Historia ewangelizacji kontynentu afrykańskiego w zarysie

Abstract

Jesus was in Africa even before the rise of Christianity. After all, the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt and, according to tradition, stayed there for six months. The Ethiopian who is mentioned in Acts 8, and who was baptized by Philip, was an African. The beginnings of the Church in Egypt are traced back to St. Mark, of whom the Coptic patriarch called himself the successor. To bring Christianity to Africa, three attempts have been necessary; so this article is divided into three parts. The first part covers the beginnings of Christianity to about the midseventh century when the faith spread all over the Mediterranean world under the Roman Empire. The second part takes up the attempt to spread the Gospel between 1219 and 1800, coinciding with the Portugese explorations and discoveries. The third part is the modem period, starting at the beginning of nineteenth century. This part, far more widespread, left practically no part of Africa untouched. Its history is more complex because of activities of the different denominations in the Christian Church which caused confusion and division.