Thousands Dedicate Their Marriages to God's Will at Festival in Korea

Tossa Cromwell
October 12, 2010

40,000 gathered in Seoul, Korea to celebrate the Marriage Blessing of 7200 couples. Young couple (right) bows in solemn prayer during the ceremony.

On October 10, 2010, 40,000 gathered in front of the Main Building of Sun Moon University to celebrate the "10.14 Blessing Ceremony Based on the Completion of the Settlement of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind." The Blessing Festival was held simultaneously in forty nations of the world through Internet broadcast.

On a clear morning, brides and grooms ready to begin a new stage of their lives dedicated to God and True Parents, and the guests who came to congratulate them, were busily moving around while Unification Church International President Rev. Hyung Jin Moon gave an interview in a press conference about the value, significance and current status of the day's ceremony.

At the pre-program entertainment, the Lovin' Life Band, which performs every Sunday at the signature service of the American Unification Church, uplifted the spirit of the event with beautiful and exciting songs and music.

On behalf of the Reverend and Mrs. Moon, the True Parents of mankind, Assistant Hyo Yul (Peter) Kim read True Parents' speech from the Assembly Based on the Completion of the Settlement of the Substantial Body of the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humanity. During the reading, he explained what True Parents had said in regards to the development and vision of Sun Moon University and the University of Bridgeport in America. "Sun Moon University will be developed into an excellent college, both by Korean and world standards. In reality, when the University of Bridgeport in America was acquired, the city of Bridgeport and the University of Bridgeport were in danger of bankruptcy yet True Parents took interest and invested in the university.

Through True Parents' devotion and effort to save American education, the University of Bridgeport has been making a profit for the past eight years and has developed into a specialized university in the areas of dentistry and engineering. It is also developing into the most influential university in America in relation to the military. These are fruits of True Parents' status and devotion. Sisterhood ties have been made with a university in China, allowing students from China to flood our university in a degree exchange program. As we can see, True Parents' providence includes saving people of the world through education, and there is proof that the world is being saved."

After Assistant Peter Kim's special address, the regular ceremony proceedings began.

The Blessing Ceremony began with an opening proclamation from Dr. Jun Ho Seuk, the Korean Unification Church (Unification Church) president, that "the greatest festival on earth, in which all five races gather together," was about to commence.

After Unification Church Japan Chairman Rev. Young Seok Song offered the Report Prayer, Unification Church International President Rev. Hyung Jin Moon read Dedication to Practice Liberation and gave the opening address.

After Religious leaders from around the world gave their blessings on the new couples, the attendants entered wearing their bright pink and white robes. When the officiators, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, entered, the entire plaza was awash with applause and cheers.

The officiators first conducted the Holy Water Ceremony, symbolically to cleanse all the Blessing Ceremony attendants. Next, the officiators asked all Blessing participants to make their sacred Blessing vows before all of heaven and earth. The officiators then gave their benediction upon all the couples. After each bride and groom exchanged rings, the officiators proclaimed that the Blessing had been established. Representative couples offered flower bouquets and gifts, and danced the waltz for the officiators, receiving loud applause from the audience. Congratulatory remarks by the vice-president of Nepal, three cheers of Ok Mansei by the officiators and the exit of the officiators preceded the closing proclamation.

Korean-English translation by Mr. Tossa Cromwell.