Bahá’í World/Volume 18/Bahá’í Calendar Festivals and Dates of Historical Significance
 | The text below this notice was generated by a computer, it still needs to be checked for errors and corrected. If you would like to help, view the original document by clicking the PDF scans along the right side of the page. Click the edit button at the top of this page (notepad and pencil icon) or press Alt+Shift+E to begin making changes. When you are done press "Save changes" at the bottom of the page. |
VIII
BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR, FESTIVALS AND DATES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
1. FOREWORD
Excerpt from Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era by Dr. J. E. Esslemont
AMONG different peoples and at different times many different methods have been adopted for the measurement of time and fixing of dates, and several different calendars are still in daily use, e.g., the Gregorian in Western Europe, the Julian in many countries of Eastern Europe, the Hebrew among the Jews and the Muhammadan in Muslim countries.
The Báb signalized the importance of the dispensation which He came to herald by inaugurating a new calendar. In this, as in the Gregorian Calendar, the lunar month is abandoned and the solar year is adopted.
The Bahá’í year consists of 19 months of 19 days each (i.e., 361 days), with the addition of certain ‘intercalary days’ (four in ordinary and five in leap years) between the eighteenth and nineteenth months in order to adjust the
calendar to the solar year. The Báb named the months after the attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencing at the March equinox (21 March), and the Bahá’í era commences with the year of the Báb’s declaration (i.e., 1844 A.D., 1260 A.H.).
In the not far distant future it will be necessary that all peoples in the world agree on a common calendar.
It seems, therefore, fitting that the new age of unity should have a new calendar free from the objections and associations which make each of the older calendars unacceptable to large sections of the world’s population, and it is difficult to see how any other arrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.
2. BAHÁ’Í FEASTS, ANNIVERSARIES AND DAYS OF FASTING
Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh), 21 April—2 May 1863.
Feast of Naw-Rúz (New Year), 21 March.
Declaration of the Báb, 23 May 1844.
The Day of the Covenant, 26 November.
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, 12 November 1817.
Birth of the Báb, 20 October 1819.
Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 23 May 1844.
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, 29 May 1892.
Martyrdom of the Báb, 9 July 1850.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 28 November 1921.
Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of ‘Alá’, 2 March—the Feast
of Naw-Rúz follows immediately after.
598
[Page 599]
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH 599
3. BAHÁ’Í HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK SHOULD BE SUSPENDED
- The first day of Riḍván,
- The ninth day of Riḍván,
- The twelfth day of Rigivén,
- The anniversary of the declaration of the Báb,
- The anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh,
- The anniversary of the birth of the Báb,
- The anniversary of the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh,
- The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb,
- The feast of Naw-Rúz.
NOTE: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayríz, Persia, has written the following: Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follow as corollaries to the Text. . . Work on the Day of the Covenant (Féte Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá), however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observation is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days, are the only ones on which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment, whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended.
As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory.
Bahá’ís in East and West, holding administrative positions, whether public or private, should exert the utmost effort to obtain special leave from their superiors to enable them to observe these nine holy days.
4. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL GLEANED FROM NABÍL’S NARRATIVE REGARDING THE BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR
THE Badí‘ Calendar (Bahá’í Calendar) has been taken by me from the Kitáb-i-Asmá’, one of the works written by the Báb. As I have observed in these days that certain believers are inclined to regard the year in which Bahá’u’lláh departed from Baghdád to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badí‘ Calendar, I have requested Mírzá Áqá Ján, the amanuensis of Bahá’u’lláh, to ascertain His will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá’u’lláh answered and said: ‘The year sixty A.H.1
1(i.e., 1260 A.H.)
(1844 A.D.), the year of the Declaration of the Báb, must be regarded as the beginning of the Badí‘ Calendar.’ The Declaration of the Báb took place on the evening preceding the fifth day of Jamádíyu’l-Avval, of the year 1260 A.H. It has been ordained that the solar calendar be followed and that the vernal Equinox, the day of Naw-Rúz, be regarded as the New Year’s Day of the Badí‘ Calendar. The year sixty, in which the fifth day of Jamádíyu’l-Avval coincided with the sixty-fifth day after Naw-Rúz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year
[Page 600]
600
THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD
of the Badí‘ Calendar. As in that year, the day of Naw-Rúz, the vernal Equinox, preceded by sixty-six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore, throughout my history, regarded the Naw-Rúz of the year sixty-one A.H. (the Naw-Rúz immediately following the Declaration of the Báb) as the first Naw—Rúz of the Badí‘ Calendar. I have accordingly considered the Naw-Rúz of this present year, the year 1306 A.H., which is the 47th solar year after the Declaration of the Báb, as the 46th Naw-Rúz of the Badí‘ Calendar.
