Baha'i House of Worships
BAHÁ’Í HOUSES OF WORSHIP
People of all religious backgrounds are welcome to come to the Bahá’í House of Worship for prayer and reflection at any time. In a weekly devotional meeting prayers and readings from the Holy Writings of all religions are read by different people of all ages - men, women, youth and children. No sermon or other talks are given, just readings from the Word of God.
In the future each of the Houses of Worship will be surrounded by other buildings dedicated to the service of humanity, such as a school, a hospital, a home for the elderly, etc. This is an example of how prayer and reflection on the Word of God are at the centre of our lives, as we go out to serve humanity.
Although Bahá’u’lláh has called for a House of Worship to be built in every town and village in the future, at the present time there is just one House of Worship on each continent. Each of these has a unique architecture, but all have nine sides, symbolizing that they are open to anyone to come from any direction. The first House of Worship was built in Ishqábád, Turkmenistan in the early 1900’s. Since then eight more Houses of Worship have been built in Wilmette, Illinois in North America; Panama City in Central America; Langenhain (near Frankfurt), Germany in Europe; Kampala, Uganda in Africa; New Dehli, India in Asia; Apia, Samoa in the Pacific; Mona Vale (near Sydney) in Australia; and one is now under construction in Santiago, Chile in South America.
Bahá’ís in many countries gather in homes or community meeting halls. In Papua New Guinea many Bahá’í communities have a Bahá’í Centre where regular devotional meetings, study classes for adults and youth, and children’s classes are held. These gatherings are open to everyone in the community, of any religious background.
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in the Pacific - Apia, Western Samoa
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in Australia -Sydney
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in India -New Dehli
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in Africa – Kampala, Uganda
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in North America Wilmette, Illinois, USA
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in Asia Ishqábád, Turkmenistan
(demolished 1962 due to earthquake damage)
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in Central America
Panama City
The 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in Europe -Frankfurt, Germany
Model of 1st Bahá’í House of Worship in South America
Santiago, Chile
