date |
event |
locations |
tags |
see also |
1870 19 Jul – 1871 10 May |
Franco-Prussian War was a conflict between the Second French Empire of Napoleon III and the German states of the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. The conflict was caused by Prussian ambitions to extend German unification and French fears of the shift in the European balance of power that would result if the Prussians succeeded.
See KA90 for Bahá'u'lláh's reference to this and KAN121 for `Abdu'l-Bahá's interpretation. |
Germany; France |
Franco-Prussian War; War (general); History (general); Napoleon III |
|
1870 1 - 2 Sep |
Battle of Sedan. Napoleon III suffered defeat at the hands of Kaiser Wilhelm I. It resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and large numbers of his troops and for all intents and purposes decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French government. Napoleon went into exile in England, where he died in 1873.
Bahá'u'lláh referred to this in KA86.
|
Sedan; France; Germany; United Kingdom |
Franco-Prussian War; War (general); History (general); Napoleon III; Kaiser Wilhelm I; Kitab-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book) |
|
1877. 26 Sep |
Birth of Siegfried Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, in Germany. |
Furth; Bavaria; Germany |
Siegfried Schopflocher; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths |
|
1883. 15 Apr |
Birth in Goslar, Germany, of Dr Artur Eduard Heinrich Brauns, a prominent German Bahá'í, named by Shoghi Effendi a Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá. |
Goslar; Germany |
Artur Eduard Heinrich Brauns; Disciples of Abdul-Baha; Births and deaths |
|
1905 (or 1904) |
A Bahá'í group was established in Germany soon after the arrival of the first Bahá'í in the country, Dr. Edwin Fischer, in Stuttgart. He was dentist and a returned emigrant to the United States. German-born Alma Knobloch also became a Bahá'í in the United States 1903, before Fischer, but arrived in Germany in 1907. [BBRSM:107, 219; BWNS390]
The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism: by Harry Liedtke says he arrived in 1904. |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Edwin Fischer; Alma Knobloch; First Bahais by country or area |
|
1905 (In the year) |
A Bahá'í group was established in Germany. [BBRSM219] |
Germany |
Statistics |
|
1907. (In the year) |
Alma Knobloch, the sister of Pauline Hannen, settled in Stuttgart. [SYH13; BW9p642] |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Alma Knobloch |
|
1909 (In the year) |
Karl Kruttner, a professor in Bohemia, became a Bahá'í, the first person to do so in the Austro-Hungarian empire. |
Bohemia; Germany |
Karl Kruttner; First Bahais by country or area |
find reference |
1911 May |
Louis Gregory travelled to Stuttgart after his visit with 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Egypt. There he renewed his acquaintance with Alma Knobloch, he had learned of the Faith in the Hannen household.
“When he went to Stuttgart,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote of him, “although being of black color, yet he shone as a bright light in the meeting of the friends.” [239 Days in America]
Members of that community, Miss Alma Knobloch, Mr and Mrs Herrigel and Mr Haiges went to London when 'Abdul-Bahá was visiting that city.
When He was Paris in October, Mr and Mrs Eckstein and Mr and Mrs Häfner and their child went to that city and were photographed with Him. From the 13th to the 16th of October, Miss Margarethe Döring remained with 'Abdul-Bahá and had the honour of living in the house occupied by Him; from the 19th to the 22nd, Miss Anna Kastlin, Miss Julie Stäbler and Mrs Schweizer were in Paris and during the three days of their visit were received six times in private audience. [SoW Vol 2 No 17 January 19, 1912 p8]
|
Stuttgart; Germany |
Louis Gregory |
|
1911. 30 Nov - 7 Dec |
It was about this time that 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent four Bahá'ís to Germany to assist with the teaching and the consolidation of the Faith. They were: Lady Blomfield, a Mrs Earl, Mírzá Asadu'lláh-i-Isfáhaání and Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. They remained in Stuttgart until the 7th of December.
