Christianity in Europe

Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Borisov, Belarus

Christianity is the predominant religion in Europe.^[2] Christianity has been practiced in Europe since the first century, and a number of the Pauline Epistles were addressed to Christians living in Greece, as well as other parts of the Roman Empire.

According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, 76.2% of the European population identified themselves as Christians.^[3]

As of 2010, Roman Catholics were the largest Christian group in Europe, accounting for more than 48% of European Christians.^[3] The second-largest Christian group in Europe were the Orthodox, who made up 32% of European Christians.^[3] About 19% of European Christians were part of the mainline Protestant tradition.^[3] Russia is the largest Christian country in Europe by population, followed by Germany and Italy.^[3]

Since at least the legalization of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, Europe has been an important centre of Christian culture, even though the religion was inherited from the Middle East and important Christian communities have thrived outside Europe such as Oriental Orthodoxy and the Church of the East since the time of Christ. Christian culture has been an important force in Western civilization, influencing the course of philosophy, art, and science.^[4]^[5]

^ Pew Forum, Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050
^ "Europe". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Most Europeans adhere to one of three broad divisions of Christianity: Roman Catholicism in the west and southwest, Protestantism in the north, and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east and southeast
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Christianity in Europe Archived 2012-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, including the Asian part of Russia, excluding the European part of Turkey
^ Koch, Carl (1994). The Catholic Church: Journey, Wisdom, and Mission. Early Middle Ages: St. Mary's Press. ISBN 978-0-88489-298-4.
^ Dawson, Christopher; Glenn Olsen (1961). Crisis in Western Education (reprint ed.). CUA Press. ISBN 978-0-8132-1683-6. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

[1] Pew Forum, Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050

[Europe-2] "Europe". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 January 2016. Most Europeans adhere to one of three broad divisions of Christianity: Roman Catholicism in the west and southwest, Protestantism in the north, and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east and southeast

[Christianity_in_Europe-3] Christianity in Europe Archived 2012-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, including the Asian part of Russia, excluding the European part of Turkey

[Koch_1994-4] Koch, Carl (1994). The Catholic Church: Journey, Wisdom, and Mission. Early Middle Ages: St. Mary's Press. ISBN 978-0-88489-298-4.

[5] Dawson, Christopher; Glenn Olsen (1961). Crisis in Western Education (reprint ed.). CUA Press. ISBN 978-0-8132-1683-6. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

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95–100%	Malta Moldova Armenia Romania Vatican City
90–95%	San Marino Portugal Liechtenstein Ireland Serbia Croatia Poland Iceland
80–90%	Finland Austria Hungary Bulgaria Italy Denmark Ukraine Norway Slovakia Monaco Greece Georgia Andorra Lithuania
70–80%	Luxembourg Belarus Switzerland Cyprus Russia Montenegro Slovenia Spain
60–70%	France Belgium United Kingdom Sweden Germany
50–60%	Netherlands Latvia North Macedonia

30–40%	Bosnia and Herzegovina Estonia
20–30%	Czech Republic
10–20%	Albania Kazakhstan
5–10%	Kosovo

2–4%	Azerbaijan
< 1%	Turkey