TARIF 82: Marching to Zion? An Overview of Southern Africa’s Largest AIC Church

The Easter trip to Zion City Moria is part of the spectacular pilgrimage that over a million ZCC members make each year. This Easter run is similar to the hajj Muslims take to Mecca, as ZCC leaders expect their people to take at least one journey to Moria in their lifetime. It is believed that Zion City Moria has special powers and thus hordes of pilgrims return there each year for healing and renewal. Engenas Lekganyane founded the ZCC in 1924. At the time of his death in 1948, there were over 50,000 members. Today there are well over 12 million members, making it the largest African-initiated church in southern Africa. Zion gets its name from the city of Jerusalem in the Old Testament, which is also adjacent to Mount Moriah where Solomon built his temple. 

Is the Zion Christian Church Christian?