Iglesia ni Cristo Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Iglesia ni Cristo

Iglesia ni Cristo Day commemorates the establishment of the ‘Iglesia ni Cristo’ or ‘Church of Christ’. It is observed annually on July 27. In the Philippines, this is a working holiday.

The church members congregate in a congregation of thanksgiving to express their gratitude to the Lord for his blessings. The congregation is led by the church’s executive minister. Currently, this position is held by Eduardo Manalo. He is the great-grandson of Iglesia ni Cristo’s patriarch, Felix Manalo. On July 27, 1914, Iglesia ni Cristo was officially registered with the Philippine government.

The background of Iglesia ni Cristo Day

During the period of American colonial rule in the Philippines, numerous alternative Catholic doctrines emerged. In 1913, Felix Manalo founded Iglesia ni Cristo, an independent Christian congregation. On July 27, 1914, it was registered under the U.S. administration of the Philippine government. The congregation members revered Felix as God’s final messenger. Before Felix’s death in 1963, I.N.C. (Iglesia ni Cristo) had constructed 125 sanctuaries and 35 cathedrals throughout the nation.

Felix was reared by devoutly religious parents. His adulthood was overshadowed by his father’s death, extreme poverty, and the Filipino-American conflict, despite his humble upbringing. During this period, he lost his faith and sought solace in other religious communities. Later, he established his own doctrine, thereby founding the Church of Christ.

Iglesia ni Cristo currently has 143 churches and three million adherents worldwide. In 2014, the Philippines commemorated Iglesia ni Cristo’s centenary. The Iglesia ni Cristo Centenary began on July 27, 2014 and concluded on July 26, 2015. On the day the event began, Iglesia ni Cristo celebrated its centenary.

Ciudad de Victoria (also known as The Philippines arena) was conceived and constructed with the intention of hosting large-scale events such as the Centennials. It was inaugurated by the executive minister of Iglesia ni Cristo and the president of the Philippines days before the 100th anniversary.

This arena hosted the premiere of Ang Sugo (later renamed Felix Manalo), a biographical film about the founder of Iglesia ni Cristo.

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IGLESIA NI CRISTO: 5 INTERESTING FACTS

On the day of its premiere, the film “Felix Manalo” was awarded two Guinness World Records: “largest attendance for a film premiere” and “largest attendance for a film screening of a documentary film.”

Iglesia ni Cristo organised the ‘largest charity trek in a single venue’ in 2015 to support the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

With a seating capacity of 55,000, Ciudad de Victoria or the Philippine Arena is the largest multipurpose indoor arena in the world.

It is believed that the formation of a church in the Philippines fulfils a biblical prophecy.

The Philippines government designated 2014 as the Iglesia ni Cristo Centenary Year, and July 27, 2014, as a non-working holiday to commemorate the church’s 100th founding anniversary.

IGLESIA NI CRISTO DAY DATES