Day of the Cosmic Sabbath
During the first week of August, Unificationists celebrated two significant and historical Holy Days: the Day of God’s Eternal Blessing (7.1 Jeol, known in Korean as Chil Il Jeol), and the Day of Cosmic Sabbath (7.8 Jeol, or Chil Pal Jeol). On August 9, in a national ceremony at East Garden and also in local churches across the country, our American family gathered to give thanks to God and True Parents for these two significant anniversaries.
Chil Il Jeol
The Day of God’s Eternal Blessing, Chil Il Jeol, was first established in 1991, making this the 26th celebration. On that day, True Father said God’s original blessings—to be fruitful, multiply and take dominion over the earth (Gen 1:28)—were the very first words that God gave human beings. However, after the Human Fall, God has waited thousands of years to be able to give these blessings again. At last, True Father said, these precious blessings lost in Eden so long ago are “once again available to humankind.”
Chil Il Jeol, observed on August 3rd this year, or July 1st by the Heavenly Calendar, also marks the beginning of Tribal Messiahship. You can read more about the Holy Day, including True Father’s original speech, here.
Chil Pal Jeol
The Day of Cosmic Sabbath, Chil Pal Jeol, was first declared on August 9, 1997 at the Central Training Center in Seoul, Korea. This was the year True Father turned 77, at seven minutes and seven seconds past 7:00am of the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar. True Father made this declaration in the presence of more than 7,000 Unificationists, national messiahs and world leaders from Korea, Japan, the United States, and other nations around the world. This day marked the completion of the 3.6 million couple Marriage Blessing Ceremony. This was the 12th stage of Blessing that started with just three couples in 1960, and from that day forward, both God and True Parents could take at least a Sabbath rest. True Father encouraged all Blessed families to make a “nest of love” where the Heavenly Parent could comfortably settle down.
“We should make this a national holiday at the beginning of August each year,” said FFWPU North America Continental Director, Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, in his remarks at East Garden on the morning of August 9. “This is an important occasion to recall to our minds the difficult course that True Parents walked to close the gap between us and our Heavenly Parent. Next year, let’s give this important day more prominence.”
“I felt very moved and deeply touched for everything True Parents sacrificed for us,” said Belvedere Family Church pastor, Rev. Drissa Kone, about the celebration. “They gave up their entire lives to give joy to the heart of our Heavenly Parent. Now, it is our responsibility to share with world the precious words and Blessings of True Parents.”
With over 100 people in attendance, Rev. Kone offered the declaration prayer, and FFWPU USA President, Dr. Michael Balcomb, led the final victory cheers of Og Mansei. All the young people present then joyfully shared the fruits and foods of the beautiful offering table prepared by Paul Fontaine and the local community.
The Belvedere Family Church was also surprised and delighted to host 30 young students from Japan who are touring America in a three-week pilgrimage, as they visit the holy sites of True Parents’ ministry in America. For all but one, it was their first visit ever to East Garden. The pilgrimage program, which is led by Rhode Island State Pastor Rev. Mark Beaudoin and his family, is now in its second year.
We encourage everyone who has not yet had the chance to do so to make a Holy Day donation online or through their local church.