Soon after Bahá’u’lláh had left the fortress of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badí‘ Calendar and to instruct the believers in its details. On the very day in which I received His command, I composed, in verse and prose, an exposition of the main features of that Calendar and presented it to him. The versified copy, being now unavailable, I am herein transcribing the version in prose. The days of the week are named as follows:
| Days | Arabic Name | English Name | Translation |
| lst | Jalá] | Saturday | Glory |
| 2nd | Jamál | Sunday | Beauty |
| 3rd | Kamál | Monday | Perfection |
| 4th | Fidál | Tuesday | Grace |
| 5th | ‘Idál | Wednesday | Justice |
| 6th | Istijlál | Thursday | Majesty |
| 7th | Istiqlál | Friday | Independence |
The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:
| Month | Arabic Name | Translation | First Days |
| lst | Bahá | Splendour | March 21 |
| 2nd | Jalál | Glory | April 9 |
| 3rd | Jamál | Beauty | April 28 |
| 4th | ‘Azamat | Grandeur | May 17 |
| 5th | Núr | Light | June 5 |
| 6th | Rahmat | Mercy | June 24 |
| 7th | Kalimát | Words | July 13 |
| 8th | Kamál | Perfection | August 1 |
| 9th | Asmá' | Names | August 20 |
| 10th | ‘Izzat | Might | September 8 |
| 11th | Mashíyyat | Will | September 27 |
| 12th | ‘Ilm | Knowledge | October 16 |
| 13th | Qudrat | Power | November 4 |
| 14th | Qawl | Speech | November 23 |
| 15th | Masá’il | Questions | December 12 |
| 16th | Sharaf | Honour | December 31 |
| 17th | Sultán | Sovereignty | January 19 |
| 18th | Mulk | Dominion | February 7 |
| 19th | ‘Alá’ | Loftiness | March 2 |
Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days) 26 February to 1 March inclusive—four in ordinary and five in leap years.
The first day of each month is thus the day of Bahá, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Alá’.
The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and fifty odd minutes, as consisting
of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of certain intercalary days. He has named the New Year’s Day, which is the day of Naw-Rúz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Bahá. He has ordained the month of ‘Alá’ to be
[Page 601]
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHÁ‘U’LLÁH
601
the month of fasting, and has decreed that the day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period. As the Báb did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badí‘ Calendar, the people of the Bayán were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Bahá’u’lláh designated those days as the Ayyám-i-Há and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alá’, which is the month of fasting. He enjoined upon His followers to devote these days to feasting, rejoicing, and charity. Immediately upon the termination of these intercalary days, Bahá’u’lláh ordained the month of fasting to begin. I have heard it stated that some of the people of the Bayán, the followers of Mírzá Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Alá’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of Naw-Rúz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayán which states that the day of Naw-Rúz must needs be the first day of the month of Bahá, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Alá’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting on the fifth day of the month of ‘Alá’, and included the intercalary days within the period of fasting.
Every fourth year the number of the intercalary days is raised from four to five. The day of Naw-Rúz falls on the 2lst of March only if the vernal Equinox precedes the setting of the sun on that day. Should the vernal Equinox take place after sunset, Naw-Rúz will have to be celebrated on the following day.
The Báb has, moreover, in His Writings revealed in the Arabic tongue, divided the years following the date of His Revelation into cycles of nineteen years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:
| 1. Alif | A. |
| 2. Bá’ | B. |
| 3. Ab | Father. |
| 4. Dál | D. |
| 5. Báb | Gate. |
| 6. Váv | V. |
| 7. Abad | Eternity. |
| 8. Jád | Generosity. |
| 9. Bahá | Splendour. |
| 10. Hubb | Love. |
| 11. Bahháj | Delightful. |
| 12. Javáb | Answer. |
| 13. Ahad | Single. |
| 14. Vahháb | Bountiful. |
| 15. Vidád | Affection. |
| 16. Badí’ | Beginning. |
| 17. Bahí | Luminous. |
| 18. Abhá | Most Luminous. |
| 19. Váhid | Unity. |
Each cycle of nineteen years is called Váhid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull-i-Shay’. The numerical value of the word Váhid is nineteen, that of Kull-i-Shay’ is 361. Váhid signifies unity, and is symbolic of the unity of God.
