Tagaytay, Luzon Island, Philippines, December 28, 2021
Photo: phvieparchy.org
The local Orthodox church in the Filipino village of Tagaytay became a focal point of Christmas cheer for dozens of children and poor residents this year.
80% of the Filipino population identifies as Roman Catholic and celebrates the feast of the Nativity on December 25. On this day, the Department for Charity and Social Ministry of the Russian Church’s Diocese of the Philippines and Vietnam organized a “Christmas Café” at Christ the Savior Church on the island of Luzon, the diocese reports.
The state offers several days off leading up to Christmas, during which the people have the opportunity to visit various churches. All those who visited Christ the Savior on Christmas received a gift and “a piece of festive cheer and love.”
Photo: phvieparchy.org
Orthodox churches in the Philippines have also been distributing aid to suffering families throughout the pandemic.
There were several pieces of encouraging news from the Philippines this year. In February, the diocese announced that construction on a new church began on the island of Sarangani; in June, it was reported that the Church of St. Helen on the island of Mindanao has been fully restored following the earthquakes of late 2019; in September, it was reported that 12 Monophysites were baptized into holy Orthodoxy; and just a few days ago, it was reported that the Divine Liturgy was translated and published in the Cebuano language.
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