Johannesburg (AP) – A Pentecostal Church in South Africa celebrated Easter Sunday With mass wedding ceremonies for around 3,000 people, many of them entering polygamous weddings.
The International Church of Holiness of Pentecost said that mass marriages were part of its Easter festivities and the tradition of polygamy, which is observed in certain African cultures, has been incorporated into the Church.
Sunday ceremonies would see men marry their sixth or seventh wives, said the spokesman for the Vusi Ndala church. Others were to marry several brides at one point, said Ndala.
“Polygamy is not only adopted but held in high esteem” in the church, said Ndala.
A man with his wife and two of his brides walk, during Easter weddings for 3,000 people, a few polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday April 20, 2025. (AP Photo / Themba Hadebe)
Couples dance as they enter the church building during Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygamous, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church, in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday April 20, 2025. (Photo / Themba Hadebe)
People are queuing during mass Easter weddings for 3,000 people, some polygames, internationally Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday April 20, 2025. (AP photo / Thamba Hadebebe)
The International Church of Pentecost Holiness was founded in South Africa in the early 1960s. It is a church initiated by Africans, which means that it was founded by Africans rather than foreign missionaries, and mixes Pentecostal beliefs with local traditions.
The church has already organized mass weddings, including in 2023, when about 400 couples or wedding parties made the knot. He says that this year’s event was by far the most important.
Ndala said the large number of married people this year was due to “a large number of men marrying more than one woman during your tests”.
In some cases, the newlyweds brought their wife or their current wives with them for their new marriage.
Weddings took place at the church headquarters, a huge dome -shaped building in the city of Heidelberg, near Johannesburg, which can accommodate 60,000 people.
The faithful who married waited in long white tents installed in open fields next to the church building, where they received bridal flowers, food packs and water. They then deposited the church building in long queues, women wearing white wedding dresses and many men in matching white costumes and red ties.
Polygamy is legal in South Africa if the union is recorded as a usual marriage.
A man with his wife and two of his wives are in a marquee before mass of mass weddings for 3,000 people, certain polygams, internationally Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday April 20, 2025. (AP photo / Themba Hadebe)
A married in wheelchair is assisted by another member while his two brides walk in front, during Easter weddings for 3000 people, a few polygames, at the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Heidelberg, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday April 20, 2025. (AP photo / Themba Hadebe)
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