The funeral of Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung, who died on Sept. 3, was held on Saturday at the church's Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province.

The funeral was attended by Moon's family including his wife, Unification Church devotees, and some 40 representatives from 31 denominations from the American Clergy Leadership Conference.

The church said 35,000 people attended the funeral, including some 10,000 people from Japan, but the Moonies have a history of inflating such figures.

Moon Hyun-jin, the third and the eldest surviving son of the founder, who leads the Unification Church International, was absent, apparently because he is at loggerheads with his siblings and mother over the succession.

The attendees laid down roses and lilies, Moon's favorite flowers, instead of traditional chrysanthemums.