EDIRNE, Turkey — On the occasion of the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, the Mayor of Edirne, Recep Gürkan, and a representative of the Bahá’í community, Şemsettin Öztürk, recently met to discuss the significance of that city in Bahá’í history and its connection to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and a small band of believers lived in Edirne, known at that time as Adrianople, as exiles for over four years before being banished to ‘Akká.

Mr. Gürkan recently released a message to mark the centenary. The message reads, in part: “I respectfully commemorate the centenary of the passing of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá… Who also once lived in our city Edirne. … The existence of your community in Edirne, where various cultures and faiths have been living together for hundreds of years, adds to the city’s cultural richness and fills us with happiness.”

The mayor’s message continues: “We are inviting all the Bahá’ís throughout the world to visit the Bahá’í Holy Places in Edirne, and consequently our city. It is our belief that as cultural envoys of Edirne, the Bahá’ís of the world will offer their contributions directed at promoting our city. We extend our warm greetings from Edirne, which bears the footsteps of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, on the centenary of His passing.”