THE HOLY ORDER. Written by KEMKA S. IBEJI

On the 9th September, 2019 I was privileged to worship at the Cathedral of the National Headquarters Annex, Garki Abuja. This was to mark the 94th Anniversary of the Seraph band of the Holy Order.

I am strong Seraph; born and bred! Yes, I am!

The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim fondly called the Holy Order is African brand of Christianity. For those who did the scientific study of religion otherwise called Religious Study in the university, they would have read about the Aladura Churches as a course. The Holy Order is at the fulcrum of it.

Cherubim and Seraphim has however had many varieties over the years. It is for this reason you see a lot of white garment churches, as usually referred to, and many different forms of worship and practices. Many have turned their spiritualism into occultism but it is not my concern here. The point here is that Cherubim and Seraphim is not one particularly as there are many versions of the sect. Though all of them lay claim to the same founder who is Saint Moses Orimolade. The founder however founded The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS) worldwide from which other strands of Cherubim and Seraphim broke away.

The Ikare born Praying Father has many wondrous stories to his birth and existence which is bulky for this little piece. It will serve a purpose to mention briefly that Saint Moses Orimolade was not educated and one may not be wrong to say he was an illiterate to western education. He however was imbued with the holy spirit and the gift of fervent prayer and prophecy from God. His birth and early service to God was shrouded in mysteries that made him stand out as a phenomenal boy while growing up. I will also limit myself from that biography of the founder here.

For proper clarification, The Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim is a Christian denomination molded against heavenly existence. Reading from the Bible, one will quickly define or understand that the Cherubim and Seraphim are the angels that with God Almighty. Bible students will recall that when Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, God cast them out of the Garden of Eden and God the angels to replace them. This is found in Genesis specifically in Chapter 3. “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:” (Genesis 3:22 KJV) “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (Genesis 3:23 KJV) “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24 KJV).

Describing the abode of God Almighty Himself, it is guarded by the Cherubims. The throne of God is secured by these warriors of heavenly host called the Cherubims and this is found in the book of Exodus. “(Exodus 25:19 KJV) And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. (Exodus 25:20 KJV) And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:21 KJV) And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. (Exodus 25:22 KJV) And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

The covenant of God was also kept safe with the Cherubims. We also will read in 1 Samuel 4:4 KJV thus: “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.” God Himself dwells between the Cherubims. You can find that in Psalm 80 verse 1.

On the other hand, we also have heard or read about the Seraph or Seraphim. They are also another set of angels that stay around the throne of God singing and praising Him day and night. They make His mind meek and soothing. Describing the grandeur and presence of God Almighty and the duties of the Seraphims, it was made clear that they are round about the throne of God and in (Isaiah 6:1 KJV) it states: “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple”. (Isaiah 6:2 KJV) “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” (Isaiah 6:3 KJV) “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Only describing the Seraphims will fill you with the awe and astonishing rave and splendor of their being.

Indeed it is amazing to describe these angels and their relationship with God. To this extent, one can begin to understand what the church Cherubim and Seraphim is and her place in Christendom as a church fashioned in the manner of pure heavenly worship. It is for this reason that whenever the Cherubim and Seraphim are about to start their worship, they begin with thanksgiving and invocation. In invocations, they invite their counterparts above – the Cherubim and Seraphim – to descend and worship with them. Most people have come to misconstrue their patterns of worship as the worship of angels. Of course, you will be motifed with the names of certain angels as Saint Michael, Holy Gabriel, and other archangels like Raphael and Uriel.

If you have had the rare opportunity of worshipping with the Holy Order, you will realize that they do not worship like mere humans, they worship in like manner as the angels. Just as the Seraphims surround the throne of God singing praises to Him and singing Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty, the Cherubim and Seraphim occupy their service to God with singing, praises and dancing to the glory of God.

In accordance with their extraterrestrial and celestial methodology of service or ritual of worship to God, they adopt certain spiritual symbols and material such as praises, dance, water, incense, oil, candles, garments and crowns. These have certain spiritual characteristics and significance to the worship which is in tandem with the service to God by the angels above.

Fortunately, this space will not be able to exhaust the mysteries of the worship of God by the Cherubim and Seraphim. Maybe, if you want or wish to know more and be more empowered with secrets of the worship of God with the efficacy of prayers, you can get closer to the prayer houses of the Holy Order and God Himself will teach you more.

However, on the 9th of September, 1925 while the sect - Aladura members as they were known - were worshipping and praising God in their characteristic, a voice sounded a prophecy that they shall become a church and the church shall be called Seraph and they became as ordained by God in that prophetic revelation. And so yesterday being 9th of September, 2019 being 94 years after that prophecy came alive, I had the honor and privilege to worship as a commemoration of the 94th Anniversary of the Seraph band of the Holy Order.

And before I end this piece, it is important to bring to your knowledge that the Holy Order is made up of two (2) bands viz; the Cherubs and the Seraphs.

Once again, religion students will understand what is called CONTEXTUALIZATION in the study of religion. In this regard, Cherubim and Seraphim is a Christianity within African contextual prism.

To the glory of God Almighty Himself, I was born a Seraph and will die a Seraph.

Up Seraph!


Written by KEMKA S. IBEJI