In a remarkable and unprecedented event that amazed everyone, the Mandaean Mandi House was officially opened in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The event was attended by the President of the Mandaean World Congress, Mr. Fouad Chasib Sobbi, the Head of the Congress Media Office, Mr. Munther Naim Amer, as well as senior representatives from the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
Back in 2023, during the World Peace Summit 2023, a proposal was made to construct a Mandi (a Mandaean place of worship) near a museum that was under construction at the time. The Mandi would symbolize the first monotheistic religion born in the land of the Tigris and Euphrates and would be the 20th Mandi worldwide. We received this news with great joy, though the project was temporarily paused for technical considerations.
As the 2025 Peace Summit kicked off on April 10, 2025, directives were issued to accelerate the project’s completion under the quidance of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the president of the UPF, especially given that Mr. Fouad Sobbi had already prepared a Darfash (the Mandaean religious banner) two years earlier. This Darfash was made of bronze, weighed nearly a ton, and was accompanied by a bronze, nickel-plated model of the holy book Ginza Rba, weighing 14 kg.
The structure’s base was built from marble with a concrete foundation, and work was completed. However, upon inspecting the site, the President of the Congress requested that the Mandi be relocated closer to a natural spring flowing from the surrounding mountains. This was done accordingly.
This marks the first phase of the project. A canopy will soon be built over the Darfash, and stairs will be added leading down to the pool containing the spring water, making it a fully functional and complete Mandi. The Darfash was positioned facing north, in alignment with the Mandaean qibla (spiritual direction), and Mr. Fouad Sobbi requested it be painted white, with green myrtle leaves decorating it.
The land area of the monument is approximately 400 square meters, and we are free to develop it further as we wish. All costs, including the land itself, were generously donated by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
Representatives from the UPF gave speeches praising the Mandaean faith and its commitment to global peace, a core value of the religion. They expressed their pride in having this religious site near the residence of UPF President Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, often called Mother Moon, the “Patron of World Peace.”
Following the speeches, Mr. Fouad Chasib Sabi presented certificates of appreciation to UPF leaders, acknowledging their exceptional support for the Mandi project.
This achievement did not come out of nowhere. Mr. Fouad Sabi, a generous figure, had previously distributed over 500 copies of the Ginza Rba to all UPF members, allowing them to better understand the Mandaean faith and its noble principles. During the summit, he often stood before thousands to explain the nature of our sacred text, which carries the message of the first prophet on Earth, Adam peace be upon him. Attendees were also deeply impressed by the ritual of baptism (masbuta), a tradition the Mandaeans have preserved through generations -always performed in flowing water, which we consider sacred.
This opening has left a profound impact on UPF members, especially those who viewed the report amid their busy summit schedules. We want to stress that the UPF has no ulterior motives in supporting the Mandaean religion or donating this monument. This act represents a global gesture to support the preservation and continuation of the Mandaean faith at all levels.
Words cannot express our gratitude to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon (Mother Moon) for this extraordinary gesture, nor to the leaders of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) who supported and completed this project in record time. We also thank everyone who attended the official opening ceremony, especially the senior leadership of the UPF.
Article courtesy of the
Media Office
Mandaean World Congress
