The Exarchate of the Philippines [a] is an exarchate or sub-diocesan entity of the Eastern Orthodox Metropolis of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia that is located in the Philippines. The metropolis is one of four metropolises in Asia that are under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.[1][2] The exarchate has five parishes and three chapels in the country.
History
editAround the beginning of the seventeenth century, Greek sailors settled in Manila and Legazpi.[3] The Greeks of Legazpi now number no more than 10 families have keep their Greek identities and have become distinguished public figures and intellectuals in the country. But as of now the population of the Greek community in the as a whole Philippines is unknown but its estimated about 129, 100 or 120 members.
In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the need to establish the first Greek Orthodox church in the Philippines and thus established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation, Inc., but he died in 1993 before the church was completed. The Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral[4] in Sucat, Parañaque, Metro Manila, was finished in 1996. Constructed in true Byzantine style and with interior furnishings imported from Greece, it serves hundreds of Orthodox faithful, Filipinos, the local Greek community and expats in the national capital.
On 20 April 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), together with four nuns and faithful members of his community, were received into the Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Dionysios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand and assisted by Bishop Sotirios of Zelon. On 19 January 1994, Metropolitan Dionysios and Bishop Sotirios received several Filipino Christians in Manila by Holy Chrismation.
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 was consecrated by Metropolitan Nikitas of Hong Kong and South East Asia. As of 2014[update] the nuns of the Theotokos Orthodox Monastery in Bajada ran a kindergarten.
On 5 March 2000, the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotókos was consecrated by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,[5] with Metropolitans Ioakeim and Nikitas, Bishop Dionysios, and a significant number of clergy from overseas assisting. During the service, the entire congregation followed the Patriarch in circumambulating the church. The Patriarch told the people present that the only thing which can really lead man to the land of gladness is the perfect love for his fellow man and for God. The message from the Patriarchate of Constantinople is one of love for the people of Southeast Asia, one which assures people everywhere of the immeasurable love of Christ.[6] Despite not being the bishop's seat—the cathedra—the church is sometimes called a "cathedral" because it is the only church in the metropolis blessed by the Ecumenical Patriarch.[7]
Four other parishes, in Cataingan, Sbù, Los Baños and Hagónoy, have since been established, along with a few other chapels.
Language
editThe Divine Liturgy and other Orthodox services are said in English, Greek and the local language.[8][9]
Parishes and chapels
editParishes
edit- Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral, Parañaque, Metro Manila[3]
- Theotokos Orthodox Parish, Cataingan, Masbate
- Holy Trinity Orthodox Parish, Los Baños, Laguna
- Holy Resurrection Parish, Sbù, South Cotabato
- St. Isidore of Chios Parish, Hagónoy, Dávao del Sur
Chapels
edit- St. George Chapel, Makati
- St Nectarios Chapel, Quezon City, Metro Manila
- St Eleftherios Chapel, Sorsogon, Bicol
One more church, the Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Siniloan, Laguna, is functioning alternatively, in connection with the Holy Trinity parish of Los Baños.
Clergy
editWithin the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, there are currently six active Filipino priests in the Philippines, along with a couple of nuns, all of whom are under the administrative authority of Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Profiles of Parishes and Organizations throughout the Metropolis". Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ "Nikitas of Hong Kong". Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ a b Miltiadis Adamopoulos (Milton Adamson). "Greeks in the Philippines and their contributions to the country". Hellenic Resources Network. Archived from the original on 2008-02-03. Retrieved 2007-08-02. (archived from the original on 2008-02-03)
- ^ "aoc.ph". www.aoc.ph. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "PHILIPPINES: ORTHODOX PATRIARCH VISITS FLEDGLING LOCAL ORTHODOX CHURCH". www.orthodox.cn. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "THE WEBSITE OF ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL MANILA". ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL MANILA. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ Philemon Castro. "Philippines In Review 1998". Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ "Clergy : OMHKSEA". www.omhksea.org. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
External links
edit- Exarchate of the Philippines Archived 2021-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
- Orthodoxy in the Far East