The Second Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind Tongil Groupe: About 30,000 participants, including current and former heads of state and other prominent figures from Korea and abroad, who love and miss Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, have returned to attend his Memorial Ceremony in Gapyeong, Korea for the second anniversary of his Seonghwa (Ascension) Ceremony on August 12th, 2014. With “The Second Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind” as its official title, this ceremony commemorated Rev. Moon’s various activities dedicated toward achieving world peace, lending special attention to his legacy, centered on the North and South American peace movements. H.E. Zivko Budimir-President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.M. David Mohato Bereng Seeiso and Masenate Seeiso-King and Queen of Lesotho, H.H. Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi-Head of State of Samoa, H.E. Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne-Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao-Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau-Former First Lady of Fiji, Dr. Luis Federico Franco Gómez-Former President of Paraguay, H.E. Julio Maria Sanguinetti-Former President of Uruguay, H.E. Prof. Dioncounda Traore-Former President of Mali, Hon. Jose C. de Venecia, Jr.-Former Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, H.E. Anwarul K. Chowdhury-Former Undersecretary General and High Representative to the United Nations, Hon. Dan L. Burton-Former Member of the US Congress, Tae-Ik Chung-Chairman of the Korean Council on Foreign Relations, Il-Shik Hong-Former President of Korea University paid their respects during the memorial ceremony. Rev. Kyeung-Seuk Ryu, President of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), began with opening remarks. Rev. Yong-Cheon Song, FFWPU Japan, offered a reporting prayer for the ceremony. After Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, gave an offering of flowers in remembrance, prominent figures from Korea and abroad then also proceeded to offer flowers to pay their respects. After that, a video presentation titled, “A Great Course toward the Creation of a New World” followed. Hon. Dan L. Burton, Former Member of the US Congress, said in his remembrance address, “Senator Hatch sincerely conveyed how he knew that Rev. Moon had been persecuted and mistreated. He concluded, ‘I believe that injustice was done and that the treatment of Rev. Moon was because of his strong righteous stance against Communism and immorality.’ I agree with Senator Hatch, and would like to set the record straight today before you in this historical event. What happened to Rev. Moon was not the will of righteous American people, but a tragic case of religious persecution and bigotry. As a man of faith who was honored to serve my country in the United States Congress and on behalf of the patriotic and God loving people of America, I am sorry that the American system did not work to protect this man of God.” After a combined choir offered remembrance songs, the Cheon Il Guk Scriptures English Edition, Cheon Seong Gyeong (천성경/天聖經) Pyonghwa Gyeong (평화경/ 平和經), were dedicated by Young-Hwi Kim, and Jae-Suk Lee, compilation committee and arranging committee for enabling the Cheon Il Guk Scriptures. Joon-Ho Seuk, Chairman of the Mission Foundation of FFWPU, also dedicated the White Paper on Church Assets Worldwide 2014, a record book on FFWPU worldwide public assets. Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon addressed, “In 1970s, Rev. Moon went to the United States as a doctor and as a firefighter. Heaven had prepared the United States as a stronghold of the free world; yet, it was moving in a direction other than what heaven had originally planned, one that revered God’s will. The United States stood at a life-and-death crossroads as a result of a decadent culture, widespread family breakdown and the Communist ideology. We focused mostly on the peace activities in North and South America during this second anniversary of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa (Ascension). Let us do our best to establish the foundation of One Heart, One Body, One Mindset, One Harmony under the God’s Will!” Rev. Moon, born in Jeongju, Pyeonganbuk-do in 1920, ascended while in Cheongshim International Hospital in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do at 1:54 AM on September 3rd, 2012 (July 17thby the lunar calendar). Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa Ceremony was conducted with 250,000 visitors from around the world coming to Korea to pay their respects. Rev. Moon founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC) in 1954, and raised it up as a global religious organization with missionary dispensations in 194 nations. Rev. Moon devoted his entire life toward religious reconciliation, world peace and the salvation of humankind. Rev. Sun Myung Moon transcended racial, national, ideological and religious divisions as a peace-loving global citizen.In his autobiography, Rev. Moon reminisces about his life stating, “From the day I received God’s call at the foot of Mount Myodu, I have lived my life like a marathon runner, running for God’s Will and nothing else,” describing his life as “a path from which I could not turn away or compromise, a path of blood, sweat and tears that prevented me from being a filial son to even my own mother.” The memorial ceremony reflected on the trajectory of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s life as we approached the second anniversary of his Seonghwa.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 00:52:51 +0000