Christianity in Qatar
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The Christian community in Qatar is a diverse mix of European, North and South American, Asian, Middle Eastern and African expatriates. In 2023, they form around 15.4% of the total population.[1] Many of them are from the Philippines, Europe, and India.[2] Most Christians in Qatar are not Arab Christians.
The constitution provides for
History
Many of the inhabitants of Qatar were introduced to Christianity after the religion was dispersed eastward by Mesopotamian Christians from 224 AD onwards.[3] Monasteries were constructed in Qatar during this era.[4] During the latter part of the Christian era, Qatar was known by the Syriac name 'Beth Qatraye'.[5] A variant of this was 'Beth Catara'.[6] The name translates to 'region of the Qataris'.[5] The region was not limited to Qatar; it also included Bahrain, Tarout Island, Al-Khatt, and Al-Hasa.[7] In the fifth century AD, Beth Qatraye was the main center of the Nestorian Christian Church of the East, which ruled the southern shores of the Persian Gulf. The Nestorians were often persecuted for being viewed as heretics by the Byzantine Empire, but Eastern Arabia was outside the control of the Byzantine Empire and the region provided some security. In 628, most of the Arab tribes converted to Islam.[8]
It is likely that some settled populations in Qatar did not immediately convert to Islam.
Religious Complex, Doha
In May 2005, representatives of Christian churches in Qatar signed an agreement with the Qatari Government for a fifty-year lease on a large piece of property in Mesaimeer on the outskirts of Doha on which they intended to erect six churches at their own expense. The churches were expected to pay nominal lease fees of a few hundred dollars a year, renewable after ten years. The property was expected to include an Anglican church that may also be used by other Protestant denominations, a church to serve thirty four Indian-Christian congregations, a church for the country's small but influential Coptic community, and a site for two Orthodox churches, one Greek and one Eastern Rite.
In December 2005, the foundation stone for the Catholic Church was laid and the ground-breaking took place at the end of April 2006. A board composed of members of all the Christian churches liaises directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding church matters. Each church has been granted permission to apply for visas for visiting clerics to preside over and assist in church services.[11] Previously, Catholics and other Christians were limited to informal group meetings in homes.[12]
The Anglican Church of the Epiphany, was officially opened on 21 September 2013 and consecrated on 28 September 2013.[13] The church sanctuary can accommodate up to 650 worshipers. The Anglican Centre, managed by the Anglican Church in Qatar, accommodates 59 additional Evangelical, Pentecostal and Protestant congregations.[14]
The St. Issac and St. George Greek Orthodox Church serves the orthodox communities numbering about 10,000 people from the Middle East, Asia, Syria and Africa.[15]
Denominations
Among the denominations mentioned in World Christian Encyclopedia, second edition, Volume 1, p. 617-618 are the Roman Catholic Church, Coptic Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Anglican Churches, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Malankara Catholic Church, Syro-Malabar Church and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
The
In 2023, there are about 350,000 Catholics in Qatar (including nine priests),[16][15] who are under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia.
-
Church of Our Lady and Rosary -
Anglician Church of the Epiphany
See also
- Religion in Qatar
- Catholic Church in Qatar
- Protestantism in Qatar
- Freedom of religion in Qatar
- Christianity in the Middle East
- Christianity in Eastern Arabia
References
- ^ Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-06-27
- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ISBN 978-0472110407.
- ISBN 978-1848852785.
- ^ a b "AUB academics awarded $850,000 grant for project on the Syriac writers of Qatar in the 7th century AD" (PDF). American University of Beirut. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^ Proceedings of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at Meeting held in Philadelphia in August and Sept. 1835, p. 65
- ISBN 978-1463203559.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-58901-910-2. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ISBN 978-0415548038.
- ^ "Christianity in the Gulf during the first centuries of Islam" (PDF). Oxford Brookes University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report 2006". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Religious Freedom Gains New Foothold in Qatar". Christianity Today. March 6, 2000. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
- ^ Ramesh Mathew (2 October 2013). "Christians in Qatar celebrate formal opening of Anglican center". Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ "Anglican Centre Website". Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ^ a b Ramesh Mathew (22 February 2014). "Prince Charles visits churches in Abu Hamour". Gulf Times. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
- ^ Catholics and Cultures website, Retrieved 2023-07-05
- Christian Science Monitor website, 2005
- Belief Net website (archive)
- World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, Volume 1, p. 617
External links
- The Official Response of his Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem to his Beatitude John X of Antioch concerning the Canonical Jurisdiction of the Emirate of Qatar
- Metropolitan Saba Esber Responds to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Statement
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