Changes

Towards 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, and the [[bishop]] of Alexandria, as the senior bishop, began to be referred to by the title "[[Pope]]" (before the bishops of [[Church of Rome|Rome]] began using that title). With the establishment of the [[Alexandrian Catechetical Schoolof Alexandria|Alexandrian Catechetical School]], Alexandria became an important an important intellectual centre for Christianity as well. {{orthodoxyseries}}Persecutions in the 3rd century gave rise to the [[monasticism|monastic]] movement, as people fled from the cities into the desert, and when the persecutions abated, some remained in the desert to pray. St [[Anthony the Great|Antony]] and St [[Pachomius the Great|Pachomius]] organised and regularised the monastic life, and it spread from Egypt to other parts of the Christian world.  In the 4th century Africa became the scene of [[theology|theological]] controversies that shaped the history of Christianity. The teaching of [[Arius]] was rejected by St [[Athanasius the Great|Athanasius]], and the [[First Ecumenical Council]] was called to deal with it in AD 325, at [[Nicea]], though it was originally a local African doctrinal dispute. The result was the [[Nicene Creed]], which was eventually expanded to become the '''Symbol of Faith''' ratified by the [[Fourth Ecumenical council]] at [[Chalcedon]] in 451.

Persecutions in the 3rd century gave rise to Following the [[monasticismFourth Ecumenical Council|monasticCouncil of Chalcedon]] movement, as people fled from however, the Church in Egypt was divided: some supported the teaching of the cities into council, others did not. Each group tried to control the desertChurch, and when get their candidates as Pope and Patriarch. Eventually in the persecutions abated6th century, some remained in the desert to pray. St split became a schism, and since then there have been [[Chalcedonian]] ("[[Anthony the Great|AntonyMelkite]] " or "Greek") and St [[Pachomius the GreatOriental Orthodox|Pachomiusnon-Chalcedonian]] organised and regularised the monastic life, (Coptic) popes and it spread from Egypt to other parts of the Christian worldpatriarchs.

In One of the 4th century Africa became consequences of the scene of [[theologyschism|theologicalsplit]] controversies that shaped was divided missions being sent to Nubia, where the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the history of Christianity. The teaching of Empress St [[AriusTheodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]] , and the central kingdom was rejected evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the Emperor St [[Athanasius Justinian the Great|AthanasiusJustinian I]]. The rivalry between the missions meant that they also used Greek and Coptic as liturgical languages, and did not follow the [[First Ecumenical Council]] principle of translating into the vernacular. The result was called to deal with it that the Nubian Church eventually disappeared in AD 325about the 15th century, at Nicaea, though it was originally a local African doctrinal disputeand the people (in what is today Sudan) became Muslims. The result was the [[Nicene CreedEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Church]]was more successful, which but it was eventually expanded aligned to become the '''Symbol of Faith''' ratified by Coptic group, and remained so aligned after the [[Fourth Ecumenical council]] at Chalcedon in 451schism.

Following In the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]]7th century Muslim Arabs invaded North Africa, and conquered it, howeverwhich made Christians, the Church in Egypt was divided: some supported the teaching after 300 years of the councilfreedom, others did not. Each group tried to control the Church, and get their candidates as Pope and Patriarchsecond-class citizens. Eventually The church in the 6th century, the split became a schism, and since then there have been North-West Africa (today [[ChalcedonianTunisia]] ("Melkite" or "Greek") and [[Oriental Orthodox|non-ChalcedonianMorocco]] (Coptic) popes , which looked to Rome and patriarchsthe West for leadership, disappeared even faster than the church in Nubia. Only the Christians in Ethiopia remained free.

