21st Anniversary of 2002 Interfaith Clergy Blessing

Happy 21st anniversary to all the couples of the 144,000 Clergy Interfaith Marriage Blessing! On April 27, 2002, True Parents officiated the ceremony at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, for some 700 representative clergy couples, including Archbishops Emmanuel Milingo and George Augustus Stallings, Jr. Thousands of other couples participated in all 50 states and 196 nations via satellite connection. 

Thirty couples who received the Marriage Blessing came from the Nation of Islam and were sent by the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan. Twenty-one Buddhist couples came from Korea, and more than 21 Sikh leaders participated from the Washington, DC area. Faith leaders representing all major religions offered prayers during the blessing ceremony, including Pastor T.L. Barrett, Jr. of Chicago who helped organize the event.

The couples also received commendations from four U.S. governors and 25 members of Congress, including several U.S. senators. Numerous media outlets, including the United Press International, Associated Press, ABC national, CBS local, The Washington Times, and Spanish-language and African-American newspapers all covered the event. True Parents said the interreligious and international ceremony was a “total victory.”

Congratulations to all the couples celebrating worldwide!