BWNS

Bahá’í World News Service

|

Official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community

Houses of Worship: Three new Bahá’í temples announced

October 30, 2024
Listen

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The Universal House of Justice has announced plans for three new Bahá’í Houses of Worship to be constructed, marking another milestone in the realization of the vision for these sacred edifices that stand as symbols of unity and spiritual vitality.

Two national Houses of Worship will be built—one in Brasília, Brazil, and the other in Lilongwe, Malawi—while a local temple will be constructed in Batouri, Cameroon.

These plans come as communities worldwide witness the growing impact of Houses of Worship on social and spiritual life, with the recent inauguration of the House of Worship in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, along with the ongoing projects to build temples in Bihar Sharif, India; Toronto, Canada; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia.

Across Malawi, communities have been engaged in Bahá’í moral education programs that promote the development of spiritual and intellectual capacities, enabling people of all ages to contribute to social progress. Slideshow
4 images

Across Malawi, communities have been engaged in Bahá’í moral education programs that promote the development of spiritual and intellectual capacities, enabling people of all ages to contribute to social progress.

The Bahá’í writings refer to the House of Worship as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, meaning “Dawning-place of the Praise of God.” These Bahá’í temples embody a new conception of spaces for worship. While they serve as sanctuaries for prayer and meditation, they are also centers where the harmony between worship and service to humanity finds practical expression.

Houses of Worship in various parts of the world are emerging as a result of the acceleration of the development of Bahá’í communities. In such communities a flourishing devotional spirit and prayer gatherings foster social harmony. These gatherings, together with educational programs that build capacity to contribute to the well-being of humanity, create a dynamic interplay between worship and service to society.

In Brazil, Bahá’í community-building endeavors are inspiring service to society rooted in the recognition that humanity is one. Slideshow
4 images

In Brazil, Bahá’í community-building endeavors are inspiring service to society rooted in the recognition that humanity is one.

As this rhythm of worship and service becomes woven into the fabric of community life, a profound transformation unfolds: individuals who once passed each other as strangers begin to walk together as friends on a shared spiritual path. Through the experience of collective prayer and reflection, hearts are drawn together, and bonds of genuine friendship form across longstanding social barriers. What begins as a simple gathering for prayer transforms into a space where souls connect in their shared search for meaning and purpose, where the hopes and challenges of the community become the concern of all.

Over time as this capacity for service continues to expand, eventually a new and distinctive stage is achieved with the emergence of a House of Worship. These sacred edifices then become focal points for even greater levels of activity that give rise to social, humanitarian, and educational development, contributing to the well-being of surrounding populations.

Over the years, Bahá’í-inspired efforts in Cameroon have been fostering a sense of shared identity that transcends differences and nurtures flourishing communities united by a shared purpose. Slideshow
4 images

Over the years, Bahá’í-inspired efforts in Cameroon have been fostering a sense of shared identity that transcends differences and nurtures flourishing communities united by a shared purpose.