(The Baha'i World 1950-1954)
Baha'i Buildings & Places
Photos and brief descriptions of sacred Baha’i historical places and buildings, as well as places and buildings associated with the Baha’i Faith
Pages
September 1, 2018
August 17, 2018
August 10, 2018
July 28, 2018
First Baha'i Center in Mwalok Village, Sokehs, Ponape, Micronesia, - 1972
Partial group of the friends attending the dedication of the
first Baha'i Center in Mwalok Village, Sokehs, Ponape, Micronesia, in 1972.
Hand of the Cause Featherstone is the back row.
(Baha'i News, August 1972)
July 20, 2018
July 3, 2018
'Abdu'l-Baha's House in 'Akka - 1898
'Abdu'l-Baha's House in 'Akka: where in 1898 He received the
first pilgrims from the West -- Lua and Edward Getsinger. Photo by Effie Baker
(1925).
(Star of the West, vol.16, no. 5, August 1925)
(Star of the West, vol.16, no. 5, August 1925)
June 24, 2018
The Reason for the Appearance of a Manifestation of God in a Given Place
The reason for the appearance of a Manifestation of God in a
given place is not to honor a particular people or nation. Shoghi Effendi
indicates a quite different reason in The Advent of Divine Justice and, more
concisely, in a letter to an individual written on his behalf on 23 January
1944:
“The ever-recurring miracle in the establishment of every
religion is that such poor instruments accomplish the work of God. It is to demonstrate
the fact that God is the power that overcomes every obstacle, and that
Revelations are divine in origin, that leads Him to always choose the worst
people among whom to manifest His Messenger and the most obscure and helpless
of the population -- relatively speaking -- to establish the foundations of His
Faith. The Baha'i Dispensation is no exception to this rule, as you yourself
have observed.”
Beyond these points is the fact that God, the Almighty
Creator, does not have to justify His choice of a race or nationality from
which to raise up a Manifestation. As all sacred scriptures tell us, He does as
He wills and shall not be asked of His doing, and we bow in humility before
Him. Besides, as you must know, conceptions of race, nation, oriental, occidental,
and the like reflect earthly limitations and are not qualifications attached to
the reality of the soul in the limitless realms of God.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual Baha’i,
dated 27, October, 1986; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1986-2001)
June 15, 2018
The Mashriqu’l-Adhkar (the Baha’i Temple) in Chicago “marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth."
"A most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear in
the world of existence," are 'Abdu'l-Bahá's own words, predicting the
release of spiritual forces that must accompany the completion of this most
hallowed House of Worship. "From that point of light," He, further
glorifying that edifice, has written, "the spirit of teaching ... will
permeate to all parts of the world." And again: "Out of this
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, without doubt, thousands of Mashriqu'l-Adhkars will be
born." "It marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth."
- Shoghi Effendi (‘Citadel of Faith’)
June 7, 2018
May 28, 2018
The Guardian loved Africa
Africa, an untapped reservoir of spiritual potency and
capacity, was the focal point of the beloved Guardian's Ten Year Crusade
[1953-1963]. So important was its role in the development of the Plan and such
joy did these victories bring to the heart of Shoghi Effendi during the latter
years of his life, that Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum placed the continent of
Africa in the most prominent position on the globe that surmounts the pillar
above his grave. The significance of Africa in the history of the Baha'i Faith
has thus been recorded for all time.
- Violette Nakhjavani (‘The Great African
Safari’)
May 16, 2018
Heart of the Arc on Mount Carmel
Did you know that the “far-flung arc” on mount Carmel that
accommodates the buildings of the Universal House of Justice, the International
Teaching Center, the Center for the Study of the Text, and the International
Archives, “surround(s) the resting-places of the Greatest Holy Leaf, ranking as
foremost among the members of her sex in the Bahá'í Dispensation, of her
Brother, offered up as a ransom by Bahá'u'lláh for the quickening of the world
and its unification, and of their Mother, proclaimed by Him to be His chosen
"consort in all the worlds of God". (Shoghi Effendi, ‘Messages to the
Baha’i World 1950—57’; the Compilation of Compilations vol. I). This really
highlights the incredible spiritual stations of these “three incomparably
precious souls who, next to the three Central Figures of our Faith, tower in
rank above the vast multitude of the heroes, Letters, martyrs, Hands, teachers
and administrators of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh …” (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to
America'; ‘The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I’)
May 1, 2018
April 25, 2018
Mount Carmel as of 1926
Looking up the slope of Mount Carmel, circa 1926. The Holy
Tomb of the Bab and 'Abdu'l-Baha is seen behind the large white building in
center.
