Hundreds of brides walked down the aisle last week, coinciding with Easter, in one of the biggest mass wedding celebrations in South Africa since the Covid-19 pandemic. The church, which was founded in 1962.

“It’s a special day and I’m so happy. I really appreciate this moment being part of the Mahluko family. It’s a wonderful feeling,” said Lipogil Mamatila – a government employee who became the second wife, as the South African church allows polygamy – after the ceremony. British.

The current wives wore colorful outfits during the ceremony at Holiness Pentecostal International Church, 62 miles north of Johannesburg, while first-time brides donned traditional white dresses..

side of the wedding

The festivities were a respite from a long-running row over the leadership of the church, which has some three million members, making it one of the largest congregations in South Africa.

Group wedding

The succession battle between three brothers began after the death of church leader Glayton Modesey in 2016, and in 2020 five people were killed in a shooting of another church worshiper, but last year a court dismissed the case against 42 defendants..

Wedding Ceremony

Security was tight at Sunday’s ceremony, which was supervised by armed guards and metal detectors were used to screen worshipers.

newlyweds