Byzantine Orthodox Church in Berat.

Christianity in Albania was established throughout the country in 325 AD. From 1100 AD, the Roman Empire carried out Church missions in the area. In relation to the increasing influence of Venice, the Franciscans started to settle down in the area in the 13th century. From the 15th century to the 19th century, under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Christianity was replaced by Islam as the majority religion in Albania during the Ottoman Empire.

Demographics

Demographics in 2011

The 2011 population census, gives the percentages of religious affiliations with 58% Muslim, 10% Catholic, 7% Orthodox and 25% atheist, nonreligious or other since the fall of Communism in 1991.[1] However the 2011 census is disputed due to poor counting of the population and the inability to reach most citizens.[2]

A 2015 study estimated some 13,000 conversions to Christianity from Muslim backgrounds.[3]

Demographics in early 2020s

According to Boston University's 2020 World Religion Database, Albania's religious affiliation is 59% Muslim, 38% % Christian, 2.5% atheist or agnostic, and 0.6% Baha'i.[4]

Figures in 2022 note that 55% of the population are Sunni Muslim, 4.3% are Shia Muslim, 18.4% are Orthodox Christians and 17.9% are Catholic.[5]

Eastern Orthodoxy

According to the numbers given by the government in 2010 it was stated that Eastern Orthodoxy was practiced by about 20% of Albanians within Albania.[2] In the disputed 2011 census the percentage of Orthodox believers was listed as 6.75% of the population.[1] Albania is historically linked with both the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodoxy. Albanians were among the first peoples of the region to receive missionaries and convert to Christianity. With the split of the Church in 1054, Orthodoxy become the religion for the Albanians inhabiting the areas under the Byzantine rule.

The first Orthodox liturgy in the Albanian language was held not in Albania, but in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Subsequently, when the Orthodox Church was not allowed an official existence in communist Albania, Albanian Orthodoxy survived in exile in Philadelphia with the church in Philadelphia being founded in 1913 and in Boston in 1965.

Catholic Church

Catholic church in Vlorë.

The Catholic Church in Albania is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. According to the numbers given by the government in 2011 it was stated that around 10.03% of the religious population is Catholic.[2] Figures in 2022 note that 17.90% of Albanians are Catholic.[5]

There are five dioceses in the country, including two archdioceses plus an Apostolic Administration covering southern Albania.

Prior to the Ottoman invasion, Christianity was the religion of all Albanians. The northern Albanians adhered to Catholicism, whilst in the south they were followers of Eastern Orthodoxy.[6][7]

Protestantism

Figures in 2022 note that 0.45% of the population are Protestant.[5] This is about 13,000 people. Many Protestant denominations come under the umbrella organisation, the Albanian Evangelical Alliance (VUSH).[8][9]

Freedom of Religion

In 2022, Albania scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[10]

See also

Further reading

  • Tönnes, Bernhard. "Albania." In The Encyclopedia of Christianity, edited by Erwin Fahlbusch and Geoffrey William Bromiley, 35–36. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN 0802824137
  • Malaj, Edmond (2014). "Të dhëna mbi Krishterimin në trojet iliro-shqiptare para dhe pas Ediktit të Milanos (313). Me përqendrim tek martirologjia (Data on the Christianity in the Illyrian-Albanian Territories before and after the Edict of Milan 313. With a Concentration on the Martyrology.)". Studime Historike. Instituti i Historisë (Qendra e Studimeve Albanologjike). 3–4.

References

  1. 1 2 Albanian census 2011 Archived 14 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 Albanian Government. "L'Albania oggi" (in Italian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  3. ↑ Miller, Duane; Johnstone, Patrick (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". IJRR. 11: 15. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ↑ US State Dept 2022 report
  5. 1 2 3 The Archive of Religion Data Archives website, Retrieved 2023-07-18
  6. ↑ Ramet, Sabrina P. (1989). Religion and Nationalism in Soviet and East European Politics. Duke University Press. p. 381. ISBN 0-8223-0891-6. Prior to the Turkish conquest, the ghegs (the chief tribal group in northern Albania) had found in Roman Catholicism a means of resisting the Slavs, and though Albanian Orthodoxy remained important among the tosks (the chief tribal group in southern Albania),...
  7. ↑ Leften Stavros Stavrianos (January 2000). The Balkans Since 1453. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 498. ISBN 978-1-85065-551-0. Religious differences also existed before the coming of the Turks. Originally, all Albanians had belonged to the Eastern Orthodox Church... Then the Ghegs in the North adopted in order to better resist the pressure of Orthodox Serbs.
  8. ↑ Operation World website, Retrieved 2023-07-18
  9. ↑ VUSH official website
  10. ↑ Freedom House website, Retrieved 202-07-18
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