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Search for location "Samoa"

  1. from the Chronology
  2. from the Chronology Canada
  3. from the Main Catalogue
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from the Chronology

date event locations tags see also
1920 (in the year) Hyde and Clara Dunn arrived in Samoa enroute to Australia, the first Bahá'ís to visit the islands. Samoa Hyde Dunn; Clara Dunn; Islands; First Bahais by country or area
1954 14 Jan Lilian E. Wyss arrived in Apia from Australia and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for the Samoa Islands. [BW13:455] Apia; Samoa Knights of Bahaullah; Islands
1955 (In the year) The first indigenous Samoan to become a Bahá’í, Sa’ialala Tamasese, enrolled.
  • He was a member of one of the three royal families of Samoa. [BINS, No. 100, 1 MARCH 1979, p. 1]
    		•  Samoa First Bahais by country or area; Bahai royalty; Royalty
    1955 Dec The first Samoan woman to become a Bahá’í, Mrs Lotoa Refiti (later Lotoa Rock), enrolled. [Koala News, No. 22, February 1956] Samoa Lotoa Refiti (later Lotoa Rock)
    1957 Ridván The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Apia, Western Samoa was formed. The members were: Lilian Ala'i, Ghodsieh Ala'i, Nemat Ala'i, To'alima Sa'ialala, Lotoa Rock, Emanuel Rock, William I Laing, Sa'ialala Tamasese, and Suhayl A Ala'i. [CBN No99 April, 1958 p5] Apia; Samoa Local Spiritual Assembly; Lilian Alai; Ghodsieh Alai; Nemat Alai; Toalima Saialala; Lotoa Rock; Emanuel Rock; William I Laing; Saialala Tamasese; Suhayl A Alai
    1959 Ridván The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Islands was formed with its seat in Suva, Fiji. [BN No 267 MY 1953 P1]
  • Its area of jurisdiction comprised of ten island groups: Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. [BW13:308]
  • For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention see MC151–5.
  • In 1963 the Universal House of Justice announced that the Assembly was to be dissolved and succeeded by a National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean, and a National Spiritual Assembly of the South West Pacific Ocean, with the new Assemblies being formed the following year.
    		• Suva; Fiji; Samoa; New Caledonia; New Hebrides Islands (Vanuatu); Loyalty Islands; Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Marshall Islands; Cook Islands; Solomon Islands; Tonga National Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1964 Ridván The Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Islands was dissolved and the territory divided into two National Spiritual Assembly areas, South West Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. The National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean was formed with its seat in Suva comprising the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Nauru Island, Fiji, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands. [BW14p99] Suva; Jiji; Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Nauru Island; Fiji; Western Samoa; American Samoa; Tonga; Cook Islands National Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1968 19 Feb His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa, the first reigning monarch to become a Bahá’í, wrote to the Universal House of Justice confirming his acceptance of the Faith. [BW15:180–3]
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles for the story of his enrollment.
    		•  Samoa Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Bahai royalty; Royalty; Firsts, Other
    1969 29 Dec - 1970 2 Jan The First Pacific Area Bahá’í Youth Conference took place in Apia, Western Samoa. [BW15:329–30]
  • For picture see BW15:330.
    		•  Apia; Samoa; Oceania Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Conferences, International; Conferences, First; Youth
    1970 Ridván The National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa was formed with its seat in Apia. [BW15:274]
  • For picture see BW15:146.
    		•  Apia; Samoa National Spiritual Assembly, formation
    1975 Nov The land for the Samoan House of Worship was purchased on a site overlooking Apia. [BW18:104] Apia; Samoa Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Purchases and exchanges; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship)
    1976 12 Sep His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa visited the resting place of Shoghi Effendi. [BW17:69; VV22] Samoa; London; United Kingdom Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Shoghi Effendi, Resting place of
    1977 Apr The first National Bahá’í Children’s Conference of Samoa took place. [BW17:211] Samoa Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Children; First conferences
    1979 27 Jan In Samoa, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II and Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum laid the cornerstone of the first Bahá’í House of Worship of the Pacific Islands. [BW17:188, 371; VV36]
  • For the text of the address delivered by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II see BW17:372.
  • For excerpts from the address of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum see BW17:373.
  • For pictures see BW17:374.
    		•  Apia; Samoa; Pacific Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Islands
    1980 Sep Building work began on the Samoan House of Worship. [BW18:104] Apia; Samoa Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship)
    1984 30 Aug - 2 Sep An International Teaching Conference was held to coincide with the dedication of the House of Worship at Apia, Western Samoa. [BW19:548–54; VV64]
  • For a report of the conference see BW19:548–54.
  • For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW19:555–6.
  • For pictures see BW19:475, 547–57 and VV64.
    		•  Apia; Samoa Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, International; Teaching
    1984 1 Sep The House of Worship in Apia, Western Samoa, the Mother Temple of the Pacific, was dedicated in the presence of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, Hand of the Cause Dr Ugo Giachery, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II and more than a thousand Bahá’ís from 45 countries. [BW19:100–1; VV64]
  • The architect has utilized the form of the Samoan file roof and the open plan of the fale itself in conceptualizing the design of the Temple. The white mosaic tiled dome rests atop nine pairs of buttresses clad in granite of a soft red tone. The nine ribs of mirrored glass, the graceful arch windows and the wide expanse of glazing over each portal seemingly draw the light through the structure itself. Modern techniques have allowed the dome to be built in this manner, providing an iridescent effect when lit at night. The shell of the dome and the internal structure are of a white, rendered concrete, bushhammered to a soft texture and accented with distinctive native ifilele wood joinery and a warm red quarry tile floor finish. The main hall seats 500 and a cantilevered mezzanine level rings the perimeter providing additional seating for 200 including the choir. [from the pamphlet distributed to guests]
  • For a report of the dedication see BW19:552–3.
  • For the text of the address of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II see BW19:556.
  • For pictures see BW19:553 and VV64.
  • Marble for the House of Worship was cut and chiseled by Margraf, a firm from Chiampo, Italy formerly known as Industria Marmi Vincentini. [BWNS1223]

