Eastern Orthodoxy in Saudi Arabia

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Eastern Orthodoxy in Saudi Arabia is a Christian minority consisting of people of various nationalities that are adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The percentage of Saudi Arabian citizens who are Christians is officially zero.[1] The Saudi Arabian Mutaween (Arabic: مطوعين), or Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (i.e., the religious police) prohibits the practice of any religion other than Islam.[2] The Greek Orthodox have some numerical strength.[3] Major nationalities in Saudi Arabia include Egyptians, Syrians, Palestinians and Lebanese.[4]

In 2018, it was reported that the religious police had stopped enforcing the ban on Christians religious services. It was also reported that a Coptic Mass was openly conducted for the first time in Riyadh during the visit of Ava Morkos, Coptic Bishop of Shobra Al-Kheima in Egypt.[5][6] Morkos was originally invited to Saudi Arabia by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in March 2018.[6]

References

  1. ^ Central Intelligence Agency. "Saudi Arabia". The World Factbook.
  2. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2008 - Saudi Arabia
  3. ^ Kjeilen, Tore. "Greek Orthodox Church". LookLex Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  4. ^ United States Department of State 2009 report
  5. ^ Coptstoday.com, December 1, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "For First Time Ever, Christian Mass Held Openly In Saudi Arabia (Special dispatch 7795)". memri.org. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2018.

See also