Lady Blomfield then travelled to Vevey, Switzerland to be with her daughters and to continue working on the collected talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá for publication. They stayed at the Hôtel Belvedere. [ABF255-256, 275] |
Paris; Stuttgart; Germany; Vevey; Switzerland |
Lady Blomfield; Mrs Earl, Mirza Asadullah-i-Isfahaani; Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, First Western tour; Abdul-Baha, Talks other |
|
1913 30 Mar |
`Abdu'l-Bahá traveled from Paris to Stuttgart. [AB379]
He told His attendants to wear European dress and to discard their oriental headgear. [AB379]
He did not tell the Bahá'ís of Stuttgart of His arrival in advance. [AB379]
The party arrived on the 1st of April and took rooms in Hotel Marquardt, near the train station. Then He asked His attendant to telephone the Bahá'ís to announce His arrival and invite them to the hotel. [AB379-380] |
Paris; France; Stuttgart; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour; Baqir-Uf; Baqiroff |
|
1913. 1 Apr |
'Abdu'l-Bahá depart for Stuttgart from Gar de l'Est accompanied by Siyyid Ahmad-i-Báqiroff, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Siyyid Asadu'llah-i-Qumi, and Mahmúd Zarqání. It was His first trip to Germany and it lasted for 7 days. [ABF537-538] |
Stuttgart; Germany; Paris; France |
bdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour |
|
1913 3 Apr |
'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke to a large audience in the City Museum. The talk was translated into English by Ahmad Sohrab and then rendered into German by Herr Eckstein. [AB380-382] |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour |
|
1913. 4 Apr |
See a photo of 'Abdu'l-Bahá with a group of friends in Stuttgart. [‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Champion of Universal Peace by Hoda Mahmoudi and Janet Khan] |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour |
|
1913 7 Apr |
`Abdu'l-Bahá traveled to Bad Mergentheim by automobile to visit the hotel and mineral bath owned by Consul Schwarz, (Later named Disciple of `Abdu'l-Bahá by Shoghi Effendi). [AB383]
Later, in 1916 the local Bahá'í community commemorated the visit with the dedication of a monument, a life-sized likeness of the head of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on a granite stone about two metres in height. The Nazis removed it in 1937 but it was replaced in 2007. [BWNS524] |
Bad Mergentheim; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour; Cars; Consul Schwarz; Disciples of Abdul-Baha; Monuments; Abdul-Baha, Pictures and portraits; Portraits; World War II; BWNS |
|
1913 8 Apr |
`Abdu'l-Bahá returned to Stuttgart, then left in the evening for Budapest, changing trains in Vienna the next morning. To this date no travel teacher had visited Budapest and there were no resident believers. [ABM316]
The trip was made at the invitation of, among others, Mr and Mrs Lipót Stark. the Secretary General of the Theosophical Society, who had given a lecture entitled "The Bahá'í Movement" on the 25th of February, 1912 and the text of the lecture had been published in the Esperanto periodical Teozofia (Theosophical). [SBBR14p110]
`Abdu'l-Bahá was accompanied by Wilhelm Herrigel to serve to translate into German. [AB384] |
Stuttgart; Germany; Budapest; Hungary |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour; Trains; Wilhelm Herrigel |
|
1913 24 Apr |
`Abdu'l-Bahá left Vienna and returned to Stuttgart, where He arrived in the early hours of the next morning. [AB389]
This marked the end of HIs visit to Austria where He had spent 6 days. |
Vienna; Austria; Stuttgart; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour |
|
1913 1 May |
`Abdu'l-Bahá left Stuttgart and returned to Paris. [AB391]
The start of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's fourth and last visit to France. It lasted 1 month and 12 days. |
Stuttgart; Germany; Paris; France |
Abdul-Baha, Travels of; Abdul-Baha, Second Western tour |
|
1914 (Early to middle of the year) |
The defection of Dr Amín Faríd, (b. 1882, d. 1953)`Abdu'l-Bahá's translator while in America, became known publicly. His mother was a sister of Munirih Khanum, wife of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. [AB407]
For his activities against `Abdu'l-Bahá see AB230, 402, 407–9.
Dr. Aminu'lláh Faríd travelled to Europe in defiance of the wishes of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. In the absence of Lady Blomfield in London, a meeting at the Kingsway Hall had been arranged for him. Dr Lutfu'lláh prevented Dr Farid from speaking. Mason Remey and George Latimer were in London at the time. 'Abdu'l-Bahá also sent Dr Habibu'lláh Khudákhsh (later called Dr Mu'ayyad) and 'Azíz'lláh Bahádur to go to Europe to counter his activities. They were in Stuttgart when the war broke out. He recalled all four to the Holy Land (Sep-Oct). [AB407-409; Concerning Covenant-breakers: Excerpt by 'Abdu'l-Bahá translated by Ahang Rabbani] iiiii
Laura and Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney were dispatched to the United States where Mrs Chevalier had been acting as Dr Farid's emissary. [AB408]
See the message from Shoghi Effendi in MBW53-54.
