Christianity in Algeria is one of the world religions prevalent in Algeria.
Content
History
Christianity spread in Algeria during the late Roman era . At this time, there were numerous Christian communities. Famous Christian theologians Tertullian and Augustine of Hippos lived on the territory of today's Algeria. Christian influence decreased during the Vandal invasions, but increased in the subsequent Byzantine period , gradually disappeared after the Arab invasions in the 7th century .
Currently
Today, Islam is the state religion in Algeria , Libya , Morocco and Tunisia . The practice of other religions is guaranteed by law. Although the current number of Christians in North Africa is low, churches built by the French and Italians exist. There is some evidence that a number of North African Muslims have converted to Christianity in recent years. The total number of Christians remains very low. The percentage of Christians in Algeria is less than 2% (2009). In 2009, the UN counted 45,000 Catholics and 10,000 Protestants in the country.
Most Christians live in Kabilia . In this province, the proportion of Christians is estimated to be between 1% and 5%.
Christians are sometimes subjected to religiously motivated attacks. In 1996, Monsignor Pierre Claverier, Bishop of Oran , was assassinated by Islamists. However, religious hostility has declined since then.
Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church was restored in Algeria after the French conquest. The Diocese of Algeria was established in 1838 . At the beginning of 1980, there were about 45,000 Catholics in the country, most of whom were foreigners or Arabs who married a Frenchwoman or an Italian.
The country is divided into three Dioceses and one Archdiocese:
- Archdiocese of Algeria
- Diocese of Constantine
- Diocese of Oran
- Diocese of Laghouat
See also
- Christianity
- Religion of Algeria
- Christian Arabs