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A Christian state is a country that recognizes a form of Christianity as its official religion and often has a state church (also called an established church), which is a Christian denomination that supports the government and is supported by the government.
Historically, the nations of Armenia, Aksum, Makuria, and the Holy Roman Empire have declared themselves as Christian states, as well as the Roman Empire and its continuation the Byzantine Empire, the Russian Empire, the Spanish Empire, the British Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the Frankish Empire, the Belgian colonial empire, the French empire.
Today, several nations officially identify themselves as Christian states or have state churches. These countries include Argentina, Armenia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Denmark (incl. Greenland and the Faroe Islands), England, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Constitution of Georgia Article 9 (1 & 2) and 73 (1a) Greece, Hungary, Hungary's Constitution of 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2016. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Samoa, Serbia,Paul Pavlovich. The History of the Serbian Orthodox Church Tonga, Tuvalu, Vatican City, and Zambia. The laws of various Christian countries, such as those of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden require their monarch to be a Christian (usually of a particular denomination, such as Lutheranism). A Christian state stands in contrast to a secular state, an atheist state,
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, the Eastern Roman Empire under the emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565), became the world's predominant Christian state, based on Roman law, Greek culture, and the Greek language." In this Christian state, in which nearly all of its subjects upheld faith in Jesus, an "enormous amount of artistic talent was poured into the construction of churches, church ceremonies, and church decoration". John Binns describes this era, writing that:
As a Christian state, Armenia "embraced Christianity as the religion of the King, the nobles, and the people". In 326, according to official tradition of the Georgian Orthodox Church, following the conversion of Mirian and Nana, the country of Georgia became a Christian state, the Emperor Constantine the Great sending clerics for baptising people. In the 4th century, in the Kingdom of Aksum, after Ezana's conversion to the faith, this empire also became a Christian state.
In the Middle Ages, efforts were made in order to establish a Pan-Christianity state by uniting the countries within Christendom.
The First Great Awakening, American Revolution, and Second Great Awakening caused two rounds of disestablishment among the states of the new United States, from 1776 to 1833.
Over 82% of the population of Denmark are members of the Lutheranism Church of Denmark, which is "officially headed by the queen of Denmark".
Christian religious education is taught to children in primary and secondary schools in the United Kingdom. English schools have a legal requirement for a daily act of collective worship "of a broadly Christian character"
Mount Athos and most of the Athos peninsula are governed as an autonomous region in Greece by the monastic community of Mount Athos, which is ecclesiastically under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
This applies toof the Kingdom of Denmark, except for the Faroe Islands, as the Church of the Faroe Islands became independent in 2007.
All public schools have mandatory education in Christianity, although an exemption may be considered by the Minister of Education.
In 2017, the Church of Norway was made self-governing, with the identity of the denomination shifting from a state church to a national church.
Serbia as modern state, defines in its constitution as a secular state with guaranteed religious freedom. However, Orthodox Christians with 6,079,396 adherents comprise 84.5% of the country's population. The Serbian Orthodox Church is the largest traditional church of the country, adherents of which are overwhelmingly Serbs. The SOC directly or indirectly has Culture influence on both the decisions and positions of the state.
After "Zambia declared itself a Christian nation in 1991", "the nation's vice president urged citizens to 'have a Christian orientation in all fields, at all levels'."
(2025). 9780198782650, Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198782650 or another religious state, such as a Jewish state, or an Islamic state.
