== Outline of the history of the The '''Orthodox Church in Africa ==''' traces its origins to [[Apostle Mark|St Mark]], who planted the church in the city of [[Alexandria]] in AD [[42]] or thereabouts.

The Orthodox Church in Africa traces its origins to St MarkAlexandria was a cosmopolitan city, who planted established by [[Alexander the church in Great]], whose successors established the city of Alexandria in AD 42 or thereaboutsPtolemaic dynasty, and ruled Egypt until they were conquered by the Romans.

Alexandria was a cosmopolitan cityTowards the end of the [[2nd century]] Christianity spread rapidly among the native Egyptian population, and the scriptures and liturgical texts were translated into several vernacular languages. This expansion led to an increase in the number of bishops, established by Alexander and the Great[[bishop]] of Alexandria, whose successors established as the Ptolemy dynastysenior bishop, and ruled Egypt until they were conquered began to be referred to by the Romanstitle "[[Pope]]" (before the bishops of [[Rome]] began using that title). With the establishment of the [[Alexandrian School|Alexandrian Catechetical School]], Alexandria became an important an important intellectual centre for Christianity as well.

Towards the end of Persecutions in the second [[3rd century Christianity spread rapidly among ]] gave rise to the native Egyptian population[[monasticism|monastic]] movement, and as people fled from the scriptures and liturgical texts were translated cities into several vernacular languages. This expansion led to an increase in the number of bishopsdesert, and when the bishop of Alexandriapersecutions abated, as some remained in the senior bishop, began desert to be referred to by pray. St [[Anthony the title "Pope" (before Great|Antony]] and St [[Pachomius the bishops of Rome began using that title). With Great|Pachomius]] organised and regularised the establishment monastic life, and it spread from Egypt to other parts of the Alexandrian Catechetical School, Alexandria became an important an important intellectual centre for Christianity as wellChristian world.

Persecutions in In the 3rd [[4th century gave rise to ]] Africa became the monastic movement, as people fled from scene of [[theology|theological]] controversies that shaped the cities into history of Christianity. The teaching of [[Arius]] was rejected by St [[Athanasius the desertGreat|Athanasius]], and when the persecutions abated[[First Ecumenical Council]] was called to deal with it in AD [[325]], at [[Nicea|Nicaea]], some remained in the desert to praythough it was originally a local African doctrinal dispute. St Antony and St Pachomius organised and regularised The result was the monastic life[[Nicene Creed, and it spread from Egypt ]] which was eventually expanded to other parts become the [[Symbol of Faith]] ratified by the Christian world[[Fourth Ecumenical council]] at [[Chalcedon]] in [[451]].

In Following the 4th century Africa became [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]], however, the scene of theological controversies that shaped Church in Egypt was divided: some supported the history of Christianity. The teaching of Arius was rejected by St Athanasiusthe council, and others did not. Each group tried to control the First Ecumenical Council was called to deal with it in AD 325Church, at Nicaea, though it was originally an African doctrinal disputeand get their candidates as Pope and Patriarch. The result was Eventually in the Nicene Creed[[6th century]], which was eventually expanded to become the Symbol of Faith ratified by the Fourth Ecumenical council at Chalcedon in 451split became a schism, and since then there have been [[Chalcedonian]] ("Melkite" or "Greek") and [[Oriental Orthodox|non-Chalcedonian]] (Coptic) popes and patriarchs.

Following One of the Council consequences of Chalcedonthe [[schism|split]] was divided missions being sent to Nubia, howeverwhere the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the Empress St [[Theodora, wife of Justinian|Theodora]], and the Church in Egypt central kingdom was divided: some supported evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the teaching of Emperor St [[Justinian I]]. The rivalry between the councilmissions meant that they also used Greek and Coptic as liturgical languages, others and did notfollow the principle of translating into the vernacular. Each group tried to control The result was that the Nubian Church, and get their candidates as Pope and Patriarch. Eventually eventually disappeared in about the 6th 1[[5th century]], and the split people (in what is today Sudan) became a schismMuslims. The [[Ethiopian Church]] was more successful, and since then there have been Chalcedonian (Melkite or Greek) and non-Chalcedonian (but it was aligned to the Coptic) popes group, and patriarchsremained so aligned after the schism.

One of In the consequences of the split was divided missions being sent to Nubia[[7th century]] Muslim Arabs invaded North Africa, where the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the Empress Theodoraconquered it, and the central kingdom was evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the Emperor Justinian. The rivalry between the missions meant that they also used Greek and Coptic as liturgical languageswhich made Christians, and did not follow the principle after 300 years of translating into the vernacularfreedom, second-class citizens. The result was that the Nubian Church eventually disappeared church in about the 15th century, and the people North-West Africa (in what is today SudanTunisia and Morocco) became Muslims. The Ethiopian Church was more successful, but it was aligned which looked to Rome and the Coptic groupWest for leadership, and disappeared even faster than the church in Nubia. Only the Christians in Ethiopia remained so aligned after the schismfree.

In the 7th century Muslim Arabs invaded North AfricaThe [[Church of Alexandria|Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria]], then, like those of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] and conquered it, which made Christians, after 300 years [[Church of freedomJerusalem|Jerusalem]], second-class citizenscould not do much more than hold on. The church Mission was out of the question in a society in North-West Africa (today Tunisia and Morocco), which looked the conversion of a Muslim to Rome and Christianity was punishable by death. Most of the West for leadership, disappeared even faster than conversions went the church in Nubia. Only the Christians in Ethiopia remained freeother way.

The Orthodox Patriarchate In the [[19th century]] things began to change. Large numbers of Greeks settled in Alexandria, thenwhich helped to revitalise the Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling in other parts of Africa, like those of Antioch establishing Orthodox communities. At the same time, Western missionaries, both [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and Jerusalem[[Protestantism|Protestant]], could not do much more than hold onbegan evangelising in sub-Saharan Africa. Mission Some Africans who had become Christian, however, began studying Church history, and discovered that the [[Orthodox Church]] was out of the question original one, and therefore sought to become Orthodox. Different groups in a society in which East and West Africa made such discoveries independently of each other, and sought to be united to the conversion [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]]. This led to a Muslim to Christianity was punishable by death. Most great growth in Orthodoxy around Lake Victoria, in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, and later in other parts of tropical Africa as well, especially in the conversions went second half of the other way20th century.

In the 19th century things began to change. Large numbers Patriarch [[PETROS VII of Greeks settled in Alexandria|Pope Petros VII]], which helped to revitalise the Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling who was elected in other parts of Africa1997, establishing Orthodox communities. At the same timeactively encouraged mission until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on [[11 September]] [[2004]], Western missionariesalong with three other bishops, both Roman Catholic and Protestantincluding Bishop [[NECTARIOS of Madagascar|Nectarios]], began evangelising a pioneer missionary in sub-Saharan Africa. Some Africans who had become Christian, however, began studying church history, and discovered that the Orthodox Church was the original one, and therefore sought to become OrthodoxMadagascar. Different groups in East and West Africa made such discoveries independently of each otherThe new Patriarch, and sought to be united to the Patriarchate His Beatitude Pope [[THEODOROS II of Alexandria. This led to a great growth in Orthodoxy around Lake Victoria|Theodoros]], in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzaniahimself has missionary experience, having been Archbishop of Cameroun and later in other parts of tropical Africa as well, especially in the second half of the 20th centuryZimbabwe.