The following were VIP participants:

Dr. Chul Seung Lee, Chairman, Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation; The Venerable Seong Ta, Head Monk of Bulguk Temple; Minister Sung Choon Park of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Hon. Bong Ho Kim, Former Vice Chairman, Korean National Assembly. Hon. Domitien Ndayizeye, former President of Burundi; Mrs. Aude Ndayizeye, former First Lady of Burundi; Hon. Malimba Masheke, former Prime Minister of Zambia; Hon. Jose de Venecia, former Chairman of the National Assembly of the Philippines.

The First Anniversary of the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth and Humankind was held in a solemn atmosphere. The ceremony started with the entrance of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon who offered flowers to Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s photo. Dr. Chang Shik Yang, Vice Chairman of FFWPU-International, served as the emcee and gave the opening remarks.

The Opening Prayer was given by Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr. Offerings of flowers were made by family members and representatives. A video presentation of Rev. Moon’s life and achievements was shown. Memorial Addresses were given by Dr. Chul Seung Lee, The Venerable Seong Ta, Hon. Jose de Venecia, Then the Memorial Poems, “The Crown of Glory,” was presented by video as well as a reading of “Letter to My Father” by actress Hye Seon Jeong. Then White Paper was presented. A commemorative video for Rev. Sun Myung Moon was shown, and then Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon gave a speech. Throughout this event, participants reflected on the dedication and achievements of Rev. Moon as well as his determination to build world peace.

The Venerable Seong Ta said, “I’m honored to be here as a representative of Buddhism. Rev. Sun Myung Moon weathered the crisis like a martyr to make a peaceful world. The great achievements that Rev. Moon did are so various and deep. The words peace activist, thinker, teacher, messiah does not fully explain the significance of Rev. Moon. He quietly walked Heaven’s path called true love and lit the world through his philosophy.”

Mr. Jose de Venecia said, “I couldn’t imagine Rev. Moon passing away, he who had this endless enthusiasm with superhuman energy. I can feel that Rev. Moon is here at the memorial ceremony. Rev. Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon were always together and even now they are together. Rev. Moon led the transcendent religious movement and taught us that without cooperation between religions and religious leaders, the United Nations can’t succeed on its original mission. Also, he taught me that the family is a school of love. After the Blessing Wedding ceremony that was officiated by Rev. Moon and Dr. Han, my family got stronger. Let’s not make a sad memorial but achieve the peaceful world that Rev. Moon determined to create.”

During her speech, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon emphasized that we have to become one in heart. “I feel my husband, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, might appear and say ‘How have you been?’ We have realized one heart and one vision. We should praise Rev. Moon’s guidance and establish his vision of peace. Through this Seonghwa ceremony, Korea and Japan have become one. Representatives from Japan and Korea rode bicycles together for 20 days from Japan to the Korean 38th parallel to promote the reunification of South and North Korea. We should keep going forward for the sake of establishing heaven on earth, which embodies freedom, peace and unity worldwide. Rev. Moon is living with us in our heart. Let us establish the vision of heaven and be filial children of heaven.”

Part two of the event included commemorative performances. The order was a video of Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s favorite songs, a song performance by his grandchildren, a performance by singer Gloria del Paraguay, a performance by the Japanese Sun-hak Choir, Musical Gala Show ‘Crown of Glory’ and a group choir by all the performers.

120 Pieces of Rev. Moon’s Mementos are Opened to the Public for the First Time

The FFWPU made an exhibition of Rev. Moon’s 120 pieces of personal keepsakes that included daily supplies; clothes, pictures, etc., which were made open for viewing to the public for the first time. Also, the FFWPU released the condolence message from the North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. When Rev. Moon was alive, he maintained a very close relationship with North Korea through business and exchanges for the peaceful reunification of South and North Korea. Accordingly, North Korea always sent birthday presents to Rev. Moon and Dr. Han. This year (2013) North Korea sent a pair of rare Poongsan Dogs. This was the first publicized gift from North Korea. The male dog was named Jeong-ju, after Rev. Moon’s hometown and the female dog was named An-ju, after Dr. Han’s hometown.

During this memorial period, numerous events contemplating the achievements of Rev. Moon and his life were arranged over seven days from August 17th to the 23rd. These events reminded members to inherit Rev. Moon’s peace ideology and vision 2020, which is to build a foundation for world peace. Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Keepsake Exhibition, Commemorative Photo Exhibition, Awards for the Commemorative Memoir Contest by UPF, International Leadership Conference (ILC), Rally for Unification, World Peace and Unification Art Festival, etc., were prepared for this memorial period.

Patriarch G. Augustus Stallings offers a Report-Prayer to Open True Father's 1st Anniversary Seonghwa

Let us pray

Most Beloved Heavenly Parent, We invoke Your Majestic Name and recognize You for Who You Are ...

The absolute, unique, unchanging and eternal one in whom we live, move, and have our being. We thank you that in the fullness of time, You sent upon the earth, The True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind, in the persons of the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his beloved wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to restore all things and to proclaim the Kingdom of God on Earth. You annointed, appointed and approved True Parents for this Providential moment in salvation history .. And endowed them with power and authority to complete all things.

We have gathered in this holy place to celebrate and commemorate the first anniversary of the victorious and glorious universal Seung Hwa Ascension of True Father.

We celebrate His Life, Teachings and Legacy which have impacted the course of human history forever. And left an indelible mark on the lives of those who came to know and love him. And through the fruits of his works and the perfection of the Christ within him, to embrace him as Savior, Messiah and Returning Lord ...

We commemorate his physical death, while readily admitting that we still suffer from the pangs of no longer being able to see Him Face to face... or feel the warmth of his magnetic touch.

Although each one of us has been diminished by his transition, our faith reassures us that even though His body has returned to earth, from whence it came, his spirit has returned unto You, oh Heavenly Parent, who gave it.

