.Monument Gardens

    

“The conjunction of these three resting-places, under the shadow of the Báb’s own Tomb, embosomed in the heart of Carmel, facing the snow-white city across the bay of ‘Akká, the Qiblih of the Bahá’í world, set in a garden of exquisite beauty, reinforces, if we would correctly estimate its significance, the spiritual potencies of a spot, designated by Bahá’u’lláh Himself the seat of God’s throne. It marks, too, a further milestone in the road leading eventually to the establishment of that permanent world Administrative Centre of the future Bahá’í Commonwealth, destined never to be separated from, and to function in the proximity of, the Spiritual Centre of that Faith, in a land already revered and held sacred alike by the adherents of three of the world’s outstanding religious systems.” Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 348.

 

“In that same year Bahá’u’lláh’s tent, the ‘Tabernacle of Glory’, was raised on Mt. Carmel, ‘the Hill of God and His Vineyard’, the home of Elijah, extolled by Isaiah as the ‘mountain of the Lord’, to which ‘all nations shall flow’. Four times He visited Haifa, His last visit being no less than three months long. In the course of one of these visits, when His tent was pitched in the vicinity of the Carmelite Monastery, He, the ‘Lord of the Vineyard’, revealed the Tablet of Carmel, remarkable for its allusions and prophecies. On another occasion He pointed out Himself to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as He stood on the slopes of that mountain, the site which was to serve as the permanent resting-place of the Báb, and on which a befitting mausoleum was later to be erected.” Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 194.

 

“A person standing on the summit of Mount Carmel, and the passengers of the steamers coming to it, will look upon the most sublime and majestic spectacle of the whole world.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, p. 251

 

International Archives Building

 

“The design of the international Bahá’í Archives, the first stately Edifice destined to usher in the establishment of the World Administrative Centre of the Faith on Mt. Carmel—the Ark referred to by Bahá’u’lláh in the closing passages of His Tablet of Carmel—has been completed, . . .” Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World, 1950–1957, p. 64.

 

“On the occasion of the Naw-Rúz Festival . . . I joyfully announce the commencement of the excavation for the foundations of the International Archives heralding the rise of the first edifice destined to inaugurate the establishment of the seat of the World Bahá’í Administrative order in the Holy Land.” Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World, 1950–1957, p. 75.

 

Seat of the Universal House of Justice

 

On 2 February 1983, upon the occasion of the occupation of this magnificent edifice, the Universal House of Justice in a cabled message to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land stated:

“THIS AUSPICIOUS EVENT SIGNALIZES ANOTHER PHASE IN PROCESS FULFILMENT SAILING GOD’S ARK ON MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD AS ANTICIPATED IN TABLET CARMEL, WONDROUS CHARTER WORLD SPIRITUAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRES FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.” The Bahá’í World, (Haifa: World Centre Publications, 1994), vol. XIX, p. 23.

 

Centre for the Study of the Texts

 

“The Centre for the Study of the Texts . . . will be the seat of an institution of Bahá’í scholars, the efflorescence of the present Research Department of the World Centre, which will assist the Universal House of Justice in consulting the Sacred Writings, and will prepare translations of and commentaries on the authoritative texts of the Faith.”  The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice 1983–1992 (Riviera Beach: Palabra Publications, 1992), p. 52.

 

“The building was completed and occupied in 1999. It now houses the Research Department, and is the temporary home of the International Bahá’í Library and other offices.” Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 35.

 

International Teaching Centre

  

“The International Teaching Centre will be the seat of that institution which is specifically invested with the twin functions of the protection and propagation of the Cause of God. The institution itself, referred to by the beloved Guardian in his writings, was established in June 1973, bringing to fruition the work of the Hands of the Cause of God residing in the Holy Land and providing for the extension into the future of functions with which that body had been endowed.” The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice 1983–1992, pp. 51-52.

 

“Special events were held in January 2001, during the conference of the Continental Counsellors, which Auxiliary Board members were, for the first time, invited to attend, to mark the occupation by the International Teaching Centre of its permanent seat on Mount Carmel. This coincided with the announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the beginning of the fifth epoch of the Formative Age of the Faith.” Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 36.

 

Haifa Pilgrim House

 

“Soon after the entombment of the remains of the Báb, one of the believers from ‘Ishqábád, Mírzá Ja‘far Rahmání, begged ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to allow him to build a Pilgrim House in the precincts of the Shrine for the convenience of visiting pilgrims. The request was granted, and this believer personally supervised the construction work, and paid for all expenses.

“During the ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, many meetings were held in His Presence with the pilgrims and members of the local community. Later, when Shoghi Effendi became Guardian, he too met the assembled friends and talked to them in this Pilgrim House before leading them in prayer when visiting the Shrines of the Báb and of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.” Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 37.

 

House of the Master

 

“ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who was eager to complete the construction of the Shrine of the Báb, felt He should personally supervise the erection of the building to expedite the work. He therefore considered the possibility of establishing a house in Haifa where He could be near the building project....

“The large central hall of the building is of special significance in that it was the venue of the gathering which heard the public reading of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá announcing the exalted office occupied by Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Faith, and also because it was the place where the first International Convention in 1963 elected the Universal House of Justice.

“At the south-western end of the garden adjoining this house, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá built a small structure, and He had the inner walls, the ceiling and the floor of one of its upper rooms covered with wood, as a protection against humidity. It was in this room that He slept at nights during the period immediately before His passing.” Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 38

 

Resting place of Amatul Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum

 

“For all whose hearts she touched so deeply, the sorrow that this irreparable loss brings will, in God’s good time, be assuaged in awareness of the joy that is hers through her reunion with the Guardian and with the Master, Who had Himself prayed in the Most Holy Shrine that her parents be blessed with a child. Down the centuries to come, the followers of Bahá’u’lláh will contemplate with wonder and gratitude the quality of the services—ardent, indomitable, resourceful—that she brought to the protection and promotion of the Cause.” From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the world, 19 January 2000.

 

10 Haparsim Street

 

 

“This structure was built on one of the sites where Bahá’u’lláh pitched His tent. The plans for this building were drawn up at the request of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and He modified them until they suited His requirements. The construction work began in His lifetime and finished at the time of the Guardian. Originally the building acted as the Western Pilgrim House and from 1951 housed the International Bahá’í Council as well. From 1963 to 1983 it served as the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. From 1983 to 2000 it was occupied by the International Teaching Centre. Currently the Bahá’í International Community Secretariat and related offices utilize the premises.” Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 39.

 

4 Haparsim Street

“This building served as a pilgrim house for the Western believers in the years immediately following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s return from travels in Europe and America. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá greeted the Western friends here. Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum related to pilgrims that she and her mother stayed in this house during their pilgrimage shortly after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was here that she first met the beloved Guardian.”

Visiting Bahá’í Holy Places, p. 39.

 

Site of the future Mashriqu'l-Adhkar

“The site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land has been selected . . . situated at the head of the Mountain of God, in close proximity to the Spot hallowed by the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh, near the time-honoured Cave of Elijah, and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Spiritual and Administrative Centres of the Faith on that mountain.” Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World,
1950–1957,
p. 63.