Celebrating 55th and 16th Blessing Anniversaries

430 Couples Holy Blessing, 1968

Congratulations to the many couples celebrating their Blessing anniversary on February 22! This day marks the anniversary of two major Marriage Blessing ceremonies officiated by True Parents: the 430 Couples Holy Blessing in 1968 and the Cross-Cultural Marriage Blessing in 2007.

On Feb. 22, 1968, True Parents blessed 430 couples (technically 436) at the Seoul Citizen’s Hall in Korea. True Father noted that the previous year, 1967, marked 4,300 years of Korean history (the Dangun era) and said the 430 couples represented 4,300 years of Korean history, connecting Korea to the Unification movement. True Father also acknowledged it took the Israelites 430 years to return to Canaan from Egypt, and said the couples “have to set out to restore the world, which is our Canaan.” 

True Parents conducted their second world tour the following year and blessed 43 couples worldwide, which internationally connected to the 430 Couples Holy Blessing. The 430 Couples Holy Blessing included the first non-Korean couple, who were from Japan. True Father said the Marriage Blessing was not just for Koreans, and that he connected the 430 Couples to the 43 Couples on the foundation of the family on the world level — signifying the birth of a new race transcending ethnicity and nationality.

Cross-Cultural Marriage Blessing Ceremony in the Sacred Reign of Peace for the Realization of a Peaceful World, 2007

On Feb. 22, 2007, the “Cross-Cultural Marriage Blessing Ceremony in the Sacred Reign of Peace for the Realization of a Peaceful World” took place at the Cheongpyeong Heaven and Earth Training Center in Gapyeong, Korea. Many children of UPF Ambassadors for Peace participated in the ceremony, with 521 new couples established. The brides and grooms also participated in True Father’s 88th birthday celebration held the next day.

Happy 55th and 16th Blessing anniversary to all the couples celebrating worldwide!