The Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Kyiv Patriarchate has established a representative office in the Philippines

On October 15, 2026, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Kyiv Patriarchate, Nikodim Kobzar, signed Decree No. 98, officially confirming the incorporation of members of the Monastery of St. Benedict and the Parish of Jesus the Good Shepherd in the Philippines into the “Kyiv Patriarchate.” According to the official website of the UOC-KP, this step marked the creation of a new Philippine diocese.

The newly formed structure was headed by “Metropolitan” Simeon (Cruz Rogelio Ellano), who received the title “Metropolitan of Manila and All the Land of the Philippines.” Taking into account the specific characteristics of the region and the needs of the faithful, Nikodim Kobzar authorized the conduct of religious services in Philippine parishes according to both the Byzantine and Western (Latin) rites.

As a reminder, on October 10, 2026, Georgy Guliashvili was admitted to the UOC-KP; according to the organization’s leadership’s plan, he will head the “Kyiv Patriarchate’s” mission in Georgia. The opening of the UOC-KP’s representative office in Georgia took place by order of the organization’s head, Nikodim Kobzar.