The World Mission Society Church of God announced on the 2nd that it held the "Passover Grand Service" at over 400 locations across South Korea on the 1st. The church said believers in approximately 7,800 locations across 175 countries — including South Korea, the United States, Germany, Brazil, the Philippines and South Africa — observed the Passover and prayed for the peace and happiness of people worldwide.
Senior Pastor Kim Joo-cheol, the General Pastor, said at a commemorative worship service held at the "New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple" in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, "On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus kept the New Covenant Passover with His disciples, likening the bread and wine to His flesh and blood, and promised forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who eat and drink them." He added, "The Passover is a holy day on which humanity, destined to die, can eat the fruit of life and receive eternal life."
Believers participated in a foot-washing ceremony, washing one another's feet and engraving the virtues of humility and service in their hearts. This followed the biblical account of Jesus Christ humbly washing His disciples' feet as an example. Believers then took part in the Holy Communion, sharing bread and wine according to the Bible in remembrance of Christ's love and sacrifice.
The Passover (逾越節), meaning "disasters pass over," has its origins recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus. According to the account, 3,500 years ago, when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, they observed the Passover as commanded by God and were protected from the plague that killed the firstborn, gaining their liberation.
The Church of God observes seven feasts each year according to the Bible, including the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Day of Firstfruits (Resurrection Day), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.