When was Christianity established throughout Europe?

Answer 1

Western Europe was part of the Roman Empire, where Christianity was generally tolerated but formed a small minority until the time of Emperor Constantine, in the early years of the fourth century.

Constantine encouraged Christianity and provided valuable state patronage. Nevertheless, the majority of the Roman Empire remained faithful to the pagan religions after his death in 337. Christianity was declared the state religion of Rome in 391 CE, and the public worship of pagan gods was banned. However, the ban on paganism was not easily enforced in the outer provinces of western Europe.

Although Christianity had spread throughout the empire, it was not necessarily 'popular'. The temple of Isis in Carthage had been made into a church, but in 440, bishops noticed that nominally Christian worshippers were continuing to worship the old goddess, so had the temple destroyed. In the late 6th century, Pope Gregory found Sardinia to be a stronghold of paganism, with the people bribing the governor to turn a blind eye. Paganism was still strong in Sardinia in the 11th century. The third Council of Toledo stated that, "the sacrilege of idolatory is rooted in almost the whole of Gaul and Spain."

Britain finally seceded from the Roman Empire in 409-10, but had already acquired a Christian legacy. Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick (A History of Pagan Europe) say that in 429, the ruling class of Britain was entirely Christian. Britain was repaganised and did not finally become predominantly Christian until around the eleventh century.

Diarmat McCerbaill, who died in 565, was probably the last pagan king of Ireland. His successor invited British monks to revive Christianity, which is said to have been introduced by Patrick over a hundred years earlier. Following the Viking conquest of Ireland at the end of the eighth century, Ireland became dual-faith once again.

Answer 2

The apostles, who disappeared from biblical view after Christ's ascension, took it to the "lost tribes of the House of Israel" who were scattered around Asia Minor and elsewhere at the time [God knew where]. And it continued to be taught and spread as world upheavals caused the migration of people into Europe and throughout the world.

"...Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand..." (Matt.10:5-7).

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting..." (James 1:1)

Answer 3

Until the reign of Constantine, only a fairly small proportion of the Roman Empire's population was Christian, estimated by some to be around ten per cent overall. With the state patronage introduced by Emperor Constantine and the persecution by the Christian emperors of the pagan temples, Christianity began to grow strongly throughout the fourth century. By the end of the century, the faith was important in Europe.

Answer 4

Since the first century, Christianity has been practiced in Europe. It has been established that the Christian Church can be traced back to Peter and Paul in Europe.

Answer 5

Christianity in Europe really started to take off around the 6th Century CE, and became the dominant faith sometime before the 12th Century CE.