On October 21, 1970, between 10:30 and 12:30, the International Wedding of 777 Couples from 10 nations was solemnized at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Seoul, with the presence of over 15,000 guests, under the auspices of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in Seoul.
The couples were from Korea, Japan, Austria, the United States of America, France, England, Germany, Italy, and Free Chi. Many garlands of flowers were sent from Representatives, the ministry, and financial leaders, and congratulatory telegrams from foreign families. And former Japanese Premier Nobusuke Kishi contributed the congratulatory message to the wedding.
At night, between 7:30 and 9:30, there was a performance by men in the entertainment world in addition to the program of blessed couples.
The Meaning of the International Wedding of 777 Couples
Throughout our history of seventeen years, The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity has been striving for the establishment of the Kingdom of Godthe on earth and for the eternal salvation of mankind, which are the essential missions of Religion.
With your good assistance and cooperation, our Association has developed into a worldwide organization having national headquarters in twenty-five countries.
At one time, through misunderstandings between society and established churches, we were forced to face many difficulties.
Ending all the trials and persecutions, we fought to reform the fallen world into a new, bright world in our Heavenly Father's hands.
Eventually, we made a national base of the Truth, the Divine Principle, in Korea, and we opened overseas centers in Japan, The United States of America, England, West Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Holland, Spain, Free China, India, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Syria, Jordan, Ireland, Brazil, Lebanon, Luxembourg, and the Republic of South Africa.
In the above countries, with the propagation of the Divine Principle, our members are full of hope to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on this globe and are living in great happiness for their eternal rebirth in the Divine Principle.
One important thing which we should not forget is the fact that where the Divine Principle goes an Anti-Communism movement is promoted to defeat the Communist ideology, thus ensuring the realization of one ideal world.
The 777 couples were selected from the unified families in ten countries, Korea, Japan, America, England, West Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Free China, and Holland, and they joined with their eternal spouses at the ceremony. Before this, there were several united marriage ceremonies of 36, Couples, 72, Couples, 124 couples, and 430 couples in Korea.
At each time, we could feel the profound meaning of them. We also know the fact that there were already some international weddings under the Divine Principle, in Japan, America, and Germany in 1969, and now, there are many Children of Blessed Families in many countries.
But in scale, this International Wedding of 777 Couples is the greatest in comparison with the past wedding ceremonies, and such a large united wedding ceremony has never been in human history.
It is an important problem to us, concerning the international significance the wedding ceremony has for Our Heavenly Father's work, and the influence the ceremony can have on the accomplishment of Father's will. Under one truth of the Divine Principle, they will marry to work for God's will.
Program of the International Wedding of 777 Couples
October 21, 1970, 10:30 A.M.
1. The Opening ceremony Preside – Jong Bok Hong
2. Entrance of the flags of the participating nations
3. Entrance of the bride's maids and the bride's men
4. Musical performance of the naval band
5. Entrance of officiator -- Sun Myung Moon
6. Entrance of the brides and bridegrooms
7. Questions and answers
8. Celebrating the prayer of the officiator – Sun Myung Moon, Founder of HSA-UWC
9. Exchange of the wedding presents
10. Proclamation
11. Gift of presents and bouquets to the officiator
12. Singing in unison of a celebratory song – All participants
13. Congratulatory message -- Premier Il Kwon Chung and Minister of C and I
14. The congratulatory address -- Rep. In Soo Yook and Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa
15. Greeting of the brides and bridegrooms
16. Three cheers for “Manse”
17. Leaving of the officiator
18. Leaving of the brides and bride-grooms
19. Leaving of the bride's maids and the bride's men
20. Closing of the ceremony
The International Wedding of 777 Couples, planned by the Holy Spirit Association of the Unification of World Christianity, was held at the Changchung Gymnasium in Seoul. Korea on October 21, 1970.
From the viewpoint of general society, such a large united wedding ceremony has not been held in human history. But we think that it is not necessary for us to be interested in such superficial problems.
It is an important issue to us only that the wedding ceremony has a deep significance for Heavenly Father's work and the ceremony can have a great influence on the accomplishment of Our Father's Will.
Before this ceremony, there were several united marriage ceremonies of 36 Families, 72 Families, 124 families, and 430 Families. At each time, we could feel the profound meanings of them.
We also know the fact that there were already some international weddings under the Divine Principle, in Japan, America Europe, and now, there are many Children of Blessing in many countries.
But in scale, this International Wedding of 777 Couples was great, in comparison with the past wedding ceremonies. About 222 Couples were foreign from 10 countries, including Japanese, American, and European Families, and they came to Korea, first, to have their wedding ceremony under the Blessing of their True parent's Hands.
By the sending of Korean missionaries to Japan and America in 1960, our Heavenly Father's Providence began on a worldwide scale, centering the Divine Principle.
After only a decade, our movement of the Divine Principle is now spreading into about 25 foreign countries and from ten of them, our foreign members with blue eyes and brown hair visited Korea to light the worldwide flame of the International Wedding of 777 Couples.
This would be the first in Korean history and also in human history. Now, we can have a great hope for the Restoration of all mankind, realistically. Externally, through the WACL Conference in Tokyo, we could get about 60 comrade countries to struggle against Communism, and internally, through the International Wedding of 777 Couples, we could get a spiritual relationship with ten foreign nation Families under one Truth of the Divine Principle.
From this time, we are forced to march on to spread the Divine Principle to all mankind over the world. Transcending racial conditions, we have to make oneness as the Children of True Parents. We have to make new combinations with all foreign members.
Race with race, nation with nation, we have to make a united front to struggle against Communism, the last form of Our Heavenly Father. We believe that this is the only way to save all mankind, perfectly.
END OF SERMON