HUNDREDS of smiling couples wearing crowns and toting AR-15 rifles today tied the knot in a mass wedding blessing ceremony and thanked God for their right to bear arms.

More than 300 couples descended on Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, for Wednesday's controversial ceremony to marry or renew their vows – and pay homage to AR-15s, which they believe are God's sacred "rod of iron" on earth.

26 A couple pose with their assault rifle outside a Pennsylvania church Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

There was standing room only in the large church and followers clapped and cheered as their leader Pastor Hyung Jin Sean Moon and his family walked in a procession – holding up a golden assault rifle.

He then told the congregation they had a “God-given right” to keep and bear arms – to protect themselves from the “Satanist systems of communism and socialism”.

Critics have hit out at the event, accusing the church of being insensitive after mass killer Nikolas Cruz used the same weapon to gun down 17 innocent people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, just weeks ago.

A nearby high school even closed for the day because of the event.

26 A woman holds an AR-15 rifle during a ceremony at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary

26 Worshippers were seen wearing bizarre crowns, some made out of what appear to be bullets Credit: AP:Associated Press

26 Armed devotees lined up with their assault rifles inside the Pennsylvania church Credit: Getty Images - Getty

26 Church officials in bright pink robes and white gloves carry their weapons through the church

26 Rev. Yeon Ah Lee Moon of the Sanctuary Church holds a golden AR-15 during the bizarre ceremony

26 Worshippers drank holy wine and exchanged wedding vows during the ceremony Credit: EPA

But organisers told Sun Online they had taken numerous safety precautions and believed the event actually honoured the victims of mass shootings.

Many children and babies attended the event, with one young church follower, 11-year-old Xavier Franco, even helping to inspect the semi-automatic weapons before they were brought into the building.

The youngster tagged the triggers so they could not be pulled and made sure no one brought in any ammo or magazines.

Participants were told they had to keep their weapons pointing upwards and not put their fingers on the trigger.

26 Rev. Yeon Ah Lee Moon holds a gilded weapon as worshippers at World Peace and Unification Sanctuary

26 A man clutches a rifle with a rose stuffed down the barrel during the service

26 A congregant clutches a handgun during the service that celebrated the second amendment

26 A woman clad in white rests her AR-15 against her shoulder as she listens to the service Credit: EPA

26 An elderly lady with crown of bullets looks on as people take communion in the church Credit: EPA

26 A man poses with a handgun outside the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

26 A devotee couple are pictured in their crowns and religious vestments Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

26 The ceremony took place at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

Church leader Tim Elder told the congregation: “You must treat the gun like it was loaded – that’s the first rule of gun safety for everyone around the world.

“If someone starts to act strange or cut their zip tie or something – remember we are the first responders – we have to be aware of what is going on around us and act appropriately.”

The happy couples seemed unfazed by any negative attention, filling every seat in World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church.

One couple wore crowns made of gold bullet casings and pearls, while others held photographs of their partners who could not attend – so they could still receive the marriage blessing.

26 A woman clutching an assault rifle closes her eyes in prayer at the church in Pennsylvania Credit: EPA

26 A man wearing a crown holds his AR-15 assault rifle at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Credit: EPA

At the beginning of the event, a group of men wearing combat gear saluted in front of the Stars and Stripes as they sing the American national anthem.

Reverend Moon and his wife – who followers believe are the "King and Queen" – then sat on their thrones.

Couples holding imposing AR-15s looked lovingly into each other's eyes as they took part in a sacred wine ceremony, exchanged rings and recited wedding vows.

One couple Dyella Schmid, 27, and Kyle Yoder, 30, told Sun Online the ceremony was "beautiful" and had made their relationship "complete".

26 At least 50 rifles were brought to the church for the controversial blessing ceremony today Credit: EPA

26 An assault rifle, secured by orange zip-ties, is checked in by officials at the church ahead of the ceremony Credit: EPA

26 A parishioner with the Sanctuary Church wears bullets on his forehead during a blessing ceremony to rededicate marriages Credit: EPA

26 A National Rifle Association baseball cap rests on a pistol holding parishioner's knee as he worships Credit: Reuters

26 The controversial church, which is led by the son of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, believes the AR-15 symbolizes the "rod of iron" in the biblical book of Revelation Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

26 The church has encouraged couples to bring the weapons to a "commitment ceremony" or "Perfection Stage Book of Life Registration Blessing". Credit: Photo John Chapple / www.JohnChapple.com

26 Critics have hit out at the event, accusing the church of being insensitive after mass killer Nikolas Cruz used the same weapon to gun down 17 innocent people at a high school in Parkland, Florida Credit: EPA

26 An assault rifle, secured by orange zip-ties, is checked in by officials at the church ahead of the ceremony Credit: EPA

26 Anti gun protesters held up placards outside the church as the service went on

They also said it was a chance to "give thanks to God" for allowing them to carry guns.

Dyella from Colorado said: "For a lot of people it probably looks weird to bring guns to a church and some people confused that we blessed the guns, which actually didn't happen.

"It’s just that we're grateful that God gave us the right to defend ourselves and God Bless America we have the right to defend ourselves to have arms."

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Kyle said: "In most of the massacres – and in that situation – the police didn't go in, they stood down.

"And I'm originally from Texas and recently there was another massacre there and somebody with an AR-15 – that exact rifle – stopped that person from continuing on in his killings."

Tim Elder, the director of world missions for the church, told Sun Online: "I think it actually shows our commitment to protect other students so that a tragedy like that will never happen in our community and in any other community where good people claim the tools with which to fight evil."

Hundreds of people gather for a bizarre church service in Pennsylvania to worship guns

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