(The Baha'i World 1926-1928)
Another view of the Sacred Shrine as seen from the main
street of Haifa leading up to the terraces below the Tomb
(The Baha'i World
1926-1928)
April 17, 2018
Heart of the Planet
The World Center of the Faith located in Israel “geographically,
spiritually and administratively, constitutes the heart of the entire planet..”
- Shoghi Effendi (‘Messages to America’; ‘The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
I’)
April 10, 2018
Religious Temples should be viewed as symbols of the divine uniting force
Among the institutes of the Holy Books is that of the
foundation of places of worship. That is to say, an edifice or temple is to be
built in order that humanity might find a place of meeting, and this is to be
conducive to unity and fellowship among them. The real temple is the very Word
of God; for to it all humanity must turn, and it is the center of unity for all
mankind. It is the collective center, the cause of accord and communion of
hearts, the sign of the solidarity of the human race, the source of eternal
life. Temples are the symbols of the divine uniting force so that when the
people gather there in the House of God they may recall the fact that the law
has been revealed for them and that the law is to unite them. They will realize
that just as this temple was founded for the unification of mankind, the law
preceding and creating it came forth in the manifest Word. Jesus Christ,
addressing Peter, said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church." This utterance was indicative of the faith of Peter, signifying:
This faith of thine, O Peter, is the very cause and message of unity to the
nations; it shall be the bond of union between the hearts of men and the
foundation of the oneness of the world of humanity.
April 2, 2018
March 25, 2018
March 15, 2018
February 27, 2018
February 19, 2018
Cities of Europe and North America Visited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha during 1911-1913
Europe: Thonon-les-Bains, Switzerland; Paris, France;
Stuttgart, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; London, England; Clifton, England;
Byfleet, England; Oxford, England; Edinburgh, Scotland
USA: New York, N.Y.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.;
Baltimore, Md.; Chicago, Illinois; Kenosha, Wis.; Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati,
Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Montclair, N. J.; West Englewood, N.J.; Jersey City,
N.J.; Cambridge, Mass.; Boston, Mass.; Malden, Mass.; Medford, Mass.; Fanwood,
N.J.; Morristown, N.J.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Dublin, N.H.; Green Acre, Eliot,
Maine; Minneapolis, Minn.; St. Paul, Minn.; Denver, Colo.; Oakland, Calif.;
Palo Alto, Calif.; San Francisco, Calif.; Sacramento, Calif.; Los Angeles,
Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah.; Pasadena, Calif.
Canada: Montreal, Quebec
(‘Baha’i Year Book 1925-1926’)
February 12, 2018
The Greatest Divine Institute – the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar
The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar [Baha’i temple] is the most important
matter and the greatest divine institute. Consider how the first institute of
his holiness Moses, after his exodus from Egypt was the 'Tent of Martyrdom'
which he raised and which was the traveling temple. It was a tent which they
pitched in the desert wherever they abode, and worshipped in it. Likewise,
after his holiness Christ - May the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him -
the first institute by the disciples was a temple. They planned a church in
every country. Consider the Gospel, (i.e., read it), and the importance of the
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar will become evident.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Quoted in ‘Baha’i Year
Book 1925-1926’)
February 5, 2018
Why do Baha'i Temples have nine sides?
Nine is the highest digit, hence symbolizes
comprehensiveness, culminations; also, the reason it is used in the Temple's
form is because 9 has exact numerical value of ' Baha' (in the numerology
connected with the Arabic alphabet) and ' Baha' is the name of the Revealer of
our Faith, Bahá'u'lláh.
The 9-pointed star is not a part of the teachings of our
Faith, but only used as an emblem representing '9'. In telling people of the 9
religions of the world, that is existing religions, we should not give this as
the reason the Temple has nine sides. This may have been an idea of the
architect, and a very pleasing idea, which can be mentioned in passing, but the
Temple has 9 sides because of the association of 9 with perfection, unity and '
Baha'.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Directives
from the Guardian’)
January 31, 2018
January 24, 2018
January 12, 2018
June 17, 1975: Excavation begins at site of Universal House of Justice Building
Joyfully announce commencement excavation site Universal
House of Justice Building arc Mount Carmel. Contract removal forty thousand
cubic meters rock and earth at cost approximately two hundred thousand dollars.
