FFWPU International Headquarters
August 27, 2018
Summary
True Father Seonghwa (Ascension) occurred at 1:54 am on the 17th day of the 7th month (September 3), in the 3rd year of Cheon Il Guk. True Father′s Ascension, at the completion of his life on earth as the savior, Messiah, True Parent and King of Kings, was the first step into a new phase of providential history with his entrance into the spirit world where he now lives in direct attendance to our Heavenly Parent. All of the ceremonies and events that were held to commemorate and mark this historic moment in the history of humankind are referred to as True Father′s 'Universal Seonghwa Ceremony' or the 'Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of the Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind.'
"Is God happier on the day we are born into the physical world, or at that moment we leave our physical body behind? At that moment, we are born a second time into the realm of the infinite expansion of love. We become His new children through death. Of course, God is happier at the second birth. I am telling you this because you need to know that you cannot have a relationship with God unless you are released from the fear of death."
-Sun Myung Moon
Ascension
True Father's Seonghwa (Ascension) occurred at 1:54 am on the 17th day of the 7th month (September 3) in the 3rd year of Cheon Il Guk. Since his returning from the US on the 27th day of the 5th month (July 16), he had had severe cold symptoms of cold and was hospitalized in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital for a month. All members of the Unification family, centering on True Mother, offered devotions on behalf of True Father, and in the last prayer he offered before his ascension, he declared the completion, conclusion and consummation of the entire providential mission. Surrounded by True Mother and the True Children, the body of True Father who had ascended was laid in the grand reception room on the 3rd floor of the Cheon Jeong Gung Palace after the cleaning rituals had been completed, and then, on the 3rd day after his ascension, on the 19th day of the 7th month, Seong Yeom Sup, a holy ceremony to dress the body in ceremonial robes for burial. The world media reported widely on the passing of True Father, and members of the Unification family all over the world offered three day of devotion to honor his life and his ascension.
Prayer Vigils and Condolences
A period for special devotion and offering condolences lasted for nine days, starting from the 20th day of the 7th month (September 6), the 4th day after his ascension, until the 28th day of the 7th month (September 14). During this time, 96,710 mourners made the pilgrimage to Gapyeong to join prayer vigils and pay their respects to True Father, and 110 thousand flowers were laid on the altar before True Fathers portrait. Hyung-jin Moon, International President of FFWPU and Kook-jin Moon, Chairman of the Tongil Group, and their wives, representing the True Family, along with FFWPU regional presidents and executives from the Tongil Group companies and organizations took turns in receiving the visitors during those nine days. Memorial altars were also set up in local churches in countries all over the world. The altars in ten cities throughout Korea were visited by 70,668 mourners, while those at 194 places abroad were visited by 7,825,000. Including the visitors to the main alter in Gapyeong, 8,036,007 people in total made condolence visits during the nine day period. A webpage that was set up for writing words of condolence was visited by 225,062 people during the period of the Seonghwa events.
Ipjeon Ceremony
After the period of condolence visits was completed, the Ipjeon Ceremony (placing in casket) for the Universal Seonghwa of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind, was held in the Cheon Jeong Gung Palace at 9:00 pm, on Friday, the 28th day of the 7th month (September 14) in the 3rd year of Cheon Il Guk.
Universal Seonghwa Ceremony
The Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind, was solemnly conducted in the Cheongshim Peace World Center at 10:00 am, on 29th day of the 7th month (September 15). At 9:30 am, True Father's departure to the Cheongshim Peace World Center from Cheon Jeong Gung Palace was broadcast live, and the official ceremony began with the entrance of True Mother and members of the True Family accompanying the holy body past the 80 people from the escorting families, who were lined up on both sides of the aisle. The memorial ceremony was attended by a total of 40,850 people, including incumbent and former heads of states and blessed families from all over the world, who participated by video link at the Chung Pyung Heaven and Earth Training Center, the sports field Cheongshim International Academy, and parking sites near the Cheongshim Peace World Center, as well as the main venue, the Cheongshim Peace World Center. Members of blessed families from all over the world in white suits and ties lined the route between the Cheon Jeong Gung Palace and the Cheongshim Peace World Center to attend and escort to escort the True Parent. This ceremony was broadcast live on major international channels, including Reuter's, the AP, Al-Jazeera, and CNN as well as on internet news outlets in 194 countries all over the world.
Wonjeon Ceremony
Following the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind, at 1:30 pm, on the 29th day of the 7th month (September 15), the Wonjeon Ceremony (interment) for Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind was held in Bon Hyang Won, the site of True Fathers Wonjeon (burial site). The entire process of his journey from the main ceremony in the Cheongshim Peace World Center to the site of Wonjeon and the procedures before the Wonjeon Ceremony were broadcast to the main event venue at the Cheongshim Peace World Center and the other sites at the Chung Pyung holy ground.
3rd Day Memorial Service
The 3rd Day Memorial Service for the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind was held in the Bon Hyang Won, the Wonjeon site, from at 7:00 am on the 2nd day of the 8th month by the heavenly calendar (September 17), which was the 3rd day after the main Seonghwa Ceremony, which was held on the 29th day of the 7th month (September 15) in the 3rd year of Cheon Il Guk (September 15). The 3rd Day Memorial Service was attended by 200 participants including the FFWPU regional presidents, members of elder blessed central families, heads of church organizations and companies, and Korean and Japanese church leaders. The order of service included the opening declaration, report prayer, Hoon Dok Hae (scripture reading), flower tribute, wine offering, and offering of ceremonial food.
40th Day Memorial Service
The 40th Day Memorial Service for the Universal Seonghwa Ceremony of Sun Myung Moon, the True Parent of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind was held at the Bon Hyang Won, the Wonjeon site, starting at 10:00 am on the 11th day of the 9th month of the heavenly calendar (October 25) in the 3rd year of Cheon Il Guk, which was the 40th day counting from the day following the date of the main Seonghwa Ceremony, the 30th day of the 7th month (September 16). The 40th Day Service was attended by 600 participants including the international regional presidents, heads of organizations and companies, members of elder blessed central families, and church leaders. The order of service included the lighting of a sacred candle, opening declaration, singing the Cheon Il Guk national anthem, report prayer, Hoon Dok Hae, floral tribute, wine offering, offering of ceremonial food, statement of closing, and the partaking of sacrificial food and drink.