History
The Armenian Apostolic Church traces its origins to the apostolic era, asserting apostolic succession from the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus (Jude). The formal establishment of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia is traditionally dated to 301 AD, during the reign of Tiridates III, following his conversion by Gregory the Illuminator. This makes Armenia the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, although the exact date has been subject to scholarly debate.Binns, John. An Introduction to the Christian Orthodox Churches. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, p. 30. . In 380, three Roman emperors issued the Edict of Thessalonica ( Cunctos populos), making the Roman Empire a Christian state, and establishing Nicene Christianity, in the form of its State Church, as its official religion. (2015). 9781317662822, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317662822
(2010). 9780470402573, John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470402573 (2012). 9781412981767, SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781412981767
(1990). 9781558621015, St. James Press. ISBN 9781558621015 (1984). 9780313231919, Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313231919 Christian nationalism played a role in this era in which Christians felt the impulse to also recover those territories in which Christianity historically flourished, such as the Holy Land and North Africa.
Modern era
Argentina
Article 2 of the Constitution of Argentina explicitly states that "the Federal Government supports the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith" and Article 14 guarantees freedom of religion. Although it enforces neither an official nor a state faith, it gives Catholic Christianity a preferential status.In practice this privileged status amounts to tax-exempt school subsidies and licensing preferences for radio broadcasting frequencies. Before its 1994 amendment, the Constitution stated that the President of the Republic must be a Roman Catholic.
Armenia
In Armenia Christianity is the state religion and the Armenian Apostolic Church is the national church. Armenia is the first country which recognised Christianity as a state religion.
Costa Rica
The constitution of Costa Rica states that "The Catholic and Apostolic Religion is the religion of the State". (2025). 9780415464413, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415464413 As such, Catholic Christian holy days are recognized by the government and "public schools provide religious education", although parents are able to opt-out their children if they choose to do so.
Denmark
As early as the 11th century AD, "Denmark was considered to be a Christian state", (2013). 9781409480860, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. ISBN 9781409480860 with the Church of Denmark, a member of the Lutheran World Federation, being the state church. Prof. Wasif Shadid, of Leiden University, writes that:
(2011). 9781452266565, SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781452266565 The Act of Succession specifies that monarch "shall be a member of the Evangelical Church." (2025). 9781040385999, Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781040385999 Furthermore, clergy "in the Church of Denmark are civil servants employed by the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs" and the "economic base of the Church of Denmark is state-collected church taxes combined with a direct state subsidiary (12%), which symbolically covers the expenses of the Church of Denmark to run the civil registration and the burial system for all citizens."
England
Barbara Yorke writes that the "Carolingian Renaissance heightened appreciation within England of the role of king and church in a Christian state." As such,
(2006). 9781402038631, Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781402038631 that is widely flouted.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a Christian state, with Catholic Christianity being the official religion. In view of the same, the government of the Dominican Republic extends special privileges to the Catholic Church. National holidays include holy days of Christianity, such as the Epiphany (January 6), Good Friday, Corpus Christi, and Christmas Day. In the Dominican Republic, religious education classes must be of either a Catholic or evangelical Protestant basis and are required be taught in all elementary and secondary public schools.
Faroe Islands
The Church of the Faroe Islands is the state church of Faroe Islands.
Georgia
Georgia is one of the oldest Christian states. Article 8 of Georgian Constitution and the Concordat of 2002 grants the Georgian Orthodox Church special privileges, which include legal immunity to the Patriarch of Georgia. The Orthodox Church is the most trusted institution in the country and its head, Patriarch Ilia II, the most trusted person.
Greece
Greece is a Christian state, (2004). 9781135761417, Routledge. ISBN 9781135761417 with the Church of Greece playing "a dominant role in the life of the country".
Greenland
Being an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, the Church of Denmark is the State religion of Greenland through the Constitution of Denmark:
Hungary
The preamble to the Hungarian Constitution of 2011 describes Hungary as "part of Christian Europe" and acknowledges "the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood", while Article VII provides that "the State shall cooperate with the Churches for community goals". However, the constitution also guarantees freedom of religion and separation of church and state.
Iceland
Around AD 1000, Iceland became a Christian state. The Encyclopedia of Protestantism states that:
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein's constitution designates the Catholic Church as being the state Church of that country. In public schools, per article 16 of the Constitution of Liechtenstein, religious education is given by Church authorities.