For a description of his activities as a young man in 'Akká see M9YA108.
|
United States; London; United Kingdom; Stuttgart; Germany |
Ameen Fareed (Amin Farid); Covenant-breakers; Lutfullah Hakim; Charles Mason Remey; George Latimer; Habibullah Khudakhsh; Habib Muayyad; Azizllah Bahadur; Laura Clifford Barney; Hippolyte Dreyfus-Barney; Chevalier, Mrs |
|
1914 4 Aug |
England declared war on Germany. |
United Kingdom; Germany; Europe |
World War I; War (general); History (general) |
|
1918 23 Sep |
"During the early years of World War I, though no longer imprisoned, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá faced repeated threats against His life by authorities who were antagonistic towards Him and the Bahá'ís. The Commander of the Ottoman fourth army corps had even threatened to crucify ‘Abdu’l-Bahá if the Turkish army were ever to be displaced out of Haifa." Lady Blomfield in London had learned of these threats and through her contacts in Cabinet, the British Army was instructed to protect Him and His family. [BWNS69, BWNS1202]
The British army took the city in the 1st Battle of Haifa: The battle was won due to a courageous uphill assault by the Jodhpur Lancers of the Indian Army who took the German and Turkish artillery and machine gun emplacements on top of Mount Carmel by surprise. This attack is believed to have been one of the last cavalry charge in modern military history. Each year, on this date, the Indian Army commemorates this victory as Haifa Day. [AY104; BBR335; DH148, Scroll In 68095]
For details of the battle see BBR335-6.
For letters from the British authorities stating that `Abdu'l-Bahá is safe see BBR336-7.
For a photos see The Indian Weekender 5 October, 2018 as well as Wikipedia.
For videos see India Today, The Battle of Haifa Part 1, The Battle of Haifa Part II.
See the story as recounted by Col (Dr) Divakaran Padma Kumar Pillay.
See as well Battle of Haifa: The Last Great Cavalry Campaign in History
by Ajeet Singh Choudhary. This article provides a comprehensive historical account of the Jodhpur Lancers and Battle of Haifa.
See PG85-86, on the 23rd of August, 1919 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in conversation with Major-General Watson, referring to the success of the British army in taking Haifa stated, "God hath wished it to be so, it was His Divine aid and assistance that made it possible." and "It was God that helped you from every standpoint."
|
Mount Carmel; Haifa; Israel |
World War I; War (general); History (general); Jodhpur Lancers; Indian Army; Armies; Germany; Turkey; Haifa Day; Abdul-Baha, Death threats to; BWNS; Lady Blomfield |
|
1919 22 Feb |
The "Self-Publishing of the Bahá'í Association" was replaced by the establishment of the "Publishing House of the German Bahá'í Federation GmbH". This publishing house was founded by eighteen Bahá'ís with a share capital of 25,000 marks. [German Bahá'í website archive] |
Germany |
Publishing Trusts |
|
1920 Jul |
Harlan and Grace Ober made a pilgrimage to visit 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Haifa. They returned via Germany and England where they had the privilege of meeting Shoghi Effendi, then a student at Oxford.
In Germany, at the suggestion of 'Abdu'l-Bahá they went to Leipzig where they spoke about the Faith at the Theosophical Society where two persons accepted the Faith. One was future Hand of the Cause Dr Hermann Grossmann and the other was Frau Lina Benke who shared the message with her husband George Adam Benke, the first European martyr. [BW13p869] |
Haifa; Germany; Leipzig; Oxford |
Harlan Ober; Grace Ober; pilgrimage; Hermann Grossmann; Lina Benke; George Benke |
|
1920 After Jul |
The first Argentineans to become Bahá'ís, Hermann Grossmann and his sister Elsa Grossman, accepted the Faith in Leipzig in 1920.
They were born in Argentina and emigrated to Germany in 1909.
Dr Grossman heard of the Faith at a public meeting given by Harlan and Grace Ober at the Theosophical Society. [BW13:869] |
Leipzig; Germany |
Hermann Grossman; Elsa Grossmann; Harlan and Grace Ober; Theosophical Society; First Bahais by country or area |
|
1921 Mar |
Two Bahá'í publications began, Sonne der Wahrheit, meaning Sun of Truth, and Wirklichkeit, meaning Reality. [BWNS1289; German Bahá'í website archive] |
Germany |
Sonne der Wahrheit (Sun of Truth); Wirklichkeit (Reality); - Periodicals; First publications; Publications; BWNS |
|
1922 Apr |
Shoghi Effendi sent verbal messages through Consul Schwarz to Germany and Ethel Rosenberg to Britain to form local spiritual assemblies and to arrange for the election of a national spiritual assembly in each country. [CB293; ER209, 211-12; PP56]
|
Germany; United Kingdom; United States; Canada |
Shoghi Effendi, Life of; Consuls; Albert Schwarz; Ethel Rosenberg; National Spiritual Assemblies; Local Spiritual Assemblies; Spiritual Assemblies; Executive Board |
|
1923 Ridván |
The formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria. [GPB333] |
Stuttgart; Germany |
National Spiritual Assembly, formation |
|
1925 |
Of the 38 localities where Bahá'ís resided in Europe, 26 were in Germany. [BBRSM182] |
Europe; Germany |
Statistics |
|
1925 May |
Louise Gregory travelled from Graz, Austria to Budapest where she met Frau Szirmai, the president of the Women's League for Peace and Freedom. Frau Szirmai had met 'Abdu'l-Bahá when He visited in 1913. During her time there she made the acquaintance of the Szántó family, who she would meet on subsequent trips.
