Christianity in Libya
Encyclopedia
Christianity is a minority religion in Libya
. Since Roman times
it has always been present in Tripolitania
and Cyrenaica
.
communities other than that of the Egyptian Copts include the Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, and the Greek Orthodox. There is one Anglican congregation in Tripoli, made up mostly of African immigrant workers in Tripoli and which belongs to the Egyptian Anglican diocese. The Anglican bishop of Libya has his seat in Cairo
. There is also a priest in Sabha. There is only a few, though growing, number of native Libyan Arab and Berber converts to Christianity.
There are relatively peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims in Libya. However, there are restrictions for Christian religious activity. It is prohibited to proselytize Muslims, even though a non-Muslim man must convert to Islam if he wants to marry a Muslim woman. Also, religious literature is restricted.
Historically speaking, Christianity
spread to the Pentapolis in North Africa
from Egypt; Synesius of Cyrene (370-414), bishop of Ptolemais, received his instruction at Alexandria in both the Catechetical School and the Museion, and he entertained a great deal of reverence and affection for Hypatia, the last pagan Neoplatonists, whose classes he had attended. Synesius was raised to the episcopate by Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, in 410 AD Since the Council of Nicaea
in 325 AD, Cyrenaica
had been recognized as an ecclesiastical province of the See of Alexandria, in accordance with the ruling of the Nicaean Fathers. The Pope of Alexandria to this day includes the Pentapolis in his title as an area within his jurisdiction.
The Coptic congregations in several countries were under the ancient Eparchy of the Western Pentapolis, which was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church for centuries until the thirteenth century.
In 1971 Pope Shenouda III reinstated it as part of the Eparchy of His Eminence Metropolitan Bishop Pachomius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Beheira
(Thmuis
& Hermopolis Parva), (Buto
), Mariout
(Mareotis), Marsa Matruh
(Paraetonium), (Apis
), Patriarchal Exarch
of the Ancient Metropolis
of Libya
: (Livis
, Marmarica, Darnis & Tripolitania
) & Titular Metropolitan Archbishop of the Great and Ancient Metropolis
of Pentapolis
: (Cyren), (Appollonia
), (Ptolemais
), (Berenice
) and (Arsinoe
).
This was one among a chain of many restructuring of several eparchies by Pope Shenouda III, while some of them were incorporated into the jurisdiction of others, especially those who were within an uncovered region or which were part of a Metropolis that became extinct, or by dividing large eparchies into smaller more manageable eparchies. This was also a part of the restructuring of the Church as a whole.
They are currently three Coptic Orthodox Churches in Libya: one in Tripoli, Libya (Saint Mark's), one in Benghazi, Libya (Saint Antonios — two priests), and one in Misrata, Libya
(Saint Mary and Saint George).
There are about 50,000 Roman Catholics, mostly Italian Libyans and Maltese Libyans .
The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Our Lady of the Angels) in the Old City - Medina of Tripoli was founded in 1645 and, with the permission of the Sultan of Constantinople
, the Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in Benghazi in 1858. Before World War II
the number of Catholics increased in Libya due to Italian colonialism
, but now the Catholic Cathedral of Tripoli (built in the 1930s) has been converted to a mosque
.
Roman Catholic Vicariates Apostolic exist in Benghazi
, Derna and Tripoli
. There is a Prefecture Apostolic in Misrata.
There are two Bishops, one in Tripoli (Bishop Giovanni Martinelli - serving the Italian community in the Church of San Francisco in Dhahra) and one in Benghazi (Bishop Sylvester Carmel Magro - serving the Maltese community in the Church of the Immaculate Conception).
In Libya actually there are four territorial jurisdictions - three Apostolic Administrations and one Apostolic Prefecture:
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. Since Roman times
Roman Libya
The area of North Africa which has been known as Libya since 1911 was under Roman domination between 146 BC and 670 AD.The Latin name Libya at the time referred to the continent of Africa in general....
it has always been present in Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
and Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
.
Characteristics
The largest Christian group in Libya is the Coptic Orthodox made up entirely of Egyptian immigrant workers, with a population of over 60,000. The Coptic (Egyptian) Church is known to have historical roots in Libya long before the Arabs advanced westward from Egypt into Libya. However, the Roman Catholics have a large number as well, with 40,000 members. OrthodoxEastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
communities other than that of the Egyptian Copts include the Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, and the Greek Orthodox. There is one Anglican congregation in Tripoli, made up mostly of African immigrant workers in Tripoli and which belongs to the Egyptian Anglican diocese. The Anglican bishop of Libya has his seat in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. There is also a priest in Sabha. There is only a few, though growing, number of native Libyan Arab and Berber converts to Christianity.
