Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Bahá’í Calendar Festivals and Dates of Historical Significance

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[Page 764]

\/III BAHA’t CALENDAR, FESTIVALS AND DATES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

1. FOREWORD Excerpt from Bahd ’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 Bath named months after the attributes of God. The Bahá’í New Year, like the ancient Persian New Year, is astronomically fixed, commencmg 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 alrangement could exceed in simplicity and convenience that proposed by the Báb.

2. BAHA’t FEASTS, ANNIVERSARIES AND DAYS OF FASTING

- Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of . Bahá’u’lláh), 21 Apri1—2 May 1863.

- Feast ofNaw—Rfiz (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 Baha’u’llah, 29 May 1892.

- Martyrdom Ofthe Báb, 9 July 1850.

- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 28 Noyember 1921.

- Fasting season lasts 19 days beginning with the first day of the month of ‘Ala’, 2 March— the Feast of Naw—Rl'lz follows immediately after.

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3. Bahá’í HOLY DAYS ON WHICH WORK SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

- The first day of Riḍván, - The anniversary of the birth of the Báb,

- The ninth day of Riḍván, - The anniversaiy Of the ascension of

- The twelfth day of Riḍván, Bahá’u’lláh,

- The anniversary of the declaration - The anniversary of the martyrdom of of the Báb, the Báb,

- The anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, - The feast of NaW-Rfiz.

NOTE: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His tablets addressed to a believer of Nayriz, 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 restfollow as corollaries t0 the T ext... Work on the Day of the Covenant (Fete 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 Abhd Beauty (Baha’u’llah) and the Primal Point (the Bab), 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 ofemployment, 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 NABiL’s NARRATIVE REGARDING THE Bahá’í CALENDAR

THE Badi‘ Ca1endar(Bahá’í Calendar) has been taken by me from the Kitdb—i—Asmd, 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 Baha’u’llah departed from Baghdad to Constantinople as marking the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar, I have requested Mirza Aqé Jan, the amanuensis of Bahá’u’lláh, to ascertain His Will and desire concerning this matter. Bahá’u’lláh answered and said: ‘The year sixty AH.1 (1844 A.D.), the year of the Declaration of the Báb, must be regarded

1 (i.e., 1260 AH.)

as the beginning of the Badi‘ Calendar.’ The Declaration of the Báb took place on the evening preceding the fifth day of J amédiyu’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-Ri'lz, be regarded as the New Year’s Day of the Badi‘ Calendar. The year sixty, in Which the fifth day of Jamadiyu’l—Avval coincided With the sixty—fifth day after NawRfiz, has accordingly been regarded as the first year of the Badi‘ Calendar. As in that year, the day of NaW—Rfiz, the vernal equinox, preceded by sixty-six days the date of the Declaration of the Báb, I have therefore,

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7 66 THE Bahá’í WORLD

throughout my history, regarded the NawRfiz of the year sixty—one A.H. (the Naw—Rfiz immediately following the Declaration of the Báb) as the first NaW-Rfiz of the Badi‘ Calendar. 1 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-Rfiz of the Badi‘ Calendar.

Soon after Baha’u’llah had left the fortress of ‘Akká and was dwelling in the house

Days Arabic Name 1 st J alél

2nd J amal

3rd Kamal

4th Fidal

5th ‘ Idal

6th Istij 12'11

7th Istiqlal

Of Malik, in that city, He commanded me to transcribe the text of the Badi‘ 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:

English Name Translation Saturday Glory Sunday 3 Beauty Monday Perfection Tuesday Grace Wednesday Justice Thursday Majesty Friday Indep endence

The names of the months, which are the same as the days of each month, are as follows:

M 072th Arabic Name 1st Baha 2nd J alal

3rd Jamal 4th ‘Azamat 5th Núr

6th Rahmat 7th Kalimat 8th Kamal 9th Asmá’ 10th ‘Izzat

1 1th Mafliyyat 12th ‘Ilm 13th Qudrat 14th Qawl

1 5th Masa ’ 11 1 6th §haraf 17th Sultan

1 8th Mulk 19th ‘Ala’

Translation F irst Days Splendour March 21 Glory April 9 Beauty April 28 Grandeur May 17 Light June 5 Mercy June 24 Words J uly 13 Perfection August 1 Names August 20 Might September 8 Will September 27 Knowledge October 16 Power November 4 Speech November 23 Questions December 12 Honour December 31 Sovereignty January 19 Dominion February 7 Loftiness March 2

Ayyam—i—Ha (Intercalary Days) 26 February to 1 March inclusive four in ordinary and five in leap years.