After a stay of three weeks she travelled to Wiesbaden in Germany to visit a contact and spent five days at the home of the Schweitzers in Suffenhausen. She visited friends in Esslingen and stayed one night in Frankfurt before sailing from Antwerp on the 17th of June for the United States. During this trip she visited Liverpool in England, Luxembourg, Vienna and Graz in Austria, Budapest in Hungary, Zuffenhausen, Esslingen, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Nuremberg in Germany as well as Spa and Brussels in Belgium. [SYH132-134, 240]
|
Budapest; Hungary; Wiesbaden; Suffenhausen; Esslingen; Germany |
Louise Gregory; Teaching |
|
1928. Mar (date approximate) |
In early Spring Louise Gregory sailed for Dresden, Germany where she spent 11 days renewing old acquaintances. [SYH149]
Around the beginning of April she went to Prague were she met with Martha Root and spent about 2 weeks. [SYH149]
By March or perhaps mid April she was in Sofia installed at the Hotel Union Palace and nourishing her group of about 5 interested persons. Her knowledge of Esperanto was link to her contacts. On the 14th and the 18th of the month there were severe earthquakes near Bulgaria's second city, Plovdiv. The shocks were felt in Sofia so normal activity was suspended temporarily. [SYH149-150]
In May, to escape the heat of the summer in Sofia she took refuge the Villa Viktoria in Trenčianske Teplice, a spa town situated in the Carpathian mountains of Slovakia. She stayed there in June, July and most of August. Here she received a great deal of assistance from an attracted soul, Dr Binder and his friend, Mr Schapira. An earthquake in Bulgaria's second city, Plovdiv, upset the country and the teaching work [SYH150-152]
On about the 20th of August she made her way to Vienna and spent time with a previous contact. From there she took boat down the Danube on August 26th and arrived in Ruse, Bulgaria on the 30th of August and travelled overland to Sofia where she resumed her work with her study group in mid-September. One of her contacts translated Dr Esslemont's pamphlet "What is the Bahá'í Movement" into Bulgarian and 2000 copies were printed. She held study classes, taught languages, held public meeting and put articles in the local paper to attract interested persons. [SYH155; BN No 31 April 1929 p4]
On the 19th of March 1929 she departed Sofia en route to Haifa and her second pilgrimage. It is likely that she took the Simplon Orient Express to Tripoli, Lebanon and then by autobus to Beirut and Haifa. The latter part of the journey was completed by the Nairn Transport Company. [SYH161-165]
After her pilgrimage she sailed from Haifa on the SS Asia of the French Fabre Line to Providence, Rhode Island where she arrived on the 13th of May 1929. From their she travelled home to their cottage at Green Acre. During this trip to Europe she had visited Dresden in Germany, had accompanied Martha Root in Prague, Czechoslovakia, spent the summer in Teplice, Czechoslovakia and went back to Sofia before embarking on pilgrimage. [SYH165-166, 241] |
Desden; Germany; Prague; Czechoslovakia; Sofia; Bulgaria; Trenčianske Teplice; Slovakia; Vienna; Austria; Haifa |
Louise Gregory; Louise Gregory, pilgrimage |
|
1931 13 Jan |
Consul Albert Schwarz, (b. December 14, 1871, Stuttgart, Germany), Disciple of Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Germany’s outstanding Bahá’í pioneer worker’ passed away. He was buried in Pragfriedhof – Stuttgart. [BW4:118–19, 264; Find a grave]
For his obituary see BW4:264–6.
See as well Bahá'í Chronicles. |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Consuls; Albert Schwarz; In Memoriam; Births and deaths |
|
1931 (Summer) |
The first German Bahá’í summer school was held, at Esslingen. [BBRSM182; BW5:44]
UD98 and BW5p30 put this date as 1932. |
Esslingen; Germany |
Summer schools; First summer and winter schools |
|
1933. 9 or 13 Sep (or possibly mid-November) |
Louise Gregory sailed from Boston to Europe on the SS Sinai. She spent some time in Salzburg and met with Miss Steffi Fürth whom she had met a year earlier. She had become, perhaps, the first believer in Salzburg [SYH180-181]
By October she was settled in Varna, Bulgaria where there was a small group of active believers. [SYG181]
On the instructions of the Guardian she left Varna for Belgrade to help Martha Root with the teaching work. Louise arrived on the 14th of March 1934. [SYH186] |
Salzburg, Germany; Varna, Bulgaria; Belgrade; Yugoslavia |
Louise Gregory; Steffi Fürth; Martha Root |
|
1934. 14 Mar |
Louise Gregory arrived in Belgrade to join Martha Root in the teaching work. Their overlap lasted until the 25th of March when Martha left for Athens. [SYH186-187]
Martha had arranged for a new believer, Mrs Draga Ilić, to translate Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era as well as the Hidden Words into Serbian. [SYH187]
During her time here Louisa received American visitors Charles and Helen Bishop from Portland, OR, who were on their way to Geneva to take up service at the International Bahá'í Bureau. They had been on pilgrimage in Haifa. [SYH188; BW6p133]
Louise established herself as a language teacher giving private lessons. On the 19th of June she moved to a larger house near the Austrian border then after a few weeks went to Salzburg to meet with Miss Fürth until the end of July. When Marion Jack arrived they travelled together to Munich and Göppingen and then to Esslingen to attend the German Bahá'í summer school at the request of Shoghi Effendi. It ran from the 5th to the 12th of August. [SYH190-191, 195]
For photos taken at the summer school see SYH198-199.
