The final eight days of Ikeji Arochukwu Cultural Festival started yesterday, Orie Egbugbu, the day when sacred rites and prayers are carried out to God and the ancestors of the kingdom.
As such, this year’s event also incorporated an Interdenominational worship service as a way of incorporating modern Christian worship activities to the original Arochukwu Traditional worship service of Orie Egbugbu.
During the service which took place at the Arochukwu Civic Centre on Friday, 20th September 2024, the officiating minister, Rt Revd Dr Uche Dan Okafor who is the Archbishop of the North, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria passed the word of God to the gathered faithful.
Affirming that light has come to Arochukwu Kingdom, Archbishop Okafor, who spoke to a crowd of Christians from various denominations, revealed that the light which has illuminated the Arochukwu Kingdom in selecting his Eminence Eze Dr. Eberechukwu Oji as the 9th Eze Aro, will continue to shine on the people of Arochukwu. He urged them to be steadfast in all their dealings with God.
In his own sermon, His Grace, Most Revd Dr Chibueze Opoko, the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia prayed for prosperity, progress and peace in Arochukwu Kingdom.
Centering his message on light and hope, he called on all sons and daughters of the Kingdom to hold onto God no matter the challenges they might face. He also reminded them of the sufferings of Christ while on earth.
The civic center was packed with faithful attendees who had come to celebrate the Ikeji Aro festival. They thundered “Amen” as the Arochukwu mass choir sang songs of praise to God.
His Eminence Eze Dr Eberechukwu Oji who had earlier attended to some traditional rites on the sacred day made a brief appearance at the occasion. He stated that Ikeji Aro is to thank God for the bountiful harvest of the year. He declared that his generation knows God and will continue to reference him in all their dealings.
His Eminence also appreciated the Ministers of God for the crusade which he vowed will be annually to show the prominence of God in Arochukwu Kingdom. He also thanked the people of Arochukwu Kingdom for their prayers and wished them a safe return to their abode.
Finally, Very Revd Victor Sunny Onwumere, the Convener of the Service gave the vote of thanks.
Ably present were Arochukwu-born ministers of different church denominations, as well as members of the Christian faithful who gathered from all walks of life to participate in the Ikeji Aro-Okeigbo cultural festival.
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