Figure 1.--Here some French Algerian boys are doing their First Communion. The building in the background may be their school. We do don know jut where in Algeria it w located. We would guess the photograph was taken in the early-1950s. They are dressed just like boys in France would have dressed.

Christianity arrived in North Africa during the Roman era. While Christianity began in Palestine, it probably did not arrive from there, but rather as a result of trade with Rome itself. The practice of Christianity declined as Rome fell and the pagan vadals invaded from the west. This changed with the arrival of the Byzantines who controlled Algeria for a brief period. The Arabs invaed from the east (7th century). Algeria was gradually Arabized and Islamicized. Unlike Egypt, Christianity virtually disappeared despite the steady supply of Christian slaves seized by Muslim corsairs. A small Jewish community survived. French colonization reintroduced Christianity to Algeria. French colonists who cane to Algeria were uniformily Catholic, although varies in their devotion. Churches were built by the colonists. And along with secular schools there were alsio some Catholic schools. Virtually none of the colonists converted to Islam. Catholic missionaries came to Algeria, but made littlke headway with the Algerians in cotrast to the impact they had in France's Sub-Saharan colonies. The colonists practiced their Catholic faith as if they were in France. Catholic churches were built in the various communities where the French settled. As in France, many settlers did not actively practice their faith, but were culturally Catholic. Photographs from the colonits are virtually indestinuishable from metropolitan France. We see the children doing their First Communiion and servig as altar boys just as boys would do in France. With very few exceptions, the French exited Algeria with independence. This was the end of Chritianity as an important religion in Algeria. Some reports suggestvtht about 2 percent of Algerians are Christians. For some reason there seem to be more Protestats than Cathloics among the country's small Chriustian population. Christians may be investigated by authorities because under Shria Law, conversion is illegal. Other Chritians may be the subject of attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. Mgr. Pierre Claverie, bishop of Oran, was assassinated by terrorists (1996). Earlier seven Trappistes monks of Tibérine and of six nuns were killed. This ocurred during a wave of Islamic violence that left 0.1-0.2 million Algeriand dead.

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Created: 12:18 AM 5/8/2012
Last updated: 12:18 AM 5/8/2012