Prague, Czech Republic—In honor of the 10th anniversary of the passing of UPF co-founder Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the Czech branches of UPF and its affiliated organization Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) organized a commemorative meeting at the Peace Embassy on August 15, 2022.
Approximately 25 participants saw a varied program introducing the life and work of Reverend Moon. Short videos vividly showed some parts of his rich and abundant life. A variety of speakers recalled their impressions of the leader.
The moderator was Dr. Juraj Lajda, UPF president in the Czech Republic.
Dr. Roman Joch, director of the Civic Institute in Prague, spoke about Reverend Moon’s continuous fight against communism and his efforts in the 1970s and 1980s to revive the moral and spiritual life of America.
Rev. Dr. Mikuláš Vymětal, an evangelical pastor, highlighted the significance of the interreligious dialogue which Reverend Moon initiated and strongly promoted.
Some speakers testified about their experiences with concrete projects and events that Reverend Moon established or initiated.
Dr. Peter Dvornický, a graduate from the Unification Theological Seminary, participated in an international project in Brazil called New Hope Farm. The idea was to bring education to the remote areas of that vast land. Volunteers constructed schools and other buildings.
The next speaker was Dalibor Musil, who some years ago participated in an international seminar organized by The Washington Times, a daily newspaper that was founded by Rev. and Mrs. Moon in 1982. At that seminar he learned about the rules and ethics that a good newspaper and good media should follow.
Finally, Ernestína Lajdová told of her experiences from the last public appearance and last public speech of Reverend Moon, which occurred in Korea one month before his passing in 2012. At the time she was participating in a WFWP conference at which Reverend Moon spoke about the role of women and the “Abel Women’s UN.”
Afterward Mrs. Lajdová read aloud the poem Crown of Glory which Reverend Moon wrote as a 16-year-old.
A video of a performance by the Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea, also founded by Rev. and Mrs. Moon, followed. Two participants then performed a Korean song.
In conclusion, there was shown a video in which Rev. and Mrs. Moon were singing together.
Before and after the program, the participants could look at an exhibition of posters depicting the life and accomplishments of Reverend Moon.
A beautiful atmosphere of piety and respect was felt during the meeting. Among the participants there were some from Ukraine and Russia.
The participants appreciated the program, and one of them said afterward of Reverend Moon, “He was a great man and had a valuable life.”