Malta
Section Two of the Constitution of Malta specifies the state's religion as being the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion. It holds that the "authorities of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church have the duty to teach which principles are right and which are wrong" and that "religious teaching of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith shall be provided in all State schools as part of compulsory education".
Monaco
Article 9 of the Constitution of Monaco describes "La religion catholique, apostolique et romaine the" as the religion of the state. (French): Art. 9, Principaute De Monaco: Ministère d'Etat (archived from the original on 27 September 2011).
Norway
Cole Durham and Tore Sam Lindholm, writing in 2013, stated that "For a period of one thousand years Norway has been a kingdom with a Christian state church" and that a decree went out in 1739 ordering that "Elementary schooling for all Norwegian children became mandatory, so that all Norwegians should be able to read the Bible and the Lutheran Catechism firsthand." (2013). 9789401756167, Springer. ISBN 9789401756167 The modern Constitution of Norway stipulates that "The Church of Norway, an Evangelical-Lutheran church, will remain the Established Church of Norway and will as such be supported by the State." The Constitution of Norway, Article 16 (English translation, published by the Norwegian Parliament) As such, the "Norwegian constitution decrees that Lutheranism is the official religion of the State and that the King is the supreme temporal head of the Church." The administration of the Church "is shared between the Ministry for Church, Education and Research centrally and municipal authorities locally", and the Church of Norway "depends on state and local taxes". The Church of Norway is responsible for the "maintenance of church buildings and cemeteries". In the mid-20th century, the vast majority of Norwegians participated in the Lutheran Church. According to a 1957 description, "over 90 percent of the population are married by state church clergymen, have their children baptized and confirmed, and finally are Christian burial with a church service." However, current membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway is lower, standing at 65% of the population in 2021.
(2016). 9780227905852, James Clarke & Company Limited. ISBN 9780227905852 The Church of Noway continues to be supported by public funding. Succession rules governing the Monarchy of Norway require that the monarch be an Lutheranism holding membership in the Church of Norway. (2007). 9781583415344, The Creative Company. ISBN 9781583415344 Those who marry into the royal family of Norway are expected to be or become Evangelical Lutherans.
Samoa
Samoa became a Christian state in 2017. Article 1 of the Samoan Constitution states that “Samoa is a Christian nation founded of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
Serbia
Serbia as a territory became a Christian state during the time of Constantine the Great in Christianization of Byzantine Empire, according to the research and discoveries of artifacts left by the Illyrians, Triballi and other kindred tribes. More research has since been made that perhaps prove the existence of Serbs living in the Balkans during Roman times in Ilyria. In the centuries that followed from the 4th to the 12th century, when Catholic Church was in a battleground between Serbia due the Eastern Orthodox Church, Serbia prevailed as Orthodox Christian state under his jurisdiction through Saint Sava.
Sweden
Under the reign of Gustav Vasa, Sweden became an Lutheranism Christian country. The Protestant Reformation in Sweden was led by the Evangelical-Lutheran divines Olaus Petri and Laurentius Petri. (2011). 9780810874824, Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9780810874824 Laurentius Petri was consecrated in the apostolic succession that, according to the Swedish Church Ordinance 1571 "must remain in the future, so long as the world lasts." In 1544, the Parliament in Västerås declared Sweden to be an Evangelical-Lutheran kingdom. The Kyrkogångsplikt was the legal obligation for Swedish citizens to attend Mass every Lord's Day in the Evangelical Lutheran church. The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Sweden historically served as the state church, though in 2000, this relationship was loosened; "the Church of Sweden is still legally regulated by the state, and the monarch must be a member and assent to its theology." (2019). 9798216137818, Bloomsbury Publishing USA. EAN 9798216137818 The Swedish Act of Succession requires monarchs to "profess the pure evangelical faith". (2018). 9781509910953, Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781509910953
Tonga
Tonga became a Christian state under George Tupou I in the 19th century, with the Free Wesleyan Church, a member of the World Methodist Council, being established as the country's state Church. Under the rule of George Tupou I, there was established a "rigorous constitutional clause regulating observation of the Sabbath".
