Portland Observar Section II February 2B. 1880 Paga 8
A chronology of
by Clarence L. H olfe
Christianity originating in Bethlehem with the b.r h
o f Christ, is one o f the three relig.ons o f the world
which holds that God is Divine, an Infinite Betng and
supremely good; that HE created the world, is omni
potent, omniscient, and omnipresent. The other two
faiths: Judaism, the religion o f the Jew, which took
shape in Palestine several thousands o f years ago; and
Islam, the religion o f the Muslims, which was founded
in Mecca c. 570 A .D . by Mohammed, the prophet.
Before the advent o f these three m onotheistic
religions, Menes, c. 3100 B.C., and lkhnaton c. 1357
B.C. two Ethiopian kings who reunified Egypt and be
came pharoahs, were the first recorded proponents ot
the One God concept.
The follow ing log w ill chronologically trace Black
Christianity from its pre-history in North Africa down
through the continent to the New W orld across the
Atlantic Ocean.
lacks and Christianity
time, missionaries in North Africa practiced with the
constant spectre o f persecution and great personal
danger.
323 A.D . — King Ezana is converted to Christianity and
the Ethiopian Orthodox (Ceptic) Church is established.
543 A .D .-354 A .D . — Nubia (Sudan) becomes the birth
place o f the Christian Church among Blacks by the ar
rival o f an emissary from the royal court o f Egypt,
w hich, at that tim e, practiced the religio n. Many
churches were built and mass conversions made.
354-430 A.D. —St. Augustine, regarded by theologians
as the founder o f theology, is Bishop o f Hippo. His
writings continue to influence Catholics.
6th-15th Century — Little activity relevant to the Black
Christian Church was recorded. Spain and Portugal
were powerful colonizers. Recognizing this, and at
tempting to minimize conflict between the two powers,
Pope Alexander VI reserved Africa (west o f the Cape
Verde Desert) and Brazil for exploration by Portugal; to
Spain, he gave America and the Phillipines. Hence, the
early Catholic missionaries in Africa were Portugese.
¡320 — Prince Dorn Henrique is the first Kongolese or
dained a Catholic bishop. Schools, churches and other
reforms were ineffective in the expansion ot C hristiamty
after his death.
¡323 —The Reformation (or revolt) created Protestant
ism (protesters) from the Catholic faith, and opened the
continent o f Aftica to an “ invasion” o f missionaries
from almost all o f Europe’ s many sects. Deep inroads
into the indigenous religions were not significant until
Coronation place of the Ethiopian emperors In
the outer court of the Cathedral of St. M ery of
Zion at Aksum, holiest shrine In Ethiopia. It was
destroyed In the 18th century end rebuilt In the
17th. Stumpy pillars at left date from pre-Christian
times.
c. 1000 B.C. — Makeda (Sheba) Queen o f Ethiopia,
gave birth to King Solomon’ s son, Menelik, thus creat
ing a link between the royal tam ily and sons o f the
nobles o f Israel.
P o rtrait of M sllk Am bar (M ug h u l. cs. 1820-30)
Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The dominant force during the 17th and 18th centu
ries in Africa and the American colonies was the slave
trade. There were, however, some notable efforts in
Christianizing Blacks on both continents;
SAFECO
INSURANCE
COMPANIES
TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY IN REC
OGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
ITS BLACKS AND HOPE ALL WILL
JOIN IN A SALUTE TO BLACK HIS
TORY WEEK.
the horizon, to the left, rises a steep sided plateau,
an amba. at the top of which is the old monastic
village of Debra Damo, founded In the early days
of the Church In Ethiopia. IPhoto: J. Doresse)
lst-4th Century A .D . —C hristianity is introduced in
North Africa.
3rd Century A.D. —St. Cyprian, the Bishop o f Car
thage, wrote On the Unity o f the Catholic Church. He
died a martyr.
307 A.D. —Constantine became the first Christian em
peror and declared it the state religion in 325. U ntil this
SAFECO
1500 SW 1st AVE.