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The first day of each month is thus the day of Baha, and the last day of each month the day of ‘Ala’. ‘

The Báb has regarded the solar year, of 365 days, 5 hours, and 50 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-Rfiz, the day of Bahá, of the month of Baha. He has ordained the month of ‘Ala’ to be the month of fasting, and has decreed that the day of NaW-Rt'iz should mark the termination of that period. As the Bab did not specifically define the place for the four days and the fraction of a day in the Badi‘ Calendar, the people of the Bayan were at a loss as to how they should regard them. The revelation of the Kitab-i—Aqdas in the city of ‘Akká resolved this problem and settled the issue. Baha’u’llah designated those days as the Ayyam-i-Ha and ordained that they should immediately precede the month of ‘Alé’, 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 Bayan, the followers of Mirzá Yaḥyá, have regarded these intercalary days as coming immediately after the month of ‘Alé’, thus terminating their fast five days before the day of NaW-Rfiz. This, notwithstanding the explicit text of the Bayan Which states that the day of NaW-Rfiz must needs be the first day of the month of Baha, and must follow immediately after the last day of the month of ‘Ala’. Others, aware of this contradiction, have started their fasting 0n the fifth day of the month of ‘Ala’, and includerl 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-Rfiz falls on the 21st 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-Ri’lz Will

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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 19 years each. The names of the years in each cycle are as follows:

1 . Alif A.

2. Ba’ B.

3 . Ab Father.

4. Dal D.

5. Bab Gate.

6. Vév V.

7. Abad Eternity.

8. J ad Generosity.

9. Bahá Splendour. 10. Hubb Love. 1 1 . Bahhaj Delightful. 12. Javab Answer. 13. Ahad Single. 14. Vahhab Bountiful. 15. Vidad Affection. 16. Badi Beginning. 17. B ahi Luminous. 18. Abhá Most Luminous. 19. Vahid Unity.

Each cycle of 19 years is called Vahid. Nineteen cycles constitute a period called Kull—i-Shay’. The numerical value of the word Véhid is 19, that of Kull~i-Shay’ is 361. Vahid 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 ‘Hz‘m 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 2lst 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 Badi‘ Calendar, be described as follows:

‘T he day ofKamdl, the day onudrat, Of the month ofJala'zl, Ofthe year Bahhdj, Of the fifth thid, Ofthefirst Kull—i-Shay’.’

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5. HISTORICAL DATA GLEANED FROM NABiL’s NARRATIVE REGARDING BAHA’U’LLAH

A. BAG_HDAD Arrival latter part J amédiyu’Q-fléni, 1269 AH.

12 March—lO April 1853 AD.

Departure for Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, 10 April 1854 AD.Rajab 12, 1270 A.H.

B. SULAYMANI’YYIH

Before reaching Sulayméniyyih, He lived for a time on the Sar-Gahi mountain.

During His absence from Bagfidéd His family transferred their residence from House of Hájí ‘Ali-Madad to that. of Sulaymén-i—gganném.

Nabfl arrived at Baghdád 6 months after Bahá’u’lláh’s departure for Sulayméniyyih.

C. BAgmAD

Arrived from Sulayméniyyih on Wednesday, 19 March 1856 AD.Rajab 12, 1272 A.H.

Departure from Bag_hdéd for Constantinople, Wednesday afternoon (first day of Riḍván),

22 April 1863 AD.QEi’l-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

Short stay in Mazra‘iy—i—Vaglghég during above period to celebrate Naw-Rúz ended with departure on Thursday, 26 March 1863 AD.ShaVVé1 5, 1279 A.H.