Tuvalu
The Church of Tuvalu, a Calvinist church in the Congregationalist tradition, is the state church of Tuvalu and was established as such in 1991. The Constitution of Tuvalu identifies Tuvalu as "an independent State based on Christian principles".
Vatican City
Vatican City is a Christian state, in which the "Pope is ex officio simultaneously leader of the Catholic Church as well as Head of State and Head of the Government of the State of the Vatican City; he also possesses (de jure) absolute authority over the legislative, executive and judicial branches."
Zambia
Jeroen Temperman, a professor of international law at Erasmus University Rotterdam writes that:
Established churches and former state churches
Current
Elevated from a diocese of the Church of Denmark in 2007 (the two remain in close cooperation) The Church of Greece is recognized by the Greek Constitution as the "prevailing religion" in Greece. However, this provision does not give official status to the Church of Greece, while all other religions are recognized as equal and may be practiced freely.[7] THE CONSTITUTION OF GREECE: PART TWO INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL RIGHTS: Article 13 Under discussion to be elevated from The Diocese of Greenland in the Church of Denmark to a state church for Greenland, along-the-lines the Faroese Church took in 2007
Former
1918, during the German Revolution 1921 1918, under the Federal Constitutional Law 1918, during the German Revolution 1918, during the German Revolution 1918, during the German Revolution 1918, during the German Revolution 1918, during the German Revolution 2009, under the Constitution of Bolivia 1890 1918, during the German Revolution 1946 1925
1818, under the Constitution of Connecticut 1902 1977, with the death of the Ethnarch Makarios III 1920, under the Czechoslovak Constitution 1783 1974, after the formation of the Derg 1869, however the organisation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is regulated by the Constitution of Finland and Church Act of 1993. The state also carries out taxing for the funding of the church on its members. 1917 1905, under the law on the Separation of the Churches and the State 1921 1871 1987 1893, after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom 1918, during the German Revolution 1946 1871 1973 1985, see 1918 1940 1918 Not an official state church 1921 1918 1918 1857, under the Federal Constitution (reestablished between 1864 and 1867) 1795 1674 (colony surrendered to English rule) 1850 2017, by legislation 1850 1918 1904 1992Under the 1967 Constitution, Catholicism was the state religion as stated in Article 6: "The Catholic Apostolic religion is the state religion, without prejudice to religious freedom, which is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Official relations of the republic with the Holy See shall be governed by concordats or other bilateral agreements." The 1992 Constitution, which replaced the 1967 one, establishes Paraguay as a secular state, as mentioned in section (1) of Article 24: "Freedom of religion, worship, and ideology is recognized without any restrictions other than those established in this Constitution and the law. The State has no official religion." 1993, under the Constitution of Peru 1898 1947 1911 1850 1789 1776 1834 1877 1776 1790 1918 1918 1918 1918 1918 1918 1918 1960, after the Quiet Revolution 1947 1917, after the Russian Revolution 1864 1918 1918 1918 State control disclaimed since 1638. Formally recognised as not an established church in 1921 1946 1978 2000 during the 20th century 1854 1918, (into effect in 1919) 1786 1918 1920 1783 1918
National church
A number of countries have a national church which is not established (as the official religion of the nation), but is nonetheless recognised under civil law as being the country's acknowledged religious denomination. Whilst these are not Christian states, the official Christian national church is likely to have certain residual state functions in relation to state occasions and ceremonial. Examples include Scotland (Church of Scotland) and Sweden (Church of Sweden). A national church typically has a monopoly on official state recognition, although unusually Finland has two national churches (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Orthodox Church), both recognised under civil law as joint official churches of the nation.
See also
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