The Báb has, moreover, stated that this system of His is dependent upon the acceptance and good-pleasure of ‘Him Whom God shall make manifest'. One word from Him would suffice either to establish it for all time, or to annul it forever.
For instance, the date of the 21st of April, 1930, which is the first day of Riḍván, and which according to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas must coincide with the ‘thirteenth day of the second Bahá’í month,’ and which fell this year (1930) on Monday, would, according to the system of the Badí‘ Calendar, be described as follows:
‘The day of Kamál, the day of Qudrat, of the month of Jalál, of the year Bahháj, of the fifth Váhid, of the first Kull-i-Shay’.’
[Page 602]
602
THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD
5. HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABiL’S NARRATIVE REGARDING BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
A. BAG_HDAD
Arrival latter part Jamédiyu’t_h—T_héni,
1269 AH.
12 March—10 Apri11853 A.D.
Departure for Sulaymém’yyih on Wednesday, 10 Apri11854 A.D.—Rajab
12. 1270 A.H.
B. SULAYMANI’YYIH
Before reaching Sulaymém’yyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Galfi mountain.
During His absence from Baghdad His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí ‘Ali-Madad to that of Sulaymén-i-Cflanném.
Nabil arrived at Baghdád 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulaymém’yyih.
Works Revealed During This Period
Houses Occupied During This Period
Kullu’t-Ta‘ém
Prayers Qasl’diy-i—Varqé’iyyih
Séqi—Az-fiayb-iBaqé
C.BAg1DAD
Arrived from Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, 19 March 1856 A.D.Rajab12,1272A.H.
Departure from Bag_hdéd for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván), 22 April 1863 A.D. —th’I-Qa‘dih 3,1279A.H.
Short stay in Mazra‘iy-i-Vagqghéfl during above period to celebrate Naw-Rl’lz ended with departure on Thursday, 26 March 1863 A.D.flavvé15,1279A.H.
Tafsir-i-Hurlifét-iMuqatta‘ih Sahifiy-i-flattiyyih Haft-Védi (Seven Valleys) Tafsir-i-Hfi Lawh-i-Hfm’yyih Kitáb—i-iqén Kalimét-i-Makm’mih (Hidden Words) Subhéna-Rabbiya’lA‘Ié §hikkar-§hikanflavand‘ Hfir-i-‘Ujéb Halih-Halih-Yé Biflérat @ulému’l-K_huld Az-Bfigh-i-Iléhf Béz-Av-u—Bidih-Jémi Malláhu’l-Quds (Holy Mariner)
House of Hájí ‘AliMadad (in old BaLhdéd) House of Sulayméni—Qhanném
[Page 603]
THE WORLD ORDER OF Bahá’u’lláh
603
C. BAGjDAD—continued
Arrival at
Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh’s Family at Garden of Riḍván on eighth day
after first of Riḍván.
Departure from Garden of Riḍván for Constantinople last day of Riḍván at noon on Sunday, 3 May 1863 A.D.——_I_)_1_1i’l-Qa‘dih 14, 1279A.H.
Length of overland journey from Garden of Riḍván t0 Sémsun on
Black Sea: 110 days.
Garden of Najibl’yyih (Garden of Riḍván), 22 April 1863 A.D.——@i’l-Qa‘dih 3,1279 A.H.
