Couples Celebrate 1992 and 1995 Marriage Blessing Anniversaries

Happy 30th anniversary to the 30,000 couples who received the international Holy Marriage Blessing on Aug. 25, 1992, and happy 27th anniversary to the 360,000 couples who participated on the same date in 1995!

Both Blessing ceremonies were officiated by True Parents at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in South Korea. The 1992 Blessing was the pinnacle of the first World Culture and Sports Festival (WCSF), held from Aug. 19 to 30, and the largest ceremony conducted by True Parents at the time. True Father said it marked the beginning of the worldwide Marriage Blessing era through which anyone, regardless of religion, could receive the Blessing. He also noted that it occurred in the year that True Mother stepped forward as a public figure. Afterward, True Father announced the forthcoming 1995 Marriage Blessing for 360,000 couples. 

The Marriage Blessing in 1995 was also the central event of the second World Culture and Sports Festival, which ran from Aug. 20 to 27. The Seoul Olympic Stadium had 36,000 couples who participated live, and even more couples were linked simultaneously to the main ceremony via 500 satellite locations in 160 nations. True Parents extended an invitation to people of all faith backgrounds to participate in the ceremony. “The Blessing isn't about changing your religion, but about changing your character,” said Dr. Tyler Hendricks, president of the Unification movement in the U.S. at the time. For many thousands of previously married couples who participated, the ceremony was both a blessing of their existing marriage and a public expression of their renewed commitment to God, humanity, and each other. 

Congratulations to all the couples celebrating their Blessing anniversary!