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.