ONCE UPON A CATHEDRAL
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE STORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD (CATOL), OWERRI.
The ancient city of Owerri in East Nigeria came into special focus in early 20th century A. D, when between 1901 and 1905, it became the headquarters of Owerri District of British colonial administration as well as the confluence of the expeditionary and pacification forces of the colonial overlords and ironically, a hub of the Niger mission of the Church Missionary Society, (CMS).
When the Anglican Diocese of Owerri was inaugurated on 27th January 1959, the Headquarters of the new Diocese which was later to give birth to eleven other Dioceses, including the Diocese of Egbu, was established at Egbu, with the Rt. Rev. G. E. I. Cockin as its pioneer Bishops.
But at the Diocesan Board meeting and synod held between the 27th and the 30th of July 1975 at Ezihe, the Diocese proposed to build “as a matter of urgency” a Cathedral Church, adequate to the size of this fast-growing Diocese, at the heart of the evangelical Christain Igbo Nation.
A committee of sixty-five persons was given the onerous task of realizing these objectives, and so began a story “a Cathedral that is a beautiful place of worship ina modern world”. A Cathedral whose music incorporates the ancient and the modern; the contextual and the universal, and where all cathegories of people, whatever their estate, may freely approach the immortal, the invisible, and the only wise God, in worship in Jesus Christ, the Lord and only Saviour of the world; and where in trembling hope, they long to behold the glory and splendor of the blessed savior, who brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light: “ex tenebris, ad lucem”!
In consequence, when on 24th March 1979, at the eve of the inauguration of the Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Donald F. Coggan, the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury, assited by the Bishop of Owerri, the Rt. Revd. Benjamin C. Nwankiti, laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord (CATOL) at Owerri, the capital of Imo state and Eastern Heartland, the people were ecstatic with joy.
The Bishop of Owerrri Diocese at that time, the Rt. Revd. Dr. Benjamin C. Nwankiti, his enthusiastic Clergy and Laity, joyfully witnessed the sowing of this seed of God’s faithfulness among his people, though mindful of the enormous challenges ahead.
The Cathedral that stands here today has undergone modifications and reconstructions from initial conceptions and designs to become an edifice that will be appreciated by many generations to come.
On the 29th of March 1986, the then Bishop, the Rt. Revd. Dr. BC Nwankiti, Clergy, Laity and friends of the church gathered at this site of the cathedral to hold the first service, a Diocesan Paschal Rally of Thanksgiving. Ever since then, the Cathedral has been a beacon of beatific and spiritual worship to which the episcopacy of the visionary and erudite Bishop, The Rt. Revd. Cyril C. Okorocha Ph.D, and his admirable partnership with his gracious and amiable wife, Dr. (Mrs) Eunice Okorocha, has added evangelical and spiritual aspects within the belief and worship system of the Orthodox Anglican Communion in the ambit of the One Church, Catholic and Apostolic, which is truly Biblical and Christo-centric.
The building of the Cathedral is a labour of love and sacrificial discipleship. It is in every aspect, largely a manifestation of wise and Christ-like servant leadership, holiness of character, personal sacrifice together with astute resource and people management, transparency and accountability that have characterized the episcopacy of the Rt. Revd. Cyril C. Okorocha, Ph.D and his wife Eunice. Wherever you turn, you cannot but conclude that “God gave increase”(1 Cor. 3: 6): To Him alone shall always be the glory in Christ Jesus. Yes, when we lead by example, the people follow with joyful confidence and dedication.
The peoples joy, excitement and sense of fulfillment and immesurable gratitude to God are palpable everywhere as the peoples Bishop and his amiable wife, erudite, humble, and ever so gracious and profoundly spiritual and humane wife, Dr. (Mrs) Eunice Okorocha, lead the whole Clergy, Laity and friends of the Anglican Church in Owerri Diocese in uninhibited loyalty and sincere love to welcome the Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, MA. LLd, as he officially dedicates and consecrates this Cathedral today, 06 May 2017, a day prior to the significant consecration of four new Bishops of the Anglican Church in Nigeria, for different parts of the country!.
We are deeply grateful to God that the dedication of this Orthodox Evangelical Anglican Cathedral, CATOL is taking at this time in the history of Nigeria and of the Global Anglican Communion. Our gratitude to the Primate of All Nigeria is simply beyond words.
CONCLUSION
Owerri Anglican Diocese, whose seat at Egbu was the home of the translation of the Bible into Igbo Language is making history again before our eyes. For instance, CATOL, the seat of OWERRI ANGLICAN DIOCESE whose foundation stone was laid on the 24th March 1979 by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of the inauguration of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), is today 06, May 2017 being officially dedicated and consecrated by the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Revd. Nicholas D. Okoh, MA, LLD. Then four new Anglican Bishops will be consecrated by this same Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the very next day, 7th May at the same CATOL Owerri, following its dedication. They are:
Ven. Yohannah Ahmed Audu
Diocese of Damaturu
Ven. Godwin Adeyi Robinson
Diocese of Lafia
Ven. Rufus Victor Ajileye Adepoju
Diocese of Ekiti West
Ven. Augustine Ehijimetor Ohilebo
Diocese of Sabongidda - ora
No wonder the people are ecstatic with joy as they see their ancient City and unique Cathedral CATOL, the seat of their beloved “Mother of Dioceses, the Anglican Diocese of Owerri, prophetically becoming the hatchery of the golden eggs of the MISSIO DEI in the 21st century and specifically, of dynamic Anglicanism, in Nigeria, just as the beginning”; What is the Holy Spirit saying to the Churches and to our Nation?
To God be the glory: Jesus alone is Lord and Saviour!
Prof. Jasper Onuekwusi, Ph.D.
CATOL Dedication History Committee
For and on behalf of
The Rt. Revd. Cyril C. Okorocha. Ph.D.
Lord Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Owerri
06 May, (Easter-tide) 2017.
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