There are relatively peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims in Libya. However, there are restrictions for Christian religious activity. It is prohibited to proselytize Muslims, even though a non-Muslim man must convert to Islam if he wants to marry a Muslim woman. Also, religious literature is restricted.
Coptic Orthodox Church
Currently, there are 60,000 Copts in Libya, as they have many roots in North Africa (primarily Egypt).Historically speaking, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
spread to the Pentapolis in North Africa
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
from Egypt; Synesius of Cyrene (370-414), bishop of Ptolemais, received his instruction at Alexandria in both the Catechetical School and the Museion, and he entertained a great deal of reverence and affection for Hypatia, the last pagan Neoplatonists, whose classes he had attended. Synesius was raised to the episcopate by Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, in 410 AD Since the Council of Nicaea
First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325...
in 325 AD, Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
had been recognized as an ecclesiastical province of the See of Alexandria, in accordance with the ruling of the Nicaean Fathers. The Pope of Alexandria to this day includes the Pentapolis in his title as an area within his jurisdiction.
The Coptic congregations in several countries were under the ancient Eparchy of the Western Pentapolis, which was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church for centuries until the thirteenth century.
In 1971 Pope Shenouda III reinstated it as part of the Eparchy of His Eminence Metropolitan Bishop Pachomius, Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Beheira
Al Buhayrah Governorate
Beheira Governorate is a coastal governorate in Egypt. Located in the northern part of the country in the Nile Delta, its capital is Damanhur.-Overview:Beheira governorate enjoys an important strategical place, west of the Rosetta branch of the Nile...
(Thmuis
Thmuis
Thmuis is a city of Lower Egypt, on the canal east of the Nile, between its Tanitic and Mendesian branches. In Greco-Roman Egypt, Thmuis replaced Djedet as the capital of Lower Egypt's 16th nome of Kha [ Herodotus ]. The two cities are only several hundred meters apart...
& Hermopolis Parva), (Buto
Buto
Buto , Butus , or Butosus, , now Tell al-Fara'in near the city of Desouk , was an ancient city located 95 km east of Alexandria in the Nile Delta of Egypt. The city stood on the Sebennytic arm of the Nile, near its mouth, and on the southern shore of the Butic Lake...
), Mariout
Lake Mariout
Lake Mariout Buhayrat Mariyyut is a brackish lake in northern Egypt. The lake area covered 200 km² at the beginning of the 20th century, but at the beginning of the 21th century it coveres only about 50 km². It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by the narrow isthmus on which the...
(Mareotis), Marsa Matruh
Marsa Matruh
Marsa Matrouh is a Mediterranean seaport and the capital of the Matrouh Governorate in Egypt. It is west of Alexandria and 222 km from Sallum, on the main highway from the Nile Delta to the Libyan border. Another highway leads south from the town, toward the Western Desert and the oases of...
(Paraetonium), (Apis
Apis (city)
Apis , was an ancient seaport town on the north coast of Africa, about 18 km west of Paraetonium, sometimes reckoned to Egypt, and sometimes to Marmarica. Scylax places it at the western boundary of Egypt, on the frontier of the Marmaridae. Ptolemy Apis (Greek: , named for the god Apis), was an...
), Patriarchal Exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
of the Ancient Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
of Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
: (Livis
Libu
The Libu were an ancient Berber tribe, from which the name Libya derives....
, Marmarica, Darnis & Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
) & Titular Metropolitan Archbishop of the Great and Ancient Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
of Pentapolis
Pentapolis
A pentapolis, from the Greek words , "five" and , "city" is a geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities...
: (Cyren), (Appollonia
Apollonia, Cyrenaica
Apollonia in Cyrenaica was founded by Greek colonists and became a significant commercial centre in the southern Mediterranean. It served as the harbour of Cyrene, to the southwest...
), (Ptolemais
Ptolemais (Cyrenaica)
Ptolemais or Ptolemaida was one of the ancient capitals of Cyrenaica. It was probably named after Ptolemy III Euergetes. Its Latin name in Roman times was Tolmeta, from which the modern Libyan town of Tolmeitha derives its name.The town was most probably founded in 7th or 6th century BC by...