Works Revealed During This Period
Houses Occupied During This Period
Sliriy-i~$abr revealed on first day of Riḍván
Firayjét (arrived early afternoonstayed seven days) arrived on Sunday, 3 May 1863 A.D.—D_hi’lQa‘dih14,1279A.H.(Firayjétis about 3 miles distant from Bagdéd)
Judaydih, Dili—‘Abbas, Qarih—Tapih,
Saléhiyyih (stayed 2 nights),
Dust-Efiurman’l, Tawuq,
Karkuk (stayed 2 days), Irbl’l,
Zéb River,
Bartallih,
Mosul (stayed 3 days), zaga,
J azirih,
Nusaybin
Hasan-Aqé,
Mardin,
Diyér—Bakr,
Ma‘dan-Mis,
flérput (stayed 2 0r 3 days),
Ma‘dan-Nuqrih,
Dilik-Téfl,
Sivas,
Tfiqét,
Amasia (stayed 2 days),
Iléhiyyih (while approaching Sémsfin, ‘Lawh-i-Hawdaj’ was revealed), (last day of overland journey),
Sémsfin (stayed 7 days),B1ack Sea port; sailed in a Turkish steamer about sunset for Constantinople,
Sinope (arrived next day about noon), Black Sea port: stayed few hours,
Anyébuli (arrived next day).
D. CONSTANTINOPLE
Arrival at noon on Sunday, 16 August 1863A.D.Rabi‘u’I-Avval 1, 1280A.H.
Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Subhénéka—Yé-Hu House of flamsf Big 1 month
Lawh-i-‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz Va-Vukala
(near the mosque of Qirqiy-i-flarif
[Page 604]
604
THE Bahá’í WORLD
Works Revealed
D. CONSTANTINOPLE— Houses Occupied continued During This Period During This Period Duration Length of sea voyage House of Visi Péflé 3 months from Sémsfin to (3—storey, nearSulgz’m Constantinople: 3 Muhammad days. Mosque) Length of journey from Constantinople t0 Adrianople: 12 days. 1. Kficjik-glakmagih (3 hours from Constantinople—spent one night) 2. Bfiyfik-Qakmagih (arrived about noon) 3. Salvarl’ 4. Birkés 5. Bábé-Iski E. ADRIANOPLE Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Arrival on Saturday, SL’lriy-i-Ashéb 1. K_hén-i-‘Aréb 3 nights 12 December 1863 (caravanserai, A.D.—Rajab 1, two-storey, near 1280 A.H. Lawh-i-HajjI house of‘IzzatAqé) Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. Lawh-i-Hajj II Length of overland Kitáb-i-Badi‘ 2. House in Murédl’y- 1 week journey from Con- Sfiriy-i-Mulfik yih quarter, near stantinople to Ad- (Tablet of the Takyiy-i—Mawlavi rianople: 12 days. Kings) Departure from Adri- Sfiriy—i-Amr 3. House in Murédiy- 6 months anople 0n Wednes- Sfiriy—i-Damm yih quarter, near day, 12 August Alváḥ-i-Laylatu’l- house 2 1868 A.D.— Rabi— Quds 4. géniy-i-Amru’lláh ‘u’m—flém’ 22, Munéjéthéy-i-Siyém (several storeys, 1285 A.H. (Prayers for Fasting) near Sulgén-Salim Mosque) Lawh-i—Sayyéh 5. House ofRidé Big 1 year Lawh-i-Népulyl’m I 6. House of Amru’lláh 3 months? (First Tablet to (3-storey, north Napoleon III) of Sulgén-Sah’m Mosque) Lawh-i-Sultén 7. House of ‘Izzat-Aqé 11 months
(Tablet to the _héh of Persia) Lawh-i-Nuqtih
[Page 605]
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA’U'LLAH
p...
. Uzfin-Kupn’
DJN
605
. Kéflénih (arrived about noon. Lawh-i—Ra’l’s [Tablet Of Ra’l’s] was revealed in this place) . Gallipoli (length of journey from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days)
(after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for Alexandria, Egypt)
\OOO\]O\UIJ>.
‘Akká)
. Madelh’ (arrived about sunset—left at night) . Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night)
. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, trans—shipped and left at night for Haifa) . Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night) . Jaffa (left at midnight)
. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing vessel for
F. ‘AKKA
Arrival on Monday, 31 August 1868 A.D.—Jamédiyu’lAvva112,1285 A.H.
Purest Branch died on Thursday, 23 June 1870 A.D.—Rabi‘u'l-Avval 23, 1287 A.H.
Passed away 29 May 1892 A.D.