Works Revealed During This Per'iod

Houses Occupied During This Period

Kullu’§~Ta’ém

Prayers Qagidiy-i—Varqé’iyyih

Séqi-Az-Qhayb—iBaqé

Tafsir-i-Hurfifét-i Muqatta‘ih Sahifiy-i-gafldyyih Haft-Védi

(Seven Valleys) Tafsir—i—Hfi LaWh-i—Hfiriyyih J avéhiru’ l—Asrér Kitáb-i-iqén Kalimét—i—Maknfinih

(Hidden Words) Subhéna—Rabbiya’l-A‘lé @ikkarfihikan-ihavand Hfir-i-‘Uj éb Halih-Halih-Yé Biflérat ghulému’l-ghuld Az—Bégh—i—Iléhi Béz—Av-wBidih-Jémi Malláhu’l-Quds

(Holy Mariner)

House of Hájí ‘Ali—Madad in old Baghdád) House of Sulayméni~§£amém

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C. BAQDAD (continued)

Arrival at Garden of Najibiyyih (Garden of Riḍván), 22 April 1863 AD.I_)_1_1i’1-Qa‘dih 3, 1279 A.H.

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 AD.Qbi’l—Qa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H.

Length of overland journey from Garden of Riḍván to Sémsfin on , Black Sea: 110 days

Works Revealed . Houses OccuDuring This Period pied During This Period

Sfiriy—i-Sabr revealed on first day of Riḍván

Firayj at (arrived early afternoon—stayed seven days) arrived on Sunday, 3 May

1863 A.D.——D_hi’l—Qa‘dih 14, 1279 A.H.

(Firayjat is about 3 miles distant from Baghdad) Judaydih, Dili—‘Abbés, Qarih-Tapih, Salahiyyih (stayed 2 nights), Dust-Ifburmatu, Téwuq, Karkuk (stayed 2 days), Irbfl, Zéb River, Bartallih, Mosul (stayed 3 days), Zé1<_h_u, Jazirih, Nusaybin

Hasan-Aqa,

Mardin

Diyar-Bakr,

Ma‘dan-Mis,

_Kba',rput (stayed 2 or 3 days),

Ma‘dan-Nuqrih,

Dilik—Té§b_,

Sivas,

Tuqat

Amasia (stayed 2 days),

Hahiyyih (while approaching samsun, ‘LaWh—i-Hawdaj ’ was revealed),

(last day of overland journey),

Sémsfin (stayed 7 days), Black Sea port; sailed in a Turkish steamer about sunset for Constantinople,

Sinope (arrived next day about noon), Black Sea port: stayed for a few hours,

Anyébuli (arrived next day)

D. CONSTANTINOPLE Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Arrival at noon on Sunday, Subhénaka-Ya—Hu House of Shamsi Big 1 month

16 August 1863 AD.Rabi‘u’l-Avval 1, 1280 A.H.

Lawh—i—‘Abdu’l‘Aziz Va~Vukalé

(near the mosque of Qirqiy-i-iharifh)

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D. CONSTANTINOPLE (continued) Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Length of sea voyage House of Visi Péflé 3 months from Sémsfin to (3 storey, near Sultén Constantinople: Muhammad Mosque) 3 days. Length of journey from Constantinople to Adrianople: 12 days. 1. Kfigik-ghakmaflih (3 hours from Constantinople—spent one night) 2. Bfiyfik-C_hakmagl_1ih (arrived about noon) 3. Salvari 4. Birkés 5. Bábé-Iski E. ADRIANOPLE Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Arrival on Saturday, Sfiriy—i-Ashéb 1. ghén-i-‘Aréb 3 nights 12 December 1863 AD. (caravanserai, two——Rajab 1, 1280 A.H. LaWh-i-Haqq I storey, near house of ‘Izzat-Aqé) Length of stay: 4 years, 8 months, 22 days. Lawh—i-Haqq II Kitáb~i~Badi‘ 2. House in 1 week Sl’n‘iy-i—Mulfik Murédiyyih (Tablet Of the quarter, near Kings) Takyiy-i~MawlaVi Departure from Sfiriy-i-Amr 3. House in 1 week Adrianople 0n Sfiriy-i-Damm Murédiyyih quarter, Wednesday, 12 August A1Véh~i~Laylatu’l— near house (2) 1868 A.D.-— Quds Rabi-‘u’fi—Lhéni 22, Munéjéthéy—i-Siyém 4. Qéniy—i-Amru’lláh 1285 A.H. (Prayers for Fasting) (several storeys, near Sultén-Sah’m Mosque LaWh—i~Sayyéh 5. House of Ridé Big 1 year Lawh-i-Népulyfin I 6. House of Amru’lláh 3 months? (F irst Tablet to (3-storey, north of Napoleon III) Sultén-Salim Mosque Lawh-i-Sulte’m 7. House of ‘Izzat—Aqé 11 months (Tablet to the §_1_1éh of Persia)

