2830.0001.html 044 The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 by Emma E. Blair & James A priest's description . Robertson, Volume XLIV, 1906] Online edition from the University of missionary work in the Philippines]Michigan.*[httphttps://www2.mfaphilippine-mission.grorg/www.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/03042007_KL1949.htm The Greek Community in Philippine Mission of the PhilippinesRussian Orthodox Church] {{Parishes of South, East, and Southeast Asia}}