After the summer school Marion and Louise went to Stuttgart and arrived back in Salzburg on the 3rd of September. She had trouble having her visa renewed and ultimately had to go to Vienna for this purpose. She returned to Belgrade by boat down the Danube. [SYH196-197]
A report on her teaching work in Belgrade was printed in the Bahá'í News No 90 March 1935 pg11.
Because her visa expired she was obliged to return to America. She left Belgrade near the end of April and went to England with plans to visit her relatives before boarding the Laconia in Liverpool destined for Boston on the 11th of May 1935. She had been away from home some 18 months on this teaching trip and had visited Varna in Bulgaria, Salzburg in Austria, Belgrade in Yugoslavia, Esslingen, Munich, Göppingen and Stuttgart in Germany, Salzburg and Vienna in Austria. [SYH 203-205, 242]
, |
Belgrade; Yugoslavia; Salzburg; Munich; Germany |
Louise Gregory; Martha Root; Draga Ilić; Bahaullah and the New Era (book); Language; Translation; Charles Bishop; Helen Bishop; International Bahai Bureau; Bahai International Community |
|
1935. 07 May |
In response to a letter from a very successful National Convention in Germany the Guardian called the German community the standard bearers of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh in the continent of Europe. [LDG72] |
Germany |
|
|
1935 Aug |
Mary Maxell pioneered to Germany. Her first meeting with the Bahá'ís was at the Esslingen Summer School. [WMSH45] |
Germany |
Mary Maxell; Pioneer |
|
1936. (In the year) |
Because the Bahá'í teachings were considered "international and pacifist" the Nazi close the Bahá'í summer school in Esslingen. [SYH208] |
Germany |
Persecution, Germany |
|
1937 21 May |
All Bahá’í activities and institutions were banned in Germany by a special order of the Reichsführer SS and the Gestapo Chief of Staff Heinrich Himmler when he banned the Bahá'í Faith in Germany. He blamed it on the religion’s “international and pacifist tendencies.” The Nazi government increasingly targeted the Bahá'ís after Himmler’s edict, first by tearing down the public memorial to 'Abdu’l-Bahá in Bad Mergntheim and then, in 1939, making mass arrests of the former members of the National Spiritual Assembly. Bahá'ís went to jail, some for very long periods, without charges. In 1942, more mass arrests occurred. Many of the Bahá'ís from Germany and the surrounding countries disappeared in the Nazi concentration camp system.
[BBRSM185; Bahá'í Teachings; German Bahá'í website archives; The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism p19]]
See talk by David Langness entitled Nazi Germany: The Untold Story of the Bahá'ís.
See Shoghi Effendi's letter of 11 February 1934 where he says in part:
The wave of nationalism, so aggressive and so contagious in its effects, which has swept not only over Europe but over a large part of mankind is, indeed, the very negation of the gospel of peace and of brotherhood proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh. The actual trend in the political world is, indeed, far from being in the direction of the Bahá’í teachings. The world is drawing nearer and nearer to a universal catastrophe which will mark the end of a bankrupt and of a fundamentally defective civilization. [LDG1p55]
See letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi 10 November 1938 regarding the German community's efforts to have the government rescind the ban. [Messages from Shoghi Effendi to the Benelux countries pp38-40]
|
Germany |
Persecution, Germany; Persecution, Arrests; Persecution, Bans; Persecution, Court cases; Persecution, Other; Persecution; Court cases; World War II |
|
1938 to 1955 |
The fourth Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh was Jináb-i-Valíyu'lláh Varqá, the third son of Varqá the martyr. He was born in Tabriz and after the death of his father and brother he was raised by his grandmother, a fanatical Muslim. At the age of 16 his uncle removed him from the home and taught him the Faith. He attended the American University at Beirut and spent summers with 'Abdu'l-Bahá and accompanied the Master to America and served as His interpreter. He returned to Iran where he served on local and national assemblies and was made a Trustee of the Huqúqu'lláh in 1938 at a time when the observance of the law spread throughout Iran. [Message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 March, 1985]
He was elevated to a Hand of the Cause of God in 1951 and passed away in Tubingen, Germany in 1955 while taking a treatment for an illness. [BW13p831-834] |
Tubingen; Germany; Tabriz; Iran; Beirut; Lebanon; Akka |
Varqa, Valiyullah; Huququllah; Huququllah, Trustees of; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Appointments; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Activities; American University of Beirut; Varqa |
|
1939 3 Sep |
World War II began with Britain and France declaring war on Germany after Germany invaded Poland. |
Europe; Germany; United Kingdom; France; Poland |
World War II; History (general); War (general) |
|
1944 2 May |
The German government held a public trial of some of the jailed Bahá'í leaders in Darmstadt. Dr. Hermann Grossmann was allowed to testify as a witness for the defense about the non-political nature of the Bahá'í Faith and the attitude of the trial had been pre-ordained. The government found the Bahá'ís guilty, levied large fines and banned all Bahá'í institutions ordering that they be immediately disbanded.
