33 Years Strong: 6,500 Couples’ Blessing Anniversary

Happy 33rd anniversary to the participants of the 6,500 Couples’ Blessing Ceremony in Ilhwa, South Korea, on October 30, 1988!

This was the largest Blessing ceremony officiated by True Parents at the time and featured 2,400 Korean-Japanese matched couples. Historically, they represented enemy nations coming together to build the foundation for world peace. Nearly all of the couples were matched by True Father through photographs, and many candidates met their partner for the first time at the holy wine ceremony the day before the Blessing.

“The 6,500 Couples’ Blessing Ceremony was a cross-cultural marriage between Japanese and Koreans,” said True Father. “People assumed that the brides and grooms would be able to communicate with each other, but they could not. Since I had matched people who did not know each other's language, thousands of them sat in silence holding each other’s hands tightly... They could not converse with one another, but it was beautiful the way they held each other's hands. The Unification Church is the only place where one can see such a thing.”

Congratulations to all of the couples celebrating their 33rd anniversary!

Post a picture of your couple on Facebook or Instagram about your Blessing with the hashtag #blessingculture.