Invite all believers contribute unstintingly building fund ensure uninterrupted
progress historic undertaking.
Universal House of Justice
June 17, 1975
(Baha'i News, July 1975)
Work started on the construction of the Universal House of
Justice Building in the heart of Mount Carmel. In the left background is the
Archives Building and in the right background is the Shrine of the Báb.
January 6, 2018
January 1975: Bahamas National Haziratu'l-Quds
Negotiations for the acquisition of a building which is
considered a landmark by Bahamian citizens were completed in Nassau at the end
of January [1975], during a visit by Glenford Mitchell, Secretary of the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. The structure, built by
a former prime minister of the country, will serve as the National
Haziratu'l-Quds of the Bahamas. Ideally located in the heart of downtown
Nassau, the building is situated on a spacious lot which also includes a number
of smaller buildings. It is well-landscaped and attractive, with a covered
archway leading along the side of the building from the front to the back area.
The visit of Mr. Mitchell also provided an opportunity for extensive
proclamation of the Faith, with a half-hour program taped by Carl Bethel,
program director of the government-owned radio station, WZNS, and an hour-long
visit with Leon Turnquest, editor of the Nasseu Guardian.
(Baha’i News,
February, 1975)
December 27, 2017
December 21, 2017
First Baha'i meeting place in Australia
Mr. and Mrs. Dunn's first flat in Avoca Street, Randwick,
Sydney, N.S.W. First Baha'i meeting-place in Australia.
(The Baha'i World,
1932-1934)
December 15, 2017
The Mansion of Bahji as of 1900s
The Mansion of Baha'u'llah at Bahji as it appeared during the
time of the first pilgrimage of the Western believers in the early 1900s.
(Baha'i News March 1976)
December 10, 2017
December 6, 2017
One of the places Baha'u'llah stayed during His period of retirement
Takyiy-i-Mawlana Khalid in Sulaymaniyyih, Iraq, where
Baha'u'llah stayed during His period of retirement.
(The Baha'i World 1932-1934)December 2, 2017
November 28, 2017
November 25, 2017
Green Acre in Eliot, Main, USA becomes one of the first Baha’i summer schools in the Western Hemisphere
Sanctified by a native peace pipe ceremony in 1894, the
Sarah Farmer Inn, near the banks of the Piscataqua river in Eliot, Maine,
became a conference facility for a variety of courses, including
transcendentalism, evolution and comparative religion. Its open-minded
atmosphere attracted people of many religions, cultures, and races. It provided
a peaceful setting for fostering fellowship, understanding and unity.
After her pilgrimage to ‘Akka in 1900, Sarah Farmer, made
the facilities at the disposal of the followers of the Faith which she had
herself recently embraced. The center attracted many Baha’i speakers including
some very famous like, Mirza Abu’l-Fadl in 1902. In 1912 Green Acre became
specially blessed by the footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Who spent a week there and
gave a number of talks. In one of them on August 17 He indicated that “In the
future, God willing, Green Acre shall become a great center, the cause of the
unity of the world of humanity, the cause of uniting hearts and binding
together the East and the West. This is my hope. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation
of Universal Peace, p. 264). It is reported that ‘Abdu’l-Baha further indicated
that one day Green Acre would become the site of the first Baha'i University
and the second Baha'i Temple in the United States. The room in which
‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed is reserved nowadays for prayers and meditation.
November 22, 2017
November 20, 2017
April 21, 1922: Shrines of both Baha'u'llah and the Bab were electrically illuminated for the first time
On the first day of Ridvan [1922], although Shoghi Effendi
himself had left Haifa, the Shrines of both Baha'u'llah and the Bab were
electrically illuminated for the first time, pursuant to arrangements made
before the Master's ascension, but, again, supervised by Shoghi Effendi
himself.
- Ruhiyyih Khanum ('The Priceless Pearl')
November 18, 2017
The Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in 'Ishqabad, extensively damaged by violent earthquakes in 1948, was demolished in 1963 by the Russian authorities for safety reasons
August 25, 1963
To the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'í World
Dear Bahá'í friends,
The whole Bahá'í World will be grief-stricken at the news of
the sad fate which has overtaken the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in 'Ishqabad, the first
Temple raised to the glory of Bahá'u'lláh. [The temple was located in
Turkmenistan, near the Iranian border, north of the Iranian province of
Khurasan ] Due to its unsafe condition, resulting from earthquakes, the
building has been entirely demolished and the site cleared.
