Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim

The Cherubim and Seraphim Society ( Cherubim and Seraphim Society) is a common, particularly in Nigeria and West Africa Christian religious group that is assigned to the group of Aladura churches.

History

The history of the Cherubim and Seraphim Society (abbreviated to C & S) began in 1925 with a vision of the seventeen -year-old Nigerian Abiodun Akinsowan in which it was informed by angels, to start their own Christian community. Together with the preacher Moses Orimolade Tunolase who managed to free Akinsowan from a week-long trance, she founded a prayer group within the Church Mission Society, the missionary church of the Anglican Church, of which she was then. This community, which was given the name " Cherubim and Seraphim Society " in 1926, had the Christian mission and prayer support, especially for themselves wähnende under spiritual pursuit families prescribed. Akinsowan, later Abiodun Emmanuel, traveled extensively with Tunolase in western Nigeria, on which they did missionary and carried out exorcisms against witches and demons.

1926 left the Cherubim and Seraphim Society, the Church Missionary Society and became an independent church. Once there had been a rift between Emmanuel and Tunolase early 1929, the church split, the wing under Emmanuel retained the name Cherubim and Seraphim Society. The fraction under Tunolase called himself Ita Balogun Praying Band of Cherubim and Seraphim, and is now around 400 congregations members than any denomination. In the 1960s there were new divisions within the of "Captain " Abiodun Emmanuel led group, which led to fragmentation in 52 churches. Emmanuel succeeded in 49 of these churches again under her leadership to unite, but are now known rather loosely, the organizational context, the Cherubim and Seraphim needs.

Successful C & S churches especially in the context of the Yoruba of Nigeria and Benin, to which they refer in their religious practice in many ways. Congregations also exist in Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, as well as in the African immigrant communities of Britain and the United States. Within the Ondo State of Nigeria in the C & S churches are the largest Christian denomination today.

Individual C & S churches form again and again utopian communities based on the model of the early church (Chapter 2:42-47 ) described in the Acts of the Apostles, with community property and community meals. The most well-known community of this kind is founded in 1947 Aiyetoro community in the Ilaje region, on the coast of Ondo State, which as a community of Mount Zion Church ( cleavage of the C & S) got together and today counts some 30,000 members.

The five main branches of C & S churches today are:

• Eternal Sacred Order of the Seraphim and Cherubim
• Cherubim and Seraphim Society
• Praying tape
• Cherubim and Seraphim Movement
• Holy Order of Cherubim and Seraphim

Cult and religious practices

The order of service can be used as a loosened Anglican Liturgy are referred to, which is mixed with elements whose origins lie in the cult practices of Yorubareligion. The strict sequence of the liturgy is repeatedly interrupted in the services through ecstatic visions of prophets or prophetesses, to pass on the messages to individual members of the community, the entire community, or a larger public.

As the name of the Church suggests there angels play an important role, which are called as heavenly guide and protector often. First and foremost is the veneration of the Archangel Michael. An important place in the cult of the Cherubim and Seraphim takes the cult of the Ark of the Covenant, in possession of the mentioned church. Abiodun Emmanuel said to have been found by a revelation of heavenly powers.

Characteristic of the external appearance is the white clothing that is similar but now worn the Anglican priest robes during services by the entire community. This is partly to the Protestant idea of ​​the universal priesthood underlined, on the other hand, the chosenness appear before God, according to the Book of Revelation chapter 7.9. At the same time the white clothes but also reminiscent of certain pre-Christian cults of the Yoruba cleaning, such as the Oshun cult, like the Cherubim and Seraphim church have as a healing and purifying element whose supporters a close relationship to the water.

Members of the Cherubim and Seraphim churches grant the prayer a central role in their piety. The active prayer, not a deadpan faith, or the reception of classical sacraments is considered a key personal and communal salvation. The belief is enabled only through prayer. A faith which is not expressed by a certain form of prayer is ineffective, sometimes no faith. The followers also believe that their lot is by certain sacred objects luck and blessings, healing and protection against demonic powers. Characteristically, it is in these objects often to Western consumer and luxury goods such as soap and perfume. The consecration is accomplished usually by prayers of prophets who also determine which kind are to be the objects and how the faithful to deal with it. As a rule imposed on the believers, the use of sacred objects with prayers, sometimes to accompany with fasting. In this way, the suspect shall be scattered, the faith of the Cherubim and Seraphim trailer moving in purely magical categories, in which not qualifiable transmissions without the mediating power of praying the Word are possible.

The services of the prophets are in high demand even when not members of the Church. Replace as healers and seers traditional Babalawos, the shamans of which they distinguish themselves at the same time decided. In religious practice, the prophets play a much greater role than the priests, if they are not both being prophets also contribute through the celebration of the liturgy and preaching only to inspire the prophets, and to put in a vision receptive state.

There is a widespread fear their attacks look at Cherubim and Seraphim Pendant exposed continuously from demonic powers, witches and wizards. This they see often in the traditional cults of the Yoruba effect of their spiritual, but satanic power, they are firmly convinced. The church claims to know all the evil spirits in the name and to be able to break their power through prayers. In this case, the charge of Satanism is not charged indiscriminately against all pagan cults, but some cults and mages is granted, unknowingly servant of God. Nonetheless include Mission and exorcism, the characteristic features of this church, where preachers and prophets by the type of itinerant preachers long journeys from place to place business.

Motto

If God is for us, who can be against us? - From the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans, chapter 8, verse 31