Budapest, Hungary—Ambassadors for Peace, prominent artists and families paid tribute to the UPF founder seven years after his passing.
More than 150 people attended the meeting, which was held on September 7, 2019, under the theme “One Family under God,” to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.
The program began with the reading of a poem written by János Arany, one of the most famous Hungarian poets of the 19th century. The poem spoke about peace and emphasized the theme of the evening—that humankind is “one family under God.”
The reading of the poem by a young UPF supporter, Olivér Bajor, created a good atmosphere for a brief introduction to Rev. Moon’s life and works which followed. Then a Protestant minister and Ambassador for Peace, György Kulin, testified about his first meeting with Rev. Moon in the 1990s when he gave a speech in Budapest. The minister emphasized that Rev. Moon was called by God to create peace.
We remembered Rev. Moon through a memorial video, which showed clearly that the work he started did not end with his passing. His wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, has embraced the world with the heart of a true mother, creating the environment for a peaceful world and for a unified Korean Peninsula.
Reading a letter that she wrote to her husband touched the hearts of the audience very much. This created a foundation to study Mother Moon’s speech “The Essence of History,” which she gave in Korea in February of this year.
Mrs. Parisa Nagy, the national chair of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), an organization that is affiliated with UPF, then gave an introduction to her organization.
We then presented Ambassador for Peace certificates to three distinguished individuals. Mrs. Palma Halasz is striving for peaceful families by seeking to prevent domestic violence. Mr. Gabor Lednyiczky is a biophysicist but is helping people to find their inner peace. Dr. Monika Toth contributes to peace initiatives by promoting the Korean culture and traditions.
The highlight of the event was the Interreligious Peace Blessing Ceremony. The couples and participants received a blessing prayer upon their family from the Protestant minister, then a Jewish representative. Finally the benediction prayer of Rev. Moon was read aloud.
The event concluded with performances given by several Ambassadors for Peace and professional musicians and dancers.