    Specifics

      Location: Apia, Samoa (9km south of the city)
      Foundation Stone: Laid by Malietoa Tanumafili II and Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum on 27 January 1979. She placed a small casket of Dust from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in a niche in a stone.
      Period: 1980-1984
      Site Dedication:1 September 1984
      Architect:Husayn Amanat
      Seating: 500 - 700
      Dimensions:Top of the dome to ground: 28m (92ft), Top of the dome to basement floor: 31m (102ft), Height of the dome: 19m (62ft), Width of the dome: 27M (88ft)
      Cost: $6.5m
      Dependencies:
      References: BW16p488-489, BW17p371-374, BW18p104, 585-588, BW19p547-557,
    		• Apia; Samoa; Pacific; Chiampo; Italy Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Ugo Giachery; Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Mashriqul-Adhkar, Mother Temples; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Quick facts; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Dedications; Marble; Husayn Amanat; Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Architects; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; Gifts; Bahaullah, Shrine of; BWNS; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Margraf
    1988 Dec c. The Government of Western Samoa published a Christmas issue of four stamps of religious buildings, among them the Bahá’í House of Worship in Samoa. [BINS196:8] Apia; Samoa Mashriqul-Adhkar, Apia; Stamps
    1989 5 Jul Dr Ugo Giachery (b. 13 May, 1896, Palermo, Sicily), Hand of the Cause of God, passed away while on a visit to Western Samoa. [BINS204:1; VV123]
  • He died while visiting Samoa and was interred on the mountainside at Tiapapata, Apia, in view of the Pacific Ocean. His funeral service was attended by by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, the Prime Minister of Samoa, four Ministers of Cabinet, four Counsellors, five Auxiliary Board members, representatives of six national communities of the Pacific, and over two hundred believers from many parts of the country. [LoF241)
  • For the cable of the Universal House of Justice see BINS204:1.
  • Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
  • Wikipedia
  • For a short biography see LoF223-242.
  • See Bahá'í Chronicles.
    		• Tiapapata; Apia; Samoa Ugo Giachery; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent
    1992 23 – 26 Nov The Second World Congress was held in New York City to commemorate the centenary of the passing of Bahá'u'lláh and the completion of the Six Year Plan. It was attended by some 28,000 Bahá'ís from some 180 countries. [BBD240; VV136-141; BW92-93p95-102, 136]
  • Nine auxiliary conferences were held in Buenos Aires, Sydney, New Delhi, Nairobi, Panama City, Bucharest, Moscow, Apia and Singapore. [BINS283:3-4]
  • For pictures see [BINS283:9-10], [BW92-3p100] and [VV136-141]
  • "New York will become a blessed spot from which the call to steadfastness in the Covenant and Testament of God will go forth to every part of the world." - 'Abdu'l-Bahá [AWH77-8 90-1 105-6]
  • On the 25th of November a concert was held in Carnegie Hall as a birthday tribute to Dizzy Gillespie called "Celebrating the Bahá'í Vision of World Peace". [VV141]
  • On the 26th of November Bahá'ís around the world were linked together by a live satellite broadcast serving the second Bahá'í World Congress, the nine auxiliary conferences and the Bahá'í World Centre and it was received by those with access to satellite dish antennas. [BINS283:1–5, 8; BINS286:10; BINS287:4]
  • For the message of the Universal House of Justice read on the satellite link see BW92–3:37–4.
  • For accounts of personal experiences by some of the attendees see In the Eyes of His Beloved Servants: The Second Bahá'í World Congress and Holy Year by J. Michael Kafes.
  • The film, 'Abdu'l-Bahá: Mission to America, made by Elizabeth Martin, was prepared for the World Congress program and also used in the Theme Pavilion. [HNWE45]
    		• New York; United States; Buenos Aires; Argentina; Sydney; Australia; New Delhi; India; Nairobi; Kenya; Panama; Bucharest; Romania; Moscow; Russia; Apia; Samoa; Singapore World Congresses; Carnegie Hall; Centenaries; Bahaullah, Ascension of; Dizzy Gillespie; - Basic timeline, Expanded; film; Abdul-Baha: Mission to America; Elizabeth Martin
    1994 (In the year) His Highness King Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa received The Kitáb-i-Aqdas from Tongan Bahá'ís Sohrab and Soheyla Bolouri. [BINS314:9] Samoa Kitab-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; Gifts Find date
    2007 11 May The passing of His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, the Samoan head of state. He was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world and had been head of state since independence from New Zealand in 1962. [BWNS543; Bahá'í Chronicles] Samoa Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; In memoriam; Births and deaths; Bahai royalty; Royalty; BWNS
    2014. 21 Apr The release of the film Samoa: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow on the sixtieth anniversary of the Faith in that country. The film was directed and produced by Ken Zemke, edited and written by Tara Jabbari, and narrated by Fuma Tuiletufuga.
  • The first Bahá'ís to visit the islands were Hyde and Clara Dunn who stopped over in Samoa enroute to Australia sometime in 1920.
  • On the 14th of January 1954 Lilian Wyss arrived in Apia from Australia and was named a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for the Samoa Islands. [BW13:455]
    		•  Samoa Doucmentaries

