Rev. Moon marries 7,200 couples in mass broadcast

Some 7,200 South Korean and foreign couples exchanged or reaffirmed marriage vows in the Unification Church's second mass wedding this year.

Church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a self-proclaimed messiah, offered blessings for the participating couples gathered last Sunday at Sun Moon University, the school he founded in Asan, south of Seoul.

FAITH & REASON: What happens to these couples?
"I pronounce marriage for the blessed beautiful women and handsome men standing before God, the Lord, the world, and myself," said the 90-year-old Moon.

The couples exchanged vows and held hands to pray during the one-hour spectacle, which was broadcast live online and through satellite television to 194 countries, church officials said.

The participating couples threw up their hands and cheered "Hurrah!" in unison. The church apparently did not schedule the ceremony for the novelty of the 10-10-10 date.