Christianity in Sudan
Encyclopedia
Christianity
has a long history in Sudan, starting from Roman times
.
Christianity reached what is now northern Sudan
, then called Nubia
, by about the end of the first century after Christ.
It greatly developed under the influence of the Eastern Roman Empire. Indeed, Byzantine architecture influenced most of the Christian churches in lower Nubia
The Roman Emperor Justinian I
made Nubia a stronghold of Christianity during the Middle Ages
. By 580 AD, Christianity had become the official religion of the northern Sudan, centered around the Faras
cathedral.
It largely disappeared following later Islamic conquests, but only after a long lasting struggle that went on for eight centuries.
During the 19th century, British missionaries re-introduced the Christian faith into South Sudan
.
Sudan, the largest land-mass country in Africa
, has a population of nearly 40 million people with the heaviest concentration in the north: an estimated 16% are Christians while Muslims make up 62% and those who practice traditional religions 22%. Taking Southern Sudan apart from the north the numbers shift to almost 50% Christian in this southern area.
The majority of Christians in Sudan are adherents of either the Roman Catholic
or Anglican churches (represented by the Episcopal Church of the Sudan
) but there are several other small denominations represented there including:
Roman Catholic missionaries began work in Sudan in 1842; both the Anglicans and the American Presbyterians began in Sudan in 1899. The Anglicans through the Church Missionary Society had their base in Omdurman
, while the Presbyterians began in Khartoum
but developed ministry both in the north and in the south. The Sudan Interior Mission began working in the country in 1937. The Africa Inland Mission launched the Africa Inland Church in 1949. In 1964 all foreign missionaries were made to leave southern Sudan because of the civil war. A few groups maintained missionaries in the north. The Sudan Pentecostal Church, which has grown significantly in the south, was started later by the Swedish.
There are now about 2,009,374 Sudanese practicing Roman Catholicism, mainly in the south of the country (5% of the population are devout Roman Catholics). The patron saint of the Sudan is the former slave Saint Josephine Bakhita
, canonized
in 2000.
There are nine catholic dioceses including two archdioceses in modern Sudan, with five Cathedrals.
About 100,000 people or 0.25% of the population belong to various Protestant denominations in northern Sudan. Catholicism
is practised by some thousand followers north of Sudan's capital.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
has a long history in Sudan, starting from Roman times
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
History
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, then called Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
, by about the end of the first century after Christ.
It greatly developed under the influence of the Eastern Roman Empire. Indeed, Byzantine architecture influenced most of the Christian churches in lower Nubia
The Roman Emperor Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
made Nubia a stronghold of Christianity during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. By 580 AD, Christianity had become the official religion of the northern Sudan, centered around the Faras
Faras
Faras was a major city in Lower Nubia in modern Egypt. The site of the city was flooded by Lake Nasser in the 1960s, and is now permanently underwater...
cathedral.
It largely disappeared following later Islamic conquests, but only after a long lasting struggle that went on for eight centuries.
During the 19th century, British missionaries re-introduced the Christian faith into South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
.
Sudan, the largest land-mass country in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, has a population of nearly 40 million people with the heaviest concentration in the north: an estimated 16% are Christians while Muslims make up 62% and those who practice traditional religions 22%. Taking Southern Sudan apart from the north the numbers shift to almost 50% Christian in this southern area.
The majority of Christians in Sudan are adherents of either the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Sudan
The Roman Catholic Church in Sudan is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.There are approximately two million Catholics in Sudan, about 5% of the total population...
or Anglican churches (represented by the Episcopal Church of the Sudan
Episcopal Church of the Sudan
The Episcopal Church of the Sudan is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in Sudan and South Sudan. The province consists of twenty-four dioceses, each headed by a bishop. One of the diocesan bishops is elected to serve as Archbishop of the Sudan, and represent the province to the rest...
) but there are several other small denominations represented there including:
- Apostolic Church
- New Apostolic
- Coptic Church
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Ethiopian Orthodox Church
- Eritrean Church
- Greek Orthodox Church
- Presbyterian Church of the Sudan
- Seventh Day Adventist Church
- Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church
- Sudan Pentecostal Church
- Sudan Interior Church
- Africa Inland Church
- Sudan Church of Christ
Roman Catholic missionaries began work in Sudan in 1842; both the Anglicans and the American Presbyterians began in Sudan in 1899. The Anglicans through the Church Missionary Society had their base in Omdurman
Omdurman
Omdurman is the second largest city in Sudan and Khartoum State, lying on the western banks of the River Nile, opposite the capital, Khartoum. Omdurman has a population of 2,395,159 and is the national centre of commerce...
, while the Presbyterians began in Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
but developed ministry both in the north and in the south. The Sudan Interior Mission began working in the country in 1937. The Africa Inland Mission launched the Africa Inland Church in 1949. In 1964 all foreign missionaries were made to leave southern Sudan because of the civil war. A few groups maintained missionaries in the north. The Sudan Pentecostal Church, which has grown significantly in the south, was started later by the Swedish.
There are now about 2,009,374 Sudanese practicing Roman Catholicism, mainly in the south of the country (5% of the population are devout Roman Catholics). The patron saint of the Sudan is the former slave Saint Josephine Bakhita
Josephine Bakhita
Josephine Bakhita was a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Roman Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. In 2000, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:...
, canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
in 2000.
There are nine catholic dioceses including two archdioceses in modern Sudan, with five Cathedrals.
About 100,000 people or 0.25% of the population belong to various Protestant denominations in northern Sudan. Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
is practised by some thousand followers north of Sudan's capital.
See also
- Early history of Sudan
- NubiaNubiaNubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
- Romans in Nubia
- Josephine BakhitaJosephine BakhitaJosephine Bakhita was a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Roman Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. In 2000, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:...