adminManica Post Reporter
RELIGIOUS denominations in Manicaland converged in their hundreds to observe the Holy Easter as Christians took time to celebrate the victory of life over death and earthly socio-economic challenges.
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion at Calvary.
Jesus Christ’s resurrection, therefore, also compels his followers to ever closer bonds of Christian fellowship with one another.
A survey by The Manica Post witnessed sounds of joy at the Easter festival which echoed across Manicaland as different churches around the province gathered in multitudes to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which has made a deep impact on the lives of Christians and churches.
Major highlights include serving of the Holy Communion, foot washing, carrying of the cross, dramas, praise and worship, dancing, preaching and praying.
Methodist Revival Church (MRC) celebrated The Holy Easter in district clusters. The Mutare-Chipinge district converged at Nyanyadzi, the Rusape-Mutasa-Nyanga district congregated in Rusape, the Ruwa-Murewa-Mutoko district was at Murewa Centre and the Harare-Bulawayo-Botswana congregated at Skyline along Masvingo Road.
MRC founder, Bishop Phillip Mpindu, ministered at Nyanyadzi last Thursday and had this to say: “The Nyanyadzi, Chipinge and Birchenough Bridge assemblies were already gathered at the meeting point by Thursday afternoon. I was amazed by the joy, the celebratory spirit, the spiritual readiness of everyone, the expectant attitude. Oh my God, I have never seen such spirit of hungering and thirsting for the Word. I could not resist the urge to preach. Like Paul, I preached until day break. Thank God there was no Eutycus to fall down. The other assemblies continued to come even at night. Amazing, amazing, amazing”.
Bishop Mpindu later left Nyanyadzi for Murewa before clocking up in Harare.
The Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) held Easter conferences in most of its rural districts, while in urban areas its members held normal services where preaching hinged much on the resurrection of Christ and rejuvenation of hope in Christ’s people.
Elim Pentecostal Church of Zimbabwe celebrated Easter from Thursday night to Sunday, with foot washing as the most significant act.
Foot washing is done by different religions as a symbol of humility and has its roots in the Bible where Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples.
Unlike the Pentecostals, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Methodist Church and Anglican, however, had a unique and traditional style celebrating Easter.
On Good Friday, pilgrims flooded the streets between 1 and 3pm holding the symbolic Holy Cross in their processions, giving onlookers a figurative visual version of how Jesus Christ suffered as he carried the cross on which he was eventually nailed on.
Catholics, on Saturday night, performed the candle lighting whose import was that Jesus was alive.
On Resurrection Sunday they held the usual mass characterised by the singing of victory hymnals and renewal of baptism vows.
UMC members performed the drama on death and resurrection of Christ.
There was also traditional process of foot washing.
Other traditional apostolic sects observed Easter through gathering, singing and praying.
Online Reporter