The building of this edifice, the only structure of its kind
to be raised and completed in the lifetime of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, was described by
the beloved Guardian as "a lasting witness to the fervour and the
self-sacrifice of the Oriental believers." This "enterprise,"
the Guardian further wrote, "must rank not only as the first major
undertaking launched through the concerted efforts of His followers in the
Heroic Age of His Faith, but as one of the most brilliant and enduring
achievements in the history of the first Bahá'í century."[GPB, p. 300. The
first Bahá'í century ended in 1944.]
The Bahá'í centre in 'Ishqabad was founded in the days of
Bahá'u'lláh. Already during His lifetime preliminary steps had been adopted by
the friends of that community to build, in accordance with the provisions of
the Most Holy Book, a Mashriqu'l- Adhkar.[The Most Holy Book is the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Bahá'u'lláh's book of laws]
November 16, 2017
The room Bahá'u'lláh was born in
This is the room Bahá'u'lláh was said to be born in,
appropriately between dawn and sunrise, November 12, 1817. It was the main
parlor of the house of His father in Tihran. Panes in the upper window are
colored red, blue, yellow and green.
(Source: 'Land of Resplendent Glory', by
the International Baha'i Audio-Visual Centre, 1971)
November 14, 2017
The Most Great Prison in Akka as seen in 1907
The Most Great Prison in Akka, Israel. This photo was taken
by the late Hand of the Cause, Roy C. Wilhelm in 1907
(Baha'i News, January
1965)
November 12, 2017
Baha’u’llah rented a house in Baghdad
Baha'u'llah arrived in Baghdad on 8 April 1853. The journey
from Tehran had been very difficult and had lasted three months. After a few
days in Baghdad, Baha'u'llah moved to Kazimayn, a Shi'i shrine city which at
that time was some five kilometers north-west of Baghdad (it has since become incorporated
into the city). The Iranian consul suggested to him that since Kazimayn tended
to be full of rather fanatical elements, it would be safer for Baha'u'llah if
he lived in Baghdad itself in the mainly Persian-speaking quarters on the west
bank of the Tigris river. Baha'u'llah consented to this and rented a house
there.
- Moojan Momen ('Baha’u’llah A
Short Biography')
November 10, 2017
November 9, 2017
November 8, 2017
1912: ‘Abdu’l-Baha lays the cornerstone of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in Wilmette
May 1st was a remarkable day, a day of very high
distinction: 'Abdu'l-Baha laid the foundation-stone of the Mother Temple of the
West. At Wilmette on the shores of Lake Michigan ample land had been purchased.
On the site chosen for the construction of the Temple, a large tent had been
raised and here, after inspecting the grounds, 'Abdu'l-Baha took His place to
speak. He said:
“The power which has gathered you here today notwithstanding
the cold and windy weather is indeed mighty and wonderful. It is the power of
God, the divine favour of Baha'u'llah which has drawn you together. We praise
God that through His constraining love human souls are assembled and associated
in this way.
Thousands of Mashriqu’l-Aadhkars, dawning-points of praise
and mentionings of God for all religionists will be built in the Orient and
Occident, but this being the first one erected in the Occident has great
importance. In the future there will be many here and elsewhere; in Asia,
Europe, even in Africa, New Zealand and Australia;* but this edifice in Chicago
is of especial significance ..."
November 7, 2017
'Akka -- May, 1967
'Akka from the air, looking west over the Mediterranean.
Most Great Prison shown in center, Mosque to lower left. Photo taken in May,
1967.
November 6, 2017
Mount Carmel as it appeared to the first American pilgrims in 1898
Mount Carmel as it appeared to the first American pilgrims
to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1898. The building at the foot and on the left marks
the place where Elijah, the Prophet, found shelter. On the summit is a convent.
(Baha'i News, December 1971)
November 5, 2017
The Garden of Ridvan
Entrance to the Garden of Ridvan where Baha'u'llah declared
His Mission in 1863 and after twelve days departed for Constantinople. ... The
beauty of this garden is apparent through its service to humanity -- that is,
it was a hospital then and two successive governments have used it similarly ... [as] a center where bodily ailments are
healed.
(The Baha'i World 1926-1928)
November 4, 2017
Bahá'u'lláh's ancestral home in Takur, in the district of Nur
Baha’u’llah usually spent His summers as a boy at his
ancestral home in Takur. He also visited it later in life before being exiled
from Iran.
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