    from the Chronology Canada

    date event locations tags see also
    1953 c. Jul Emmanuel Rock, the first to fill a Canadian post overseas, found employment on a short termcontract as Assistant Audit Officer for the Samoan Government. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p2]
  • The Winnipeg Assembly has adopted Emmanuel Rock in Samoa. [CBN No47 December 1953 p1]
    		•  Samoa Pioneer; Emmanuel Rock
    1954. 14 Jan Miss Lilian Wyss, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, arrived in Samoa and became an adopted Canadian pioneer. She hoped to obtain employment so that she could remain and hold the goal when Emmanuel Rock's contract expires next January. [CBN No 49 February 1954 p2]
  • Emmanuel Rock and Lilian Wyss have organized the Bahá'í Group of Apia, are making regular contributions, are helping with Samoan translations and have been able to do a good deal of teaching. They may well establish the first local assembly of the region. [CBN No51 Apr 1954 p6]
    		•  Apia, Samoa Samoa; Lilian Wyss; Pioneer

    from the Main Catalogue

    1. Bahá'í World, The: Volume 18 (1979-1983), in Bahá'í World (1986). Periodic volumes that survey the global activities and major achievements of the Faith. [about]
    2. Indigenous rights and women's rights in the Samoan Bahá'í community, by Maureen Sier, in Bahá'í Studies Review, 9 (1999). [about]
    3. Institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, The, by Universal House of Justice and Horace Holley, in Bahá'í World, Vol. 18 (1979-1983) (1986). Five documents from Bahá'í World 18 part four section 5: Institution of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, its spiritual significance, the temple on the Indian sub-continent, the Lotus of Bahapur, and the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the Pacific Islands. [about]
    4. Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986: Third Epoch of the Formative Age, by Universal House of Justice (1996). [about]
    5. Namibia, Pacific Islands, Queen Marie, and Emeric Sala (2005). [about]
    6. Return of the Dreamtime, by Pym Trueman, in The Family: Our Hopes and Challenges (1995). Brief history of Christianity and missionary work in Samoa and Australia, and how native Samoan customs and beliefs were changed or lost. [about]
     
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