LaWh~i~Nqu£ih

[Page 771]THE WORLD ORDER OF BAHA’U’LLAH 771

1. UZI'm-Kupri

2. Ka§hamh (arrived about noon, LaWh-i—Ra’is [Tablet of Ra’is] was revealed in this place)

3. Gallipoli (length of j ourney from Adrianople to Gallipoli about 4 days) (after a few days’ stay sailed before noon in Austrian steamer for Alexandria, Egypt)

4. Madelli (arrived about sunsetw-left at night)

5. Smyrna (stayed 2 days, left at night) _

6. Alexandria (arrived in the morning, trans—shipped and left in the morning of the following day for Haifa)

7. Port Said (arrived morning, left the same day at night)

8. J affa (left at midnight)

9. Haifa (arrived in the morning, landed and after a few hours left on a sailing vessel for ‘Akká)

F.

Thursday, 23 June 1870 A.D.wRabi‘u’lAvva123, 1287 A.H.

SL'lriy-i-Haykal Lawh-i-Burhan LaWh-i-Ru’ya LaWh—i-Ibn-i—D_hi’b

5. House of ‘Abbfid (where Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed)

(Epistle to the Son 6. Mazra‘ih of the Wolf) LaWh-i-Pap 7. Qasr Passed away 29 May (Tablet to the Pope) (Mansion, Where He 1892 A.D. passed away)

‘AKKA Works Revealed Houses Occupied During This Period During This Period Duration Arrival on Monday, Kitab-i-Aqdas 1. Barracks 2 years, 31 August 1868 A.D.—— Lawh~i-Népu1y1’1n II 2 months, J amédiyu’l-Avval 12, (Second Tablet to 5 days 1285 A.H. Napoleon HI) LaWh—i-Mahkih 2. House of Mahk 3 months (Tablet to Queen 3. House of Ra "ih Victoria) Lawh-i-Malik—i-Rfis 4. House of Manglir 2 or 3 Purest Branch died on (Tablet to the Czar) months

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6. DATES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE RISE OF THE BAHA’t FAITH

Birth of Bahá’u’lláh ........ 12 November 1817

Birth of the Báb .................. 20 October 1819 Declaration of the Mission of the Báb in fiiréz ................................... 23 May 1844 Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá .............. 23 May 1844 Departure Of the Bath on His pilgrimage to Mecca ............................. September 1844 Arrival of the Báb in Méh—Kfi, Aghirbéyjén ............................................ Summer 1847 Incarceration Of the Báb in thhriq, Aflirbéyjén ...................................... April 1848 Conference of Badaflt ................. June 1848 Interrogation of the Báb in Tabríz, AQHbéyjén ........................................ Ju1y 1848 Martyrdom of the Bath in Tabríz, Agnbéyjén .................................... 9 July 1850 Attempt on the life of Nésiri’d—Din ghéh ........................................ 15 August 1852 Imprisonment of Bahá’u’lláh in the Siyéh—C_hé1 of Ṭihrán .............................. August 1852 Banishment of Bahá’u’lláh to Baghdád ........................................ 12 January 1853 Withdrawal of Bahá’u’lláh to Kurdistan .. ............................................ 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’fléh in Constantinople. ......................................... 16 August 1863 Arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in Adrianople ................................... 12 December 1863 Departure of Bahá’u’fléh from Adrianople .. ......................................... 12 August 1868 Arrival of Bahát’u’lláh in ‘Akká n? ............... ......................................... 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 remains in the Holy Land ............................... 21 January 1899 Reincarceration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in ‘Akká .. ......................................... 20 August 1901 Commencement of the construction of the Mashriqu’l-A§_h_kér of ‘Ighqébéd .............. .................................... 28 November 1902 Release of ‘Abdu’l-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-Agihkér 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 J anuary 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 Baghdád ............................. 4 March 1929

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Passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf ................. .............................................. 15 July 1932 Inception Of the F irst American Seven—Year

Plan ......................................... April 1937 Celebration of the Centenary of the Declaration of the Báb ............................ 23 May 1944 Inception Of the Second American SevenYear 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

Inauguration of the Ten-Year International Bahá’í Teaching and Consolidation Plan

................................................. April 1953 Bahá’í dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wihnette, Illinois .............. 1 May 1953 Public dedication ....................... 2 May 1953

