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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.

Alexandria was a cosmopolitan city, established by [[Alexander the Great]], whose successors established the Ptolemaic dynasty, and ruled Egypt until they were conquered by the Romans.

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.

Persecutions 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 3rd century gave rise [[Nicene Creed]], which was eventually expanded to become the '''Symbol of Faith''' ratified by the [[monasticismFourth Ecumenical council]] at [[Chalcedon]] in 451.  Following the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|monasticCouncil of Chalcedon]] movement, however, the Church in Egypt was divided: some supported the teaching of the council, others did not. Each group tried to control the Church, and get their candidates as people fled from Pope and Patriarch. Eventually in the cities into 6th century, the desertsplit became a schism, and when since then there have been [[Chalcedonian]] ("[[Melkite]]" or "Greek") and [[Oriental Orthodox|non-Chalcedonian]] (Coptic) popes and patriarchs.  One of the persecutions abatedconsequences of the [[schism|split]] was divided missions being sent to Nubia, some remained in where the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the desert to pray. Empress St [[Anthony the GreatTheodora (wife of Justinian)|AntonyTheodora]] , and the central kingdom was evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the Emperor St [[Pachomius Justinian the Great|PachomiusJustinian I]] organised . The rivalry between the missions meant that they also used Greek and regularised Coptic as liturgical languages, and did not follow the monastic lifeprinciple of translating into the vernacular. The result was that the Nubian Church eventually disappeared in about the 15th century, and the people (in what is today Sudan) became Muslims. The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Church]] was more successful, but it spread from Egypt was aligned to other parts of the Christian worldCoptic group, and remained so aligned after the schism.

In the 4th 7th century Muslim Arabs invaded North Africa became the scene , and conquered it, which made Christians, after 300 years of [[theology|theological]] controversies that shaped the history of Christianityfreedom, second-class citizens. The teaching of church in North-West Africa (today [[AriusTunisia]] was rejected by St and [[Athanasius the Great|AthanasiusMorocco]]), which looked to Rome and the [[First Ecumenical Council]] was called to deal with it West for leadership, disappeared even faster than the church in AD 325, at Nicaea, though it was originally a local African doctrinal disputeNubia. The result was Only the [[Nicene Creed]], which was eventually expanded to become the '''Symbol of Faith''' ratified by the [[Fourth Ecumenical council]] at Chalcedon Christians in 451Ethiopia remained free.

Following the The [[Fourth Ecumenical CouncilChurch of Alexandria|Council Orthodox Patriarchate of ChalcedonAlexandria]], howeverthen, the like those of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] and [[Church in Egypt was divided: some supported the teaching of the councilJerusalem|Jerusalem]], others did could notdo much more than hold on. Each group tried to control Mission was out of the Church, and get their candidates as Pope and Patriarch. Eventually question in a society in which the 6th century, the split became a schism, and since then there have been [[Chalcedonianconversion]] ("Melkite" or "Greek") and [[Oriental Orthodox|non-Chalcedonian]] (Coptic) popes and patriarchsof a Muslim to Christianity was punishable by death. Most of the conversions went the other way.

One In the 19th century things began to change. Large numbers of Greeks settled in Alexandria, which helped to revitalize the consequences Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling in other parts of Africa, establishing Orthodox communities. At the same time, Western missionaries, both [[schismRoman Catholic Church|splitRoman Catholic]] was divided missions being sent to Nubia, where the Northern and Southern kingdoms were evangelised by non-Chalcedonian missionaries sponsored by the Empress St [[TheodoraProtestantism|Protestant]], wife of Justinianbegan evangelising in [[Orthodoxy in Sub-Saharan Africa|Theodorasub-Saharan Africa]]. Some Africans who had become Christian, however, began studying Church history, and discovered that the central kingdom was evangelised by a Chalcedonian mission sponsored by the Emperor St [[Justinian IOrthodox Church]]was the original one, and therefore sought to become Orthodox. The rivalry between the missions meant that they also used Greek Different groups in East and Coptic as liturgical languagesWest Africa made such discoveries independently of each other, and did not follow sought to be united to the principle [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of translating into the vernacularAlexandria]]. The result was that the Nubian Church eventually disappeared This led to a great growth in about the 15th centuryOrthodoxy around Lake Victoria, and the people (in what is today Sudan) became Muslims. The [[Ethiopian ChurchUganda]] was more successful, but it was aligned to the Coptic groupKenya and Tanzania, and remained so aligned after later in other parts of tropical Africa as well, especially in the schismsecond half of the 20th century.

In the 7th century Muslim Arabs invaded North AfricaPatriarch [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Pope Petros VII]], who was elected in 1997, and conquered itactively encouraged mission until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on [[September 11]], 2004, which made Christiansalong with three other bishops, after 300 years including Bishop [[Nektarios (Kellis) of freedomMadagascar|Nektarios]], second-class citizensa pioneer missionary in [[Madagascar]]. The church in North-West Africa new Patriarch, His Beatitude Pope [[Theodoros II (today Tunisia and MoroccoChoreftakis)of Alexandria|Theodoros]], himself has missionary experience, which looked to Rome having been Archbishop of Cameroun and the West for leadership, disappeared even faster than the church in Nubia. Only the Christians in Ethiopia remained freelater [[Zimbabwe]].

The Today the [[Coptic]] Orthodox Church of Alexandria|is the largest Church in the Middle East and Africa. Besides the Coptic Orthodox Church bishops in Sudan (HG Bishop Sarabamon is the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate Bishop of Alexandria]]Sudan (Atbara and Om Dorman) and HG Bishop Elija is the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Khartoum), thenAfrica also currently has two dedicated Coptic Orthodox bishops, like those of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] HG Bishop Antonious Markos and [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]HG Bishop Paul (Boulos), could not do much more than hold on. Mission was out of the question serving in missions in a society at least nine African countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Zaire, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, and as far as Johannesburg, South Africa in which the conversion south (see [http://www.geocities.com/copticafrica/]). (Bishop names correct as of a Muslim to Christianity was punishable by deathAugust 2005--see [http://www.theholysynod.copticpope. Most of the conversions went the other wayorg/].)

In the 19th century things began to change. Large numbers of Greeks settled in Alexandria, which helped to revitalise the Church there. Also Greek and Syrian traders began settling in other parts of Africa, establishing Orthodox communities. At the same time, Western missionaries, both ==See also==[[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and [[Protestantism|Protestant]], began evangelising Orthodoxy in subSub-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 Orthodox. Different groups in East and West Africa made such discoveries independently of each other, and sought to be united to the [[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 the second half of the 20th century.