Houses of Worship

The building of the House of Worship was begun in 1902 and took five years to complete. There was a large Bahá’í community of some thousands there at the time because many Bahá’ís from northern Iran had sought refuge after suffering years of persecution in their homeland. The House of Worship was seized by the Soviet government in 1928. It was converted into a museum in 1938, the building was damaged in an earthquake in 1948, and what was left was demolished in 1963.

Scriptures of the Zoroastrian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Bábi and Bahá’í faiths are read, sung or chanted.

There are no Bahá’í priests, and no sermons are given, the building is there for the praise of God.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá indicated that the House of Worship should have nine sides, nine avenues and nine entrances. The number nine is associated with unity.

It has become a well-known tourist destination as well as a popular place for local people to pray and meditate.

Only the human voice is used (a solo voice or a choir).

The cost of construction and maintenance of a Bahá’í House of Worship can only be paid for by Bahá’ís through donations to the Bahá’í Fund.

It can only be seen by looking up to the highest point. The Greatest Name refers to an invocation in Arabic, “Ya Baha’u’l-Abha,” which means, “O Glory of the All Glorious,” which is often displayed in calligraphic form in Bahá'í homes and places of Bahá'í activity.

Everybody, of any Faith or none, is welcome.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that the House of Worship is “also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a travellers’ hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies”. These philanthropic institutions are open to those of all religions or none.