[Bahá'í Teachings; German Bahá'í website archives] |
Darmstadt; Germany |
Persecution, Germany; Hermann Grossmann |
|
1945 14 Aug |
The German Bahá’ís, 80 per cent of whom lived in the American sector of occupied Germany, obtained permission to re-organize. [BBRSM185]
A US soldier stationed in occupied post-war Germany, John Eichenauer, helped during the first days of the reconvening of the community. The American Bahá'ís sent money, food and literature, and aided them in rebuilding the administrative structures. [BWNS390]
Brief mention of this event is made in this film on Vimeo.
|
Germany |
Persecution, Germany; Persecution, Other; Persecution; World War II; BWNS; John Eichenauer |
|
1946 Ridván |
The National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria was re-established. [BN No 187 September 1946 p8-9]
It was elected for the first time since 1937. Those elected were: Fred Kohler, Dr Adelheid Jäger, De Hermann Grossmann, Martha Brauns-Forel, Erwin Knorr, Paul Golfer, Edith Horn, Martel Weiss, Hede Schubert. [The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism p18]
Three American servicemen, Bruce Davison, John Eichenauer, and Capt Henry Jarvis rendered service to the stricken community.
It would appear that there was no Austrian representation at this National Convention nor at the National Convention the following year. [BW11p30]
See The German Baha'i Community under National Socialism p21-26 for the persecution of the Bahá'í community before and during the war.
|
Germany; Austria |
National Spiritual Assembly, formation |
|
1948 (In the year) |
In the German Democratic Republic all Bahá'í activities were banned. In 1991, for the first time in 53 years, the Bahá'ís in eastern Germany elected delegates to the National Assembly. After 55 years, the Spiritual Assembly was re-formed in Leipzig. [German Bahá'í website] |
Germany |
Persecution, Germany |
|
1948 Ridván |
The Germano-Austrian teaching plan, the German Five Year Plan(1948–53), comprising of internal goals only, was launched. [BBRSM158]
Some goals were:
- To double the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies from fourteen to twenty-eight, increasing the Bahá’í membership in each community
- To raise the number of localities in Germany and Austria where Bahá’ís reside
- To deepen the understanding of the friends in the operation of the Administrative Order
- To encourage deeper study of the teachings
- To construct the National Hazíratu’l-Quds in Frankfurt
- To enrich Bahá’í literature with two publications by March 1949, fifteen by March 1950, six by March 1951 and nine by 1952
|
Germany; Austria |
Teaching Plans |
|
1953 19 Apr |
Shoghi Effendi announced plans to build a House of Worship in Frankfurt. [BW13:733; LDG191–2]l
For the difficulties in pursuing the project see BW13:733–7. |
Langenhain; Frankfurt; Germany; Europe |
Mashriqul-Adhkar, Langenhain; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Shoghi Effendi, Life of |
|
1953. 14 Aug |
In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria it was stated that:
He is Particularly anxious to have some of the
German Bahá'ís enter the western territories of
the Soviet Union not yet open to the Faith,
namely: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine,
White Russia and Moldavia, and every effort
should be made to enable some of the Bahá'ís,
German or of other nationality, to go to these
countries. The young people in particular may be
able to arrange their affairs in such a way as to
procure employment in the Soviet Union. This would be a great service, and is part of the work allotted to the German Bahá'ís under the World Crusade. [14 August 1953] |
Germany; Austria; Soviet Union |
|
|
1954. 1 - 3 Oct |
Bahá'ís of Germany and the European Hands of the Cause invited the Bahá'ís of Europe to the Haziratu'l-Quds in Frankfurt am Main to develop plans and to coordinate action in the work of the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.