Works Revealed
Houses Occupied
During This Period During This Period Duration Kitab-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2 years, 2 Lawh-i-Népulyfin II months
(Second Tablet t0 5 days
Napoleon III)
Lawh-i—Malikih 2. House of Malik 3 months
(Tablet to Queen 3. House of Rébi‘ih
Victoria)
Lawh—i-Malik-i-Rfis 4. House of Mansfir 2 or 3
(Tablet to the months
Czar) Sfiriy-i-Haykal Lawh-i-Burhén Lawh-i-Ru’yé Lawh-i—Ibn-i—flli’b
(Epistle to Son of
the Wolf) Lawh-i-Pép
(Tablet to the
Pope)
5. House of ‘Abbfld (where Kitáb-iAqdas was revealed)
6. Mazra‘ih
7. Qasr (Mansion, where He passed away)
[Page 606]
606
THE Bahá’í WORLD
6. DATES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE RISE OF THE Bahá’í FAITH
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh ..... 12 November 1817 Birth of the Báb .......... 20 October 1819 Declaration of the Mission of the Báb in
ihiréz .................... 23 May 1844 Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ........ 23 May 1844 Departure Of the Báb on His pilgrimage to
Mecca ................. September 1844
Arrival of the Báb in Méh-KL’I, Adhirbáyján ......................... Summer 1847 Incarceration of the Báb in thhriq, A(flir béyjén ..................... April 1848 Conference of Badaflt .......... June 1848 Interrogation of the Báb in Tabríz, Agm béyjén ....................... July 1848 Martyrdom Of the Báb in Tabríz, Agirbéyjén
............................ 9 July 1850
Attempt on the life of Nésiri’d-Din fifth ....................... 15 August 1852 Imprisonment Of Bahá’u’lláh in the Siyéh-C_hél of Ṭihrán ................. August 1852 Banishment of Bahá’u’lláh to Baghdád ..... ....................... 12 Ja_nuary 1853 Withdrawal of Bahá’u’lláh to Kurdistén ......................... 10 April 1854 Return of Bahá’u’lláh from Kurdistén ...... ........................ 19 March 1856 Declaration of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh . . . ......................... 22 April 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Constantinople . . . . ....................... 16 August 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople ....... ..................... 12 December 1863 Departure of Bahá’u’lláh from Adrianople . . ....................... 12 August 1868 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in ‘Akká ............ ....................... 31 August 1868 Death of the Purest Branch . . .23 June 1870 Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh ..... 29 May 1892 First public reference to the Faith in America .................... 23 September 1893 Establishment of the first Bahá’í’ centre in the
West .................... February 1894 Arrival of the first group of Western pilgrims in ‘Akká ............... 10 December 1898
Arrival of the Báb’s remaihs in the Holy Land ...................... 31 January 1899 Reincarceration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká ....................... 20 August 1901 Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of ‘Ishqábád ......... ..................... 28 November 1902
Release of ‘Abdul-Bahá from His incarceration ................... September 1908 Interment of the Báb’s remains on Mt. Carmel ........................ 21 March 1909 Opening of the first American Bahá’í Convention .................... 21 March 1909 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure from Egypt ...... ....................... September 1910 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in London .......... ..................... 4 September 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s arrival in America ......... ......................... 11 April 1912 Laying of the corner-stone of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, 111., by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá .......................... 1 May 1912 Second visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Europe and tour through the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Hungary and Austria ......... ........... December 1912 to June 1913 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s return to the Holy Land ...................... 5 December 1913 Unveiling Of the Tablets Of the Divine Plan ........................... April 1919 Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 28 November 1921 Verdict of the Islamic Court in Egypt pronouncing the Faith to be an independent religion ................... 10 May 1925 Martha Root’s first interview with Queen Marie of Romania ...... 30 January 1926 Resolution of the Council of the League of Nations upholding the claim of the Bahá’í community to the House of Bahá’u’lláh in Bag_hdéd ................. 4 March 1929 Passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf July 1932 Inception of the First American Seven-Year
Plan .............. .. ........ April 1937 Celebrationofthe Centenaryofthe Declaration of the Báb ................ 23 May 1944 Inception of the Second American Seven-Year Plan ....................... April 1946 Centenary of the Martyrdom Of the Báb . . . . ........................... 9 July 1950
Completion of the Arcade and Parapet of the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel ........................... 9 July 1950 Inauguration of the Centenary Celebrations of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh’s Prophetic Mission ......................... October 1952 First Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Kampala, Uganda, Africa .................. 12—18 February 1953