Oh God, You and True Father are now One. And where ever You are, so is he. What more could we ask of you oh giver of eternal life?

We thank You oh Heavenly Parent, that in True Father's physical passing you do not leave us widowed or orphaned but prepared, annointed and divinely appointed True Mother to lead and follow his life course of living for the sake of others. Loving one's enemy and working tirelessly to establish a world of true and lasting peace as a prelude to bringing about the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

True Father proclaimed before his transition, while holding True Mother's hands in prayer, "according to His Will, I am spending this time to bring my life to a conclusion, using this time to bring it to a close with sincerest heart and devotion .. I have accomplished everything that Heaven required."

True Father shared with us that when God called him home to Heaven, True Mother will lead us to fully realize Cheon Il Guk.

That time has come. And the hour is at hand. Only You oh Heavenl Father know the Tearful, most Sorrowful and Blood-Stained Course of True Parents ...

Through it all, they established your Blessing and brought about the restoration of true love, true life and true lineage.

This is Your day of Blessing, God, where You are now Substantial both in Heaven and on Earth through True Parents. Together with, and through the True Family and all those blessed by True Parents today Your Safe Settlement among all humanity, is sealed forever ... And Your liberation is complete.

May God Bless this Glorious Moment in the course of human history.

We report and offer this prayer in our names and in the names of George and Sayomi Stallings, a blessed central family

Amen, Amein and Aju ...

Beloved True Father! One year has passed since your ascension. The intensity of your life began even before your birth. The cries for Korea's independence on the 1st of March in 1919 marked the conception of your life, heralding a thorny path that would be filled with tribulations, adversity and hardship. True Father's life and youthful days were filled with extreme hardships Knowing that the Heavenly Parent was compelled to guide you on that path, We're blinded by the tears that well up from our heart. On the day you were released from Heungnam prison, you could have chosen to visit Chungmonim, who was nearby, yet, because of true love, you departed North Korea carrying your disciple on your back, who had broken his leg. On this lonely path you followed the will of God's providence, and whenever you went beyond the pass of Golgotha, you beat down and pushed back your tears. We cannot fathom the blood and tears that you shed in your heart. At the rally to save the nation held at Yoido, Your determined roar towards the millions gathered there was strong, And silently you wept after reading letters from missionaries Who were in prisons in communist nations, "Father, may your precious body be preserved. I will see you again in the other world." "America must awake!" so you cried, in the land of freedom, At the Kremlin, you prayed for the end of Communism And while even embracing Kim Il Sung, You wielded an iron rod towards the nations, Yet to us you were always a passionate and affectionate Father. Last year, as Autumn was falling upon us The sad news that you had ascended left all of us dumbfounded. Before ascending to the Heavenly Nation, you gazed at True Mother's face, as if to engrave her image in your heart. And you sat across from True Mother at a table for two. Your last outing was your visit to Osan school, a mirror of your hometown. You went around Cheon Jeong Gung sustained by an oxygen tank saying your last farewell. When I think about your prayer, when you proclaimed, "It is all accomplished!" Tears well up in my eyes and my heart aches thinking about it. Father, no matter how many times I call you, I still want to call you again. Father, I miss you dearly. You are the light of my life, you were like an ever expanding ocean to me. Father, when you suddenly ascended to the Heavenly Nation, We assumed that True Mother would be the most grieved, and yet, She was the first to raise the torch of true love. With Foundation Day approaching, she raised her voice and commanded, "There is no stopping!" "We shall advance. Invest yourself completely with a life or death resolution. You must do your best with all your heart." She raised high the torch of love. Father, you spent each day like a thousand years as you waited for Foundation Day. Yet one day you let go of our hands and ascended to the Heavenly Nation and opened the gates to the kingdom of heaven. True Mother is now taking the lead and guiding us on the path to heaven, Which you had shown to us. We, too, shall follow True Parents in this way. We shall live a life so that when we conclude our life on earth and rise to heaven, we too can proudly say, "We have accomplished everything." We know that you will always be there for us in the Heavenly Nation, And we shall attend True Mother on earth and We will do our best to fulfill Vision 2020.   Presented on the 17th day of the 7th month by the Heavenly Calendar in the 1st year of Cheon Il Guk by Hye-seon Jeong, representing members from around the world.

True Mother Addresses Guests and Members of True Father's 1st Anniversary Universal Seonghwa

 

True Mother: Thank you, please be seated everyone. Respected guests from Korea and abroad, those who have spoken precious words at this memorial service that can bring us together touching our hearts, and Unification Church Members from around the world, today we have become as one. It feels like Father would stride forward with a bright smile and ask "How`ve you been?" Beloved Peace Ambassadors, we have united in heart and in will. While admiring the great works of True Father, at present you and I have determined to fulfill the will at all costs. Korea and Japan have become one centering upon this Seonghwa period. Last August 3rd I witnessed the the peace march that started from Hokkaido and worked its way down the Japanese archipelogo with great fervor and continued in Korea from Busan, a unification of Korea and Japan, with the bicycle parade riding all the way to Imjingak, putting into practice the long awaited reunification of the fatherland, North and South Korea. Now we will not end this condition merely at Imjingak but continue past Baekdusan Mountain, across Asia and move forward on and on until the joyful Kingdom of Heaven on Earth that God has long awaited, can be achieved. On this great day, I love our distinguished guests, blessed families and True Father from the bottom of my heart. You will become one with me and must absolutely become the children who Will see the Will of God and the Will of the True Parents of Heaven and Earth be done. You will become filial sons and daughters. I sincerely hope that at this moment, you can make a resolution to become loyal subjects. Thank you

 

compiled from Taekon Lee, Alex Park, FFWPU reports and others

 

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