[BN No 285 Nov 1954 p5] |
Frankfurt; Germany |
Conferences, Teaching; Conferences |
|
1955 12 Nov |
Hand of the Cause of God Valíyu’lláh Varqá passed away in Stuttgart.
For his obituary see BW13:831–834.
Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii] |
Stuttgart; Germany |
Varqa, Valiyullah; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Varqa |
|
1957. (In the year) |
The land for the future Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Langenhain was acquired. [from the pamphlet "First European Bahá'í House of Worship" published by the NSA of Germany] |
Langenhain; Germany |
Mashriqul-Adhkar, Langenhain; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship) |
|
1957 Oct |
Shoghi Effendi called for the convocation of a series of Intercontinental Conferences to be held successively in Kampala, Uganda (Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Central and East Africa); Sydney, Australia (National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá'ís of Australia); Chicago, United States (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America,; Frankfurt, Germany (National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and: Austria); and Djakarta, Indonesia (Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South-East Asia). [BW13:311–12; MBW125]
The five-fold purpose of the International Conferences was:
- offering
humble thanksgiving to the
Divine Author of our Faith, Who has
graciously enabled His followers,
during a period of deepening anxiety
and amidst the confusion and
uncertainties of a critical phase in
the fortunes of mankind,
- to prosecute
uninterruptedly the Ten-Year
Plan formulated for the execution of
the Grand Design conceived by 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
- of reviewing and celebrating
the series of signal victories
won so rapidly in the course of each
of the campaigns of this world-encircling
Crusade,
- of deliberating on
ways and means that will insure its
triumphant consummation,
- and of
lending simultaneously a powerful
impetus, the world over, to the vital
process of individual conversion -the
preeminent purpose underlying
the Plan in all its ramifications -
and to the construction and completion
of the three Mother Temples
to be built in the European, the
African, and Australian continents. [CBN No 94 Nov 1957 p1]
|
BWC; Kampala; Uganda; Sydney; Australia; Chicago; United States; Frankfurt; Germany; Djakarta; Indonesia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade |
|
1958 25–29 Jul |
The fourth Intercontinental Conference was held at the mid-point of the Crusade and convened in Frankfurt, Germany. [BW13:327]
Amelia Collins, who had been designated by the Guardian as his representative, attended, accompanied by ten other Hands of the Cause. [BW13:327]
For the message of the Custodians to the conference see MC102–6.
For a report of the conference see BW13:327–9. |
Frankfurt; Germany; Europe |
Amelia Collins; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Activities; Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Teaching; Conferences, Intercontinental; Ten Year Crusade |
|
1959 Ridván |
Separate national spiritual assemblies were formed for Germany and Austria. [BW13p274, 283; BBRSM186]
For the letter of the Custodians to the national convention of Austria see MC158–60.
For a photo of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Austria see WMSH244. The members were: Johanna (Hauff) von Werthern, Franz Pollinger, Bertha Matthisen, Leopoldine Heilinger, Dr Mehdi Varqá, Gunther Hang, Ursula Kohler, Dr Masoud Berdjis and Dr Aminolláh Ahmedzadeh. |
Austria; Germany |
National Spiritual Assembly, formation |
|
1960 20 Nov |
The cornerstone of the fifth House of Worship was laid in Langenhain, Germany, by Hand of the Cause of God Amelia Collins. [BW13:739; MC238, 245, 249–50]
See also MoC14–15, 236. |
Langenhain; Frankfurt; Germany; Europe |
Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Mashriqul-Adhkar, Langenhain; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Amelia Collins |
|
1962 16 Nov |
The superstructure of the European House of Worship near Frankfurt was completed and the Temple was turned over to the Bahá’ís by the contractor. [BW13:737; MoC15] |
Langenhain; Frankfurt; Germany |
Mashriqul-Adhkar, Langenhain; Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship) |
|
1964 4 Jul |
The House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany, the Mother Temple of Europe, was dedicated. [BW14:483–4]
The interior of the auditorium is bounded by 27 pillars, supporting the dome. Twenty-seven ribs lead from the floor to the apex of the dome, culminating in a ring which carries a lantern. The dome segments are arranged in a special way in order to permit full access of daylight. These produce an interesting play of lights and shadows, attractively brightened by the sun's reflexes on the 570 glass panels. The supporting parts of the structure consist of prefabricated concrete material reinforced by steel fillings, which were produced in the Netherlands.
For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW14:485–6.
For pictures see BW14:482, 483, 485, 491.
For a description of the teaching conference accompanying the dedication see BW14:586–8.
See also MC14–15; PP432–4.
See this brief film on Vimeo on the life of Anneliese Bopp and her part in the building of this Temple.
