[Claud]

The Greek presence in Sudan goes way back to pre-Islamic days. Basically, the Byzantines converted the Nubian kingdoms in the late 500s, although there was also influence from Coptic Egypt. As you can imagine, the sacred art of the region was influenced by Byzantine and Coptic styles, often with a contrast between light-skinned Christ and saints and darker-skinned Nubian bishops. The last Christian kingdom, Alodia, only fell in 1504. Many frescos were saved from Faras cathedral in the 1960s when the Aswan High Dam was being built, as the area was about to be flooded.

[Boogieman]

Yes, I know “Alodia” from this historical strategy game called EU4 I play; the game starts in 1444 AD so they are still around. But the game sets them as Coptic religion, so I didn’t realize they were actually Orthodox. Probably the game just did that for gameplay purposes, so the poor Ethiopians had a country to vassalize or ally since they are otherwise completely surrounded by muslims.

[BradyLS]

Great info! Wikipedia says the Coptics reached Sudan around the 2nd Century. The early Byzantines exerted an influence on the Coptics in Sudan as well before being encroached upon by the spread of Islam beginning in the 7th Century.