Celestial Church of Christ: Ranks, robes, bible lessons
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) originates from Benin and is mainly located in Nigeria. It is an African-initiated church. Like many other churches, it has its own architecture, traditions, and canons. Here are details about the church, including its history, ranks, and robes.

Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Celestial Church of Christ - history of creation
- Rank and robes in the Celestial Church of Christ
- Who is the first prophet in the Celestial Church of Christ?
- What does the celestial church believe in?
- What are the rules of the celestial church?
- How to join the celestial church?
- What are the celestial prayer times?
Key takeaways
- The founder of Celestial Church of Christ is Samuel Joseph Bilewu Oschoffa, a former carpenter in Dahomey (Benin).
- The Celestial Church of Christ has different ranks; each rank has a different robe. The ranks are given depending on the Spiritual growth of the person.
- There are many different CCC parishes, each with its own theme and bible lessons.
Celestial Church of Christ - history of creation
Samuel Joseph Bilewu Oschoffa, a former carpenter in Dahomey (Benin), was raised as a Protestant. While walking in the forest, he got lost. Suddenly, during a solar eclipse, he got a divine revelation. After it, he felt an urge to pray, help people and heal the sick.

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On 29 September 1947, he founded a church and became the pastor and founder. Today, thousands of people are faithful Celestians.
Rank and robes in the Celestial Church of Christ
The Celestial Church of Christ have different ranks and, depending on the rank, different robes. It is worth mentioning that the rank is not given because of importance in society, education, or to give recognition. It is given depending on the Spiritual growth of the person. Here is a list of ranks (in order from the lowest to the highest) and robes.
Man Leadership Line
- Brother - brother sutana.
- Elder Brother - brother sutana, white loin topped with blue, one cross;
- Prophet - male sutana with 4-corner sutana.
- Cape Elder Brother - cape without lace, white loins, one cross.
- Full Elder Brother - cape with brother sutana, white loins, one cross, yellow strands.
- Senior Elder Brother - cape with brother sutana, white loin, one cross, yellow strands.
- Assistant Leader - leader sutana, unlaced white top, white loins, one cross, yellow strands.
- Woleader - male sutana with 4-corner neck, cape without lace, white top without lace, blue loins, three crosses.
- Leader - leader sutana, unlaced white top, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Senior Woleader - cape with lace, white top with lace, blue loins, three crosses, white strands.
- Senior Leader - leader sutana, laced white top, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Superior Senior Leader - leader sutana, laced yellow top, blue cross-bar with yellow strand, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Superior Senior Woleader - cape with lace, blue top with lace, blue loins, three crosses, white strands.
- Superior Senior Leader (Full-time church worker) - leader sutana laced, grey top, blue cross-bar with yellow strand, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Honorary Assistant Evangelist - leader Sutana, long yellow robe, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Assistant Evangelist (a full-time church worker) - leader Sutana, long grey robe, white loins, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Honorary Evangelist - white cassock, long yellow robe, blue yellow stranded cross-bar, white loins with Altar patterned design, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Evangelist (Full-time church worker) - white cassock, long grey robe, blue and yellow stranded cross-bar, white loins with Altar patterned design, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Honorary Senior Evangelist - white cassock, long green robe, yellow white stranded cross-bar, white loins with Altar patterned design, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Senior Evangelist - white cassock, long blue robe, yellow white stranded cross-bar, white loins with Altar patterned design, three crosses, yellow strands.
- Most Senior Evangelist - white or pink cassock, long pink robe, green purple stranded cross-bar, white loins with Altar pattern design, three crosses in front, three crosses on each end of the loins, purple strands.
- Superior Evangelist - white or purple cassock, long purple robe, yellow white stranded-cross bar, purple and white Altar design, three crosses in front, three crosses on each end of the loin, yellow strands.
- Most Superior Evangelist - white or light blue cassock, long blue robe, cross bar deep blue, lace line on cape, lace from neck to bottom, lace at bottom around the cassock, blue loin with white Altar cross design, three crosses in front, three crosses on each end of the loin, white strands.
- Supreme Evangelist - white or deep blue cassock, long deep blue robe, cross bar purple, lace lined on cape cassock, white or deep blue with purple Altar cross design, three crosses in front, three crosses on each end of the loin, purple strands.

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Women Leadership Line

Source: UGC
- Sister - sister sutana
- Prophetess - female sutana with 4-corner neck;
- Wolima - female sutana with 4 corner neck, blue loin, one cross;
- Cape Elder Sister - cape without lace, round neck, yellow loincloth, one cross;
- Senior Prophetess - 4-corner cape without lace, blue loincloth, three crosses;
- Senior Elder Sister - round neck cape with lace, yellow loincloth, three crosses;
- Superior Senior Prophetess - 4-corner cape with lace and yellow top with no lace, blue loins, three crosses, white strands;
- Superior Senior Elder Sister - round neck cape with lace and yellow top with no lace, yellow loins, three crosses, white strands
- Lace Superior Senior Prophetess - lace yellow top on top 4-corner cape with lace blue loins, three crosses, white strands;
- Lace Superior Senior Elder Sister - Round neck cape with lace, yellow top with lace, yellow loin three crosses, white strands.
All of the ranks are unique and important. Each of them shows the spiritual growth of the person and should be treated with respect.
Celestial Church of Christ bible lessons

Source: UGC
One of the CCC bible lessons for 2025 is:
Divine Alignment with the Kingdom Agenda.
Here, the key scripture emphasis is:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33.
There are many different CCC parishes, each with its own theme and bible lessons. So it is advisable to attend your local church service, or visit their website to find out their bible lessons for 2025.
Celestial Church of Christ songs
As one of the renowned churches in Nigeria, CCC has melodious songs that connect worshippers to the Lord. Some of them include:
- Olorun Oba Imole
- Ojo Agbara Na
- Moronu Titi
Who is the first prophet in the Celestial Church of Christ?
The first prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ was the founder, Reverend Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa.
What does the celestial church believe in?
Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) beliefs include a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit, divine healing, and prophecy, all based on biblical teachings. The church also holds to core Christian tenets like the belief in one God, Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the importance of a holy life, while incorporating spiritual revelations from God through its leaders.
What are the rules of the celestial church?
The Celestial Church of Christ's rules and regulations involve prohibitions on certain behaviors and specific regulations for worship, such as abstaining from sexual immorality, adultery, smoking, and consuming pork and alcohol.
How to join the celestial church?
To join the church, visit a Celestial Church of Christ near you, speak with the shepherd or a church official about your desire to join, and then follow the church's process, which typically includes a sanctification service and the sewing and blessing of a sutana.
What are the celestial prayer times?
Celestial prayer times typically refer to fixed, hourly services observed by members of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), as well as the astronomically determined prayer times in Islam and the ancient Christian practice of the Divine Hours.
For the Celestial church of Christ, these divine prayer times are:
- 5:30 a.m. (Morning Prayer)
- 9:00 a.m.
- 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
- 3:00 p.m.
- 6:00 p.m.
- 9:00 p.m.
- Midnight
- 3:00 a.m.
The Celestial church of Christ is one of the most popular and significant African-initiated churches in Nigeria. Members believe it has a divine origin and follow a strict code of conduct and a unique mode of worship based on divine revelations and the Bible.
Legit.ng published an article about the 7 churches of Revelation, the Bible’s last book. They represent historical, spiritual, and theological significance. The book contains seven letters addressed to churches in Asia Minor.
Each letter was written by Apostle John as proclaimed by Jesus Christ and describes the church's triumphs and failures. So, what do the seven churches represent, and where are they located today? Find out through the above link.
Source: Legit.ng
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