Specifics
Location: Frankfurt, Germany (near the village of Langenhain in the Taunus Hills)
Foundation Stone: 20 November 1960 by Hand of the Cause Amelia Collins representing the World Centre. She placed Sacred Dust from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in the foundations.
Construction Period: 1960-1964
Site Dedication:4 July 1964 Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum represented the Universal House of Justice.
Architect: Teuto Rocholl (plans approved by Shoghi Effendi)
Seating:450 – 600
Dimensions: Diameter at the base: 48m (158ft), Height from the base to the top of the dome: 28m (92ft), Outer diameter: 25m (82ft); Inner diameter: 23m (69ft), Inner height of the dome: 24m (72ft). Height 20.5m (67ft)
Cost:
Dependencies: A home for the aged.
Note: The construction of this temple was delayed by legal roadblocks instigated by church opposition, both Protestant and Catholic.
References: BW14p483, BW14p483-484, BW18p104, CEBF241
|
Langenhain; Frankfurt; Germany; Europe |
Mashriqul-Adhkar (House of Worship); Mashriqul-Adhkar, Mother Temples; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Quick facts; Mashriqul-Adhkar, Langenhain; Amelia Collins; Amatul-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum; Teuto Rocholl; Architects; Opposition; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; Gifts; Bahaullah, Shrine of; - Basic timeline, Expanded |
|
1967 5 – 10 Oct |
Six Intercontinental Conferences were held simultaneously in Panama City, Wilmette, Sydney, Kampala, Frankfurt and New Delhi to celebrate the centenary of the proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the kings and rulers of the world in September/October of 1867. [BW 14:221]
For the message of the Universal House of Justice to the conferences see BW14:221–2.
For descriptions of each conference see BW14:223–58.
See CG68-69 for a brief description of the Intercontinental Conference in Kampala.
The six Hands of the Cause representing the Universal House of Justice at the conferences travelled to Adrianople to visit the House of Bahá’u’lláh before dispersing to the conferences. [BW14:236, 458; VV2] |
Panama; Wilmette; Sydney; Australia; Kampala; Uganda; Frankfurt; Germany; New Delhi; India |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Intercontinental; Tablets to Kings and rulers; Centenaries |
|
1968 7 Jul |
The passing of Hand of the Cause Hermann Grossmann in Neckargemünd, near Heidelberg, (b.16 February, 1899) [BW15p416-421]
Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the first contingent of Hands of the Cause on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
For his biography see Hermann Grossmann: Hand of the Cause of God, A Life for the Faith by Susanne Pfaff-Grossmann.
For his obituary see BW15:416–21.
For cable of the Universal House of Justice see BW15:416 and WG157–8.
Alternatively see Mess63-86p135. |
Neckargemund; Germany |
In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent; Hermann Grossmann |
|
1969. Jul - Aug |
The European Dawnbreakers’ Show, ‘‘A Plea for One World,” was conceived at a Swiss winter school by four young Baha’is from four countries. The original idea of a singing group blossomed into thirty-two Baha’is from ten countries presenting the message of Baha’u’ll4h through mime, songs, Baha’i scripture, and documented narrations. A total of eighteen performances were given in Holland, Germany, and Belgium. The five-week tour was organized by the Baha’i youth in Europe and supported by the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany [BN No 466 January 1970 p14] |
Holland, Germany; Belgium |
Proclamation; Teaching; Music; Drama |
|
1971 (In the year) |
In Germany, Hermann Zimmer resurrected the claims of Ruth White in a small book published in 1971 (English translation in 1973), A Fraudulent Testament devalues the Bahá'í Religion into Political Shogism.
In Switzerland, Francesco Ficicchia wrote a comprehensive attack aimed mainly at the Bahá'í administration, Der Bah'ismus Weltreligion der Zunkunft? (Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen, Quell Verlag, Stuttgart, 1981).
Both of these works were financed and distributed by Evangelical Protestant organizations in Germany. [The Covenant and Covenant-breaker by Moojan Momen]
|
Germany; Switzerland |
Covenant-Breakers; Hermann Zimmer; Ruth White; Francesco Ficicchia; Criticism and apologetics |
|
1977 Jun |
At the behest of the Universal House of Justice, two conferences were held for Persian-speaking Bahá’ís resident in Europe, one in Germany and one in London. [BW17:194] |
Germany; London; United Kingdom; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, International; Conferences, Persian-speaking Bahais; Persian diaspora |
|
1981 1 Jan |
The publication of Der Bahā'ismus, Weltreligion der Zukunft?: Geschichte, Lehre und Organisation in Kritischer Anfrage (Bahá'ism-Religion of the Future? History, Doctrine and Organization: A Critical Inquiry) by Francesco Ficicchia under the auspices of the Central Office of the Protestant Church for Questions of Ideology in Germany. This book was distributed by the Protestant Church and became the