The modern nation of Algeria is a land that was once a renowned center of Orthodox Christianity. The holy martyr St. Cyprian of Carthage, Blessed Augustine of Hippo, and many other saints hailed from North Africa. But in 647, the first Arab invaders arrived, and the Islamization of the area began. Ultimately Christianity was entirely wiped out in North Africa.
Today Christianity, albeit not yet Holy Orthodoxy, is returning to North Africa. Yet as we see in so many areas, this article shows yet again that the persecution of Christians is mandated by the government and legal authorities. Please keep the Christians of Algeria who are enduring these church closures in your prayers, and pray also to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ for the revival of Holy Orthodoxy in this venerable land.
“Authorities Prevent Algerian Church from Worship,” International Christian Concern, January 30, 2019:
01/30/2019 Algeria (International Christian Concern) – This past October, Algerian authorities sealed a church in the Kayblie region. The Church of Azagher has about 300 members, and they began meeting in a tent erected in the church’s front yard after the building was closed. On January 28, the tent’s owner was informed by the National Gendarmerie that the tent must be dismantled.
This congregation was visited by a so called “building safety committee” in December 2017. They were later informed that the church lacked certain safety protocols, such as emergency exits and fire extinguishers. The church fixed those issues. However, they were also warned of violations regarding foreign visitors and that they were using a building designated for commercial use (poultry production). The authorities sealed the church in October 2018, leaving the congregation to worship outside.
Algeria uses building safety committees to shutter churches indefinitely. The authorities also create substantial obstacles for the opening of new churches, making it impossible and leaving Christians to worship in buildings intended for other uses….