One of the consequences of the The [[schismChurch of Alexandria|splitOrthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria]] was divided missions being sent to Nubia, where the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the Empress St then, like those of [[Theodora (wife Church of Justinian)Antioch|TheodoraAntioch]], and the central kingdom was evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the Emperor St [[Justinian the GreatChurch of Jerusalem|Justinian IJerusalem]]. The rivalry between the missions meant that they also used Greek and Coptic as liturgical languages, and did could not follow the principle of translating into the vernaculardo much more than hold on. The result Mission was that out of the Nubian Church eventually disappeared question in a society in about which the 15th century, and the people (in what is today Sudan) became Muslims. The [[Ethiopian Churchconversion]] of a Muslim to Christianity was more successful, but it was aligned to punishable by death. Most of the Coptic group, and remained so aligned after conversions went the schismother way.

In the 7th 19th century Muslim Arabs invaded North things began to change. Large numbers of Greeks settled in Alexandria, which helped to revitalize the Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling in other parts of Africa, and conquered itestablishing Orthodox communities. At the same time, which made ChristiansWestern missionaries, after 300 years of freedomboth [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and [[Protestantism|Protestant]], secondbegan evangelising in [[Orthodoxy in Sub-class citizens. The church in NorthSaharan Africa|sub-West Saharan Africa (today Tunisia ]]. Some Africans who had become Christian, however, began studying Church history, and Morocco)discovered that the [[Orthodox Church]] was the original one, which looked and therefore sought to Rome become Orthodox. Different groups in East and the West for leadershipAfrica made such discoveries independently of each other, disappeared even faster than and sought to be united to the church [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]]. This led to a great growth in Orthodoxy around Lake Victoria, in [[Uganda]], Kenya and Tanzania, and later in other parts of tropical Africa as well, especially in Nubia. Only the Christians in Ethiopia remained freesecond half of the 20th century.

The Patriarch [[Church Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Orthodox Patriarchate of AlexandriaPope Petros VII]], thenwho was elected in 1997, like those of actively encouraged mission until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on [[Church of Antioch|AntiochSeptember 11]] and , 2004, along with three other bishops, including Bishop [[Church Nektarios (Kellis) of JerusalemMadagascar|JerusalemNektarios]], could not do much more than hold on. Mission was out of the question in a society pioneer missionary in which the conversion [[Madagascar]]. The new Patriarch, His Beatitude Pope [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of a Muslim to Christianity was punishable by death. Most Alexandria|Theodoros]], himself has missionary experience, having been Archbishop of the conversions went the other wayCameroun and later [[Zimbabwe]].

In Today the 19th century things began to change. Large numbers [[Coptic]] Orthodox Church of Greeks settled in Alexandria, which helped to revitalise is the largest Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling in other parts of Africa, establishing Orthodox communities. At the same time, Western missionaries, both [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] Middle East and [[Protestantism|Protestant]], began evangelising in sub-Saharan Africa. Some Africans who had become Christian, however, began studying Church history, and discovered that Besides the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] was bishops in Sudan (HG Bishop Sarabamon is the original one, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Sudan (Atbara and Om Dorman) and therefore sought to become HG Bishop Elija is the Coptic Orthodox. Different groups in East and West Bishop of Khartoum), Africa made such discoveries independently of each otheralso currently has two dedicated Coptic Orthodox bishops, HG Bishop Antonious Markos and sought to be united to the [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]]. This led to a great growth HG Bishop Paul (Boulos), serving in missions in Orthodoxy around Lake Victoriaat least nine African countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, in Uganda, Zambia, Kenya , Zaire, Zimbabwe, and TanzaniaNamibia, and later in other parts of tropical Africa as wellfar as Johannesburg, especially South Africa in the second half south (see [http://www.geocities.com/copticafrica/]). (Bishop names correct as of the 20th centuryAugust 2005--see [http://www.theholysynod.copticpope.org/]. )

Patriarch ==See also==[[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Pope Petros VII]], who was elected in 1997, actively encouraged mission until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on [[September 11]], 2004, along with three other bishops, including Bishop [[Nektarios (Kellis) of Madagascar|Nektarios]], a pioneer missionary Orthodoxy in Madagascar. The new Patriarch, His Beatitude Pope [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|TheodorosSub-Saharan Africa]], himself has missionary experience, having been Archbishop of Cameroun and later Zimbabwe.