Mission

; See also Evangelizer; Evangelism
; Mission
; Christianity
Also known as Evangelism
Mission, in Christianity, an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith.
During the early years, Christianity expanded through the communities of the Jewish dispersion. Soon the separate character of Christianity was recognized, and it was freed from the requirements of Hebrew law. St. Paul the Apostle, the greatest and the prototype of all missionaries, evangelized much of Asia Minor and the chief Greek cities and was also active in Rome. Because of his work and that of other missionaries, the new religion spread rapidly along the trade routes of the Roman Empire into all the great centres of population.
By the time of Constantine (reigned 306–337 CE), Christianity had spread to all parts of the Roman Empire, both East and West. Although paganism and local religions lingered, by about 500 CE the population of the Roman Empire was predominantly Christian. During this period, missionary endeavour moved to the empire’s borders and beyond.
The advance of Christianity slowed after 500 as the Roman Empire, with which it had become identified, disintegrated. In the 7th and 8th centuries, Arab invasions established Islam as the dominant religion in about half the area in which Christianity had been dominant. During this time, however, Celtic and British missionaries spread the faith in western and northern Europe, while missionaries of the Greek church in Constantinople worked in eastern Europe and Russia.
From about 950 to 1350 the conversion of Europe was completed, and Russia became Christian. Missions to Islamic areas and to the East were begun.
From 1350 to 1500 Christianity suffered a serious recession. The new empire of the Ottoman Turks replaced the Arab state and destroyed the Byzantine Empire. The old Eastern Christian churches declined, and in addition the Black Death killed hundreds of missionaries, who were not replaced.
Category:Mission
Category:Evangelize
Category:Evangelism