A11~American Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Chicago... 3—6 May 1953 T hird Bahá’í Intercontinental Teaching Conference, Stockholm, Sweden ..................... ....................................... 21—26 Ju1y 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 Teaéhing Conferences successively in Kampala, Sydney, Wilmette, Frankfurt, Djakarta/ Singapore .......................................... 1958 First dependency of a Mashriqu’l-Afikér, the Bahá’í home for the Aged, opened in Wilmette, Illinois, USA. January 1959

773

Dedication of the Mother Temple of Africa, Kampala, Uganda .......... 14 January 1961, Dedication of the Mother Temple of the Antipodes, Sydney, Australia16 September 1961 Completion of the Ten Year Crusade ............ ................................................. April 1963 First election of the Universal House of Justice .......................................... 21 April 1963 First Bahá’ 1 World Congress in London, in celebration of the “Most Great Jubilee”.. ................................................. April 1963 Launching of the Nine Year Plan April 1964 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Europe, near Frankfurt, Germany ........ 4 July 1964 Ce1ebration Of the Centenary of the Revelation of the Sziriy-i-Muhik .................................. ........................... 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 a special edition of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh ......... October 1967 The holding of six Intercontinental Conferences simultaneously in Panama City, Wilmette, Sydney, Kampala, Frankfurt, and New Delhi .................... October 1967 His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa, embraced the Faith ........ ..................................... 19 February 1968 Establishment of the Continental Board of Counsellors ......................... 21 June 1968 First Oceanic Conference, Palermo, Sicily ................................... 23—25 August 1968 Commemoration Of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Bahá’u’lláh in the Holy Land ......................................... 31 August 1968 The Baha’ 1 International Community accredited with consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council ..... ............................................. 27 May 1970 Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Mirzá Mihdi, ‘The Purest ‘ Braneh’ ............................... 23 June 1970 The holding of eight Oceanic and Continental Conferences in La Paz, Rose H111 (Mauritius), Monrovia, Singapore, Kingston, Suva, Sapporo, and Reykjavik ..... between August 1970 and September 1971

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Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 28 November 1971 Completion of the erection of the Obelisk on

Mt. Carmel ................. 19 December 1971 Dedication of the Mother Temple of Latin America, Panama ............... 29 April 1972

Adoption by the Universal House of Justice of its Constitution ....... 26 November 1972 Publication by the Universal House of Justice of A Synopsis and Codification Of the Laws and Ordinances Of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas ....... ................................................. April 1973 Establishment of the International Teaching Centre .................................... 5 June 1973 Launching of the Five Year International Teaching Plan .......................... April 1974 His Highness the Malietoa Tanumafili H of Western Samoa Visited the resting place of Shoghi Effendi ...... 12 September 1976 The holding of eight Intercontinental Conferences in Helsinki, Anchorage, Paris, Nairobi, Hong Kong, Auckland, Bahia (Brazil) and Mérida (Mexico) .................. ....... 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 Launching of the Seven Year International Teaching Plan .......................... April 1979 Commemoration Of the 50th anniversary of the passing of Bahíyyih Khánum, the Greatest Holy Leaf .................................. July 1982 The holding of five International Teaching Conferences in Dublin, Quito (Ecuador),

THE Bahá’í WORLD

Lagos, Canberra, and Montreal ................ ........... between June and September 1982 Occupation by the Universal House of Justice

of its Permanent Seat .......... January 1983 Opening of the House of ‘Abdu’lláh Péflé to pilgrims ................................... April 1983

Dedication of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Pacific Islands ....... 1 September 1984 Inauguration on United Nations Day of period of dissemination to Heads of State and t0 the general public of The Promise of World Peace, a letter addressed by the Universal House of Justice to ‘The Peoples of the

World’ ............................ 24 October 1985 Launching of the Six Year International Teaching Plan .......................... April 1986

Dedication of the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent, New Delhi, India .............................. 23—27 December 1986

Establishment of the Bahá’í Office of the Environment ................... 26 October 1989

Establishment of first Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland in the United States ................. January 1990

Launching of the supplementary Two Year Teaching Plan for Eastern Europe, the US SR and Mongolia ............... April 1990

Commencement of re-construction and completion of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb ................................ 23 May 1990

Commencement of construction of the Centre for the Study of the Texts ..... 17 June 1991

Estabhshment of the Office of Huqfiqu’lláh in the Holy Land ............. November 1991