[Page 607]
THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA’U'LLAH
Inauguration of the Ten-Year International Bahá’í Teaching and Consolidation Plan . . .......................... Riḍván 1953 Bahá’í dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette, Illinois ........... 1 May 1953 Public dedication ........... 2 May 1953 All-American Bahá’í’ Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Chicago .. .3—6 May 1953 Third Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Stockholm, Sweden ............ ....................... 21—26 July 1953 Fourth Bahá’í’ Intercontinental Teaching Conference, New Delhi, India .............. .................... 7—15 October 1953 Completion of the construction of the Shrine of the Báb ................ October 1953 Expansion of the Faith to 100 additional countries and islands by settlement of the Knights of Bahá’u’lláh ....... 1953—1954 Completion of exterior of International Archives Building ................. 1957 Passing of Shoghi Effendi 4 November 1957 The holding of five Intercontinental Teaching Conferences successively in Kampala, Sydney, Wilmette, Frankfurt, Djakarta/Singapore ............................. 1958 First dependency of a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Bahá’í Home for the Aged, opened in Wilmette, Illinois, USA. ............... .......................... January 1959 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Africa, Kampala, Uganda ...... 14 January 1961 Dedication of the Mother Temple of the Antipodes, Sydney, Australia ........... .................... 16 September 1961 Completion of the Ten Year Crusade ...... .......................... Riḍván 1963 Election of the Universal House of Justice ......................... 21 April 1963 Celebration of the Most Great Jubilee, in London .................... April 1963 Launching of the Nine Year Plan .......... ............................ April 1964 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Europe, near Frankfurt, Germany ..... 4 July 1964 Celebration of the Centenary of the Revelation of the Stiriy-i-Mullik ................... ............... September/October 1967 Opening of period of proclamation of the Cause, inaugurated by the presentation by the Universal House of Justice to 140 Heads of State of a special edition of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh ......... October 1967 The holding ofsix Intercontinental Conferences ......................... October 1967
607
His Highness Malietoa TanumafiliII,OfWestern Samoa, embraced the Faith ............. ...................... 19 February 1968 Establishment by the Universal House of Justice of the Continental Boards of Counsellors ......................... 21 June 1968 First Ocezinic Conference, Palermo, Sicily .................... 23—25 August 1968 Commemoration of 100th anniversary of arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in the Holy Land . . . ....................... 31 August 1968 The Bahá’í International Community accredited with consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council .......................... 27 May 1970 Commemoration of 100th anniversary of the death of Mirzá Mihdi, ‘The Purest Branch’ ......................... 23 June 1970 The holding of eight Oceanic and Continental Conferences .......................... ....... 14 August 1970—5 September 1971 Commemoration of 50th anniyersary Of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ................ ................. 26—28 November 1971 Completion of erection of Obelisk, Mt. Carmel .................... 19 December 1971 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Latin
America, Panama ......... 29 April 1972 Adoption by the Universal House of J ustice of its Constitution ....... 26 November 1972
Publication by the Universal House of Justice ofA Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas .....
.......................... Riḍván 1973
Establishment by the Universal House of Jus tice of the International Teaching Centre
........................... 5 J une 1973 Launching of the Five Year International Teaching Plan ........................ April 1974
His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa, visits the resting place of Shoghi Effendi ; ...... 12 September 1976
The holding of eight Intercontinental Conferences between July 1976 and January 1977
Commemoration of the Centenary of the termination of Bahá’u’lláh’s Confinement in the prison-city Of ‘Akká . . . June 1977
Laying of the foundation stone of the Mother Temple of the Indian sub—continent ...... ....................... 17 October 1977
Laying of the foundation stone of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Pacific Islands . .
....................... 27 January 1979
Launching of the Seven Year International
Teaching Plan ......... Apri11979
[Page 608]
608 THE BAHA‘iWORLD
Commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the passing of Bahfyyih Ifilénum, the Occupation by the Universal House of Justice
Greatest Holy Leaf .................. J uly 1982 of its Permanent Seat ........... J anuary 1983
The holding of five International Teaching Opening of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Péshé t0 Conferences between June and September pilgrims ................................ April 1983 1982
Stairs leading to the main room of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Pégza’; 1983.
