The Ahanotu family donates St Andrew’s status to Ibele Catholic parish

The Catholic family of the late Chief Augustine NwaokorobiaAhanotu of NdiuhuIbele has donated a statue of St Andrew the Apostle to St Andrew’s Catholic Church, Ibele Parish in the Orlu Catholic Diocese. This information was disclosed to Umuaka Times by the eldest son of the late Chief NwokorobiaAhanotu, the Omenka 1 of Ibele whose burial took place on August 29, 2025 in Ibele.

While holding talks with Umuaka Times last week, Mr. Stan Ahanotu who is the Director of St. Augustine Home Ltd told Umuaka Times that the family donated the statue of St Andrew as a form of immortalization of their father who was a staunch member of the Roman Catholic faith and worshiped at theIbele parish.

Mr. Stan Ahanotu used the opportunity to once again thank all the people who assisted and stayed with the family during the burial of his late father.

According to historical notes Umuaka Times came across last week, Saint Andrew the Apostle was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and the brother of Saint Peter. Before he and his brother St Peter became apostles to Jesus, he was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, along with his brother Peter. He was also a disciple of John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Jesus. Several book of the Bible referred to him as the “Apostle of the Gentiles” because he’s believed to have preached to non-Jews.

Catholic historians believe that Saint Andrew is the patron saint of several countries, including Scotland, Greece and Russia. He has the symbol of an X-shaped cross, which is featured on the flag of Scotland.

Tradition holds that Saint Andrew was martyred in Patras, in Greece by being crucified on an X-shaped cross. The feast day of Saint Andrew is celebrated on November 30th in the Western Christian tradition and November 13th in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.