), (Berenice
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
) and (Arsinoe
Taucheira
Taucheira, Tukrah or El Agouriya , is a town on the coast of the Marj District in the Cyrenaica region of northeastern Libya, founded by Cyrene. It lay 200 stadia west of Ptolemais. Today it is a coastal town west of Marj.-History:...
).
This was one among a chain of many restructuring of several eparchies by Pope Shenouda III, while some of them were incorporated into the jurisdiction of others, especially those who were within an uncovered region or which were part of a Metropolis that became extinct, or by dividing large eparchies into smaller more manageable eparchies. This was also a part of the restructuring of the Church as a whole.
They are currently three Coptic Orthodox Churches in Libya: one in Tripoli, Libya (Saint Mark's), one in Benghazi, Libya (Saint Antonios — two priests), and one in Misrata, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
(Saint Mary and Saint George).
Roman Catholic Church
There are about 50,000 Roman Catholics, mostly Italian Libyans and Maltese Libyans .
The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Our Lady of the Angels) in the Old City - Medina of Tripoli was founded in 1645 and, with the permission of the Sultan of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, the Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in Benghazi in 1858. Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the number of Catholics increased in Libya due to Italian colonialism
Italian Libya
Italian Libya was a unified colony of Italian North Africa established in 1934 in what represents present-day Libya...
, but now the Catholic Cathedral of Tripoli (built in the 1930s) has been converted to a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
.
Roman Catholic Vicariates Apostolic exist in Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, Derna and Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. There is a Prefecture Apostolic in Misrata.
There are two Bishops, one in Tripoli (Bishop Giovanni Martinelli - serving the Italian community in the Church of San Francisco in Dhahra) and one in Benghazi (Bishop Sylvester Carmel Magro - serving the Maltese community in the Church of the Immaculate Conception).
In Libya actually there are four territorial jurisdictions - three Apostolic Administrations and one Apostolic Prefecture:
- Apostolic Vicariate of BenghaziApostolic Vicariate of BenghaziThe Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Benghazi in Libya.-History:* February 3, 1927: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Cirenaica from the Apostolic Vicariate of Libya...
- Apostolic Vicariate of DernaApostolic Vicariate of DernaThe Apostolic Vicariate of Derna is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Derna in Libya.-History:* June 22, 1939: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Derna from the Apostolic Vicariate of Cirenaica-Leadership:...
- Apostolic Vicariate of TripoliApostolic Vicariate of TripoliThe Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Tripoli in Libya.-History:* 1630: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli* 1894: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Libya...
- Apostolic Prefecture of Misrata
Pentecostals
There are Pentecostal worship groups in Libya in places like Tripoli and Misrata. These churches are primarily worship groups who gather together every Friday, led by Pentecostal pastors. Though these groups are not officially approved by the government of Libya, they practice their faith without any interference from the government. The following are the two known Pentecostal worship places:- Indian Prayer Fellowship, Tripoli
- Global Faith Fellowship, Misrata
See also
- Christianity in AfricaChristianity in AfricaChristianity is now one of the two most widely practised religions in Africa and is the largest religion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most adherents outside Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea are Roman Catholic or Protestant. The presence of Christianity in Africa began in the middle of the 1st century in...
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Coptic Orthodoxy in AfricaCoptic Orthodox Church in AfricaThis article, dealing with the Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa, is about the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in African countries other than Egypt....
- Coptic Orthodoxy in Africa
- Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
- Roman Catholicism in AfricaRoman Catholicism in AfricaRoman Catholicism in Africa is the part of the Catholic Church in the various countries of Africa. Christian activity in Africa began in the 1st century when the Patriarchate of Alexandria was formed as one of the four original Patriarchs of the East...
- Roman Catholicism in Africa
- Religion in LibyaReligion in LibyaOther than the overwhelming majority of Sunni Muslims, there are also small Christian communities, composed exclusively of foreigners. Coptic Orthodox Christianity, which is the Christian Church of Egypt, is the largest and most historical Christian denomination in Libya. There are over 60,000...
- Protestantism in LibyaProtestantism in LibyaProtestants are less than 1 % of the population of Libya.There are peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims.It is prohibited to proselytize Muslims.A non-Muslim man must convert to Islam if he wants to marry a Muslim woman....
External links
- Coptic History: Mission in the Church
- Coptic Church Listings for the Diaspora (P. 119)
- http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/dly2.html
- http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71427.htm
- http://www.ead.de/gebet/30tage/kalender.php?ausgabe=2006&tag=18 (in German)
- http://www.globalfaithfellowship.in