The following press release from the international headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) announces the full schedule of events commemorating the one-year anniversary of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa.
The Memorial ceremony for the one-year anniversary of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) will be held at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Korea on August 23, 2013 at 10 a.m. Upwards of 25,000 people are expected to attend. The official title for the ceremony is “The First Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind.” A full week of memorial events in Gapyeong starts on August 17th and will end on Saturday, August 23rd.
Official Seonghwa portrait of Rev. Sun Myung Moon.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon was born in Jeong-ju Township, Pyong-an Province in North Korea on January 6, 1920 and spent his last day on earth at the Cheongshim International Hospital where he passed away on September 3, 2012 1:54 a.m. During last year’s 13-day mourning period, approximately 250,000 people from around the world visited Korea to pay their respects. FFWPU celebrates their significant days by the lunar calendar, so they will commemorate Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa memorial annually on July 17th of the lunar calendar.
FFWPU refers to funerals as Seonghwa ceremonies. Rev. Moon taught that death is not the end of life, but instead marks entry to a new world of spirit. FFWPU’s funerals actually celebrate an individual’s entrance to his or her new life; therefore, the Seonghwa ceremony decorates with white ribbon and/or colorful flowers instead of black ribbon and/or unicolor condolence flowers.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon founded FFWPU in 1954; and in two decades its missionaries brought it to 194 nations and established it as a world religion. Rev. Moon devoted his whole life to world peace, harmony between religions and humanitarian relief. Dr. Morton A Kaplan, Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, wrote of Rev. Moon: “More and more, when the world is in an emergency, the world requires a great leader’s capability. I believe that Rev. Sun Myung Moon is the great leader and brings answers from God.” The Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa, former president of Poland, has said, “I truly respect Rev. Sun Myung Moon, and I will be happy if he achieves God’s will.”
Rev. Moon was a peace-loving world citizen. In his autobiography, he reflected on his life this way: “Since I was called by God at Mount Myodu, I have lived life like a marathon athlete who only runs for God’s will. It wasn’t a life that could compromise. It was a life of blood, sweat and tears.” In the Bible Jesus said, “a prophet hath no honour in his own country.” At the one-year anniversary of Rev. Moon’s Seonghwa, many will gather in Rev. Moon’s homeland to evaluate his extraordinary life properly.
This video tribute, "Reverend Sun Myung Moon: A Peace Loving Global Citizen," commemorates the one year anniversary of True Father's Seonghwa (Ascension) Ceremony.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa (Ascension) Ceremony held on September 15, 2012 in Korea.
Schedule for Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Seonghwa One Year Anniversary Events in Korea
*Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind Universal Seonghwa One Year Anniversary Memorial Ceremony
Main Event, (10:00 a.m. Friday, August 23rd at the Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong)
The ceremony will be broadcast live to 194 nations. At the Cheongshim Peace World Center, 25,000 people, including VIP’s and visitors from around the world will review Rev. Moon’s life achievements and his determination to make a peaceful world. There will be a memorial ceremony and memorial performances.
Events Leading Up to the Memorial Ceremony
*Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Keepsake Exhibition
(Thursday, August 22nd – Saturday, August 24th at Cheon Jeong Gung Museum in Gapyeong)
Commemorates the footsteps of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and exhibits the Divine Principle that Rev. Moon wrote and displays his belongings, ,including clothes, daily supplies and pictures.
*Commemorative Photo Exhibition of Rev. Sun Myung Moon
(Sunday, August 18th- Saturday, August 24th at the Segye Times Newspaper Building in Seoul
Exhibited are photos and newspaper articles of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who had devoted his whole life toward establishing world peace, saving humankind and the unification of South and North Korea. The exhibit shows the theory and footsteps of Rev. Moon’s efforts for peace.
*International Leadership Conference (ILC)
(Wednesday, August 21st – Friday, August 23rd at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul)
The ILC features presentations of Rev. Moon’s philosophy regarding peace and his life achievements. The 250 participants will include former national leaders, current top leaders, academics and clergy.
*Seminar on a Multi-Religious Society
(Wednesday, August  21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Brahms Hall, President Hotel in Seoul)
The Korea Religious Association will host this event to review and to evaluate the movement to unite religions, an effort championed by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Each religious representative will present a paper at the seminar.
* Prayer and Rally for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea by Korean residents in Japan
(Saturday, August 24th at 1:30 p.m. at Imgingak in Gyeonggi providence)
About 500 people including 300 Korean residents in Japan will gather at the Imjingak to pray for the reunification of Korea. There will be performances and flying balloons that express hope for unification of Korea and the establishment of the DMZ World Peace Park. This event will be hosted by The Citizens’ Federation for the Unification of Fatherland.
*Arts Festival for World Peace and Unification
(Friday, August 23rd – to Sunday, August 25th at the Cheong Ah Camp in Gapyeong. Awards ceremony to take place August 25th)
The Youth Federation for World Peace will exhibit Western painting, Korean painting, and calligraphy, paintings in the literary artist´s style, mosaics, sculpture and photographs to commemorate Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s accomplishments in art guided by the themes of peace, unification and purity.
Translated by Lymhwa Kim and edited by Krista Moon for the News Team.