Christianity in Africa

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Mark the Evangelist first brought Christianity to Africa in the 1st century by starting a church in Alexandria, Egypt.

[edit] History of Christianity in Africa

Main article: History of Christianity in Africa

According to tradition, Christianity began in Africa in the 1st century when Mark the Evangelist planted the church in Alexandria about the year 43.

Little is known of the first couple of centuries, beyond the list of bishops of Alexandria. At first the church in Alexandria was mainly Greek-speaking, but by the end of the 2nd century the scriptures and Liturgy had been translated into three local languages.

Christianity was also planted in north-western Africa (today known as the Maghreb), but the churches there were linked to the Church of Rome.

[edit] Christianity in Africa today

At the beginning of the 21st century Christianity is probably the main religion in most of sub-Saharan Africa, while in the northern part of the continent it is a minority religion, where the majority of the population are Muslims. There has been tremendous growth of Christians in Africa. For example only nine million Christians were in Africa in 1900. By the year 2000, there were an estimated 380 million Christians, outpacing the African Muslim population. Much of the Christian growth in Africa is now due to African evangelism rather than Western missionaries.[1]

Christianity in Africa shows tremendous variety, from the ancient forms of Orthodox Christianity in Egypt and Ethiopia (which have since spread to other parts of the continent) to Zionist faith healers.

[edit] See also

• Islam in Africa
• Judaism in Africa
• Christian Mysticism in Ancient Africa