Christianity in Israel is the third (according to the number of believers) after Judaism and Islam religion in the country.
According to the in 2010, 150 thousand Christians lived in Israel, which made up 2% of the population of this country [1] [2] . The encyclopedia of “Religions of the World” by J. G. Melton estimates the share of Christians in 2010 at 2.2% (162 thousand believers) [3] .
In 2000, in Israel there were 197 Christian churches and places of worship belonging to 72 different Christian denominations [4] .
Some Israeli Christian churches collaborate together on the Council of Churches of the Middle East, associated with the World Council of Churches .
Content
Ancient Oriental Churches
Several thousand inhabitants of modern Israel are parishioners of ancient eastern churches . OK. 1,000 believers belong to the Coptic Church . The Copts own one of the western chapels (aisle) in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher . Assyrian Church of the East unites approx. 800 believers in 5 communities. The Armenian Apostolic Church has a long history in Israel; the church currently has approx. 100 believers. In addition to the above, in Israel there are representative offices of the Ethiopian and Syro-Jacobite churches.
Catholicism
Catholics represent the largest Christian movement in Israel. In 2010, 90 thousand Catholics of different traditions lived in the country [1] . Moreover, most Israeli Catholics are Uniates . The largest Greek Catholic church in the country is the Melkite Catholic Church , uniting up to half of Catholics in the Holy Land. In Israel there are also communities of Maronites , Syro-Catholics , Chaldeans and Armenian Catholics .
The Roman Catholic Church of the Latin rite has 30 thousand believers in Israel.
Orthodoxy
The number of Orthodox and believers of the ancient eastern churches in Israel is estimated at 30 thousand people (2010) [1] . The territory of Israel is under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church . In Israel, this church owns 17 temples.
The Russian Orthodox Church in Israel unites 2 thousand believers [5] . The church is represented by the structures of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad . Since 1935, a representative office of the Romanian Orthodox Church has been operating in Jerusalem.
Protestantism
Since the beginning of the 19th century, simultaneously with the emergence of European diplomatic missions, Protestant communities began to appear in the Middle East. In the first half of the 19th century, the mission of Anglicans , Lutherans and Presbyterians began on the territory of modern Israel. At the beginning of the 20th century, Adventists , Baptists , and supporters of the Holiness Movement joined them.
Initially, the ministry of the Protestants was not successful among Israeli Jews, but they managed to attract some of the Christian Arabs to their ranks. During the British mandate, the number of Protestants increased markedly. The creation of the independent state of Israel in 1948 caused a massive outflow of Arabs from Palestine, among whom there were many Protestants.
After 1948, Pentecostal ministry began in Israel. Communities of Messianic Jews began to appear in Israel since the 1970s, many of which are charismatic in dogma and practice.
At present, 30 thousand Protestants live in Israel (without Palestinian territories) [1] . The largest denominations are represented by Messianic Jews (9-12 thousand [5] ), Pentecostals (9 thousand [4] ) and Baptists (3 thousand [6] ).
Marginal Christianity
Several thousand inhabitants of modern Israel are supporters of various near - Christian organizations. Jehovah's Witnesses have been preaching in Israel since 1920. According to the organization itself, in 2012, 1.3 thousand Jehovah's Witnesses, united in 21 congregations, lived in the country [7] . In the city of Haifa, there is a Russian-language meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Since the 1970s, Mormons have been trying to gain a foothold in Israel; their mission was resumed in the 1990s [8] . In 2015, there were 4 communities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the country. The number of parishioners was estimated at 222 people [9] , most of them are not Israeli citizens.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Global Christianity . The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (December 19, 2011). Date of treatment May 13, 2013. Archived May 22, 2013.
- ↑ Christian Population as Percentages of Total Population by Country . The Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Project (12-19-2011). Date of treatment December 25, 2014. Archived January 7, 2012.
- ↑ J. Gordon Melton . Israel // Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices / J. Gordon Melton , Martin Baumann. - Oxford, England: ABC CLIO, 2010 .-- S. 1538 .-- 3200 s. - ISBN 1-57607-223-1 .
- ↑ 1 2 Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk. Israel // Operation World 2001 . - London: Paternoster Publishing, 2001 .-- 798 p. - (Operation World Series). - ISBN 1-8507-8357-8 .
- ↑ 1 2 E. Nebolsin. Israel // Orthodox Encyclopedia . - M .: Church and Scientific Center "Orthodox Encyclopedia" , 2009. - T. XXI: " Iveron Icon of the Mother of God - Ikimatar ". - S. 611-625. - 752 s. - 39,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-89572-038-7 .
- ↑ About us . Baptists in Israel. Date of treatment July 2, 2015.
- ↑ 2013 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses . - Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsykvania, 2013 .-- P. 180-187. - 192 p.
- ↑ David Stewart and Matt Martinich. Israel The Cumorah Project. Date of treatment July 2, 2015.
- ↑ Facts and Statistics - Israel . Official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Date of treatment July 2, 2015.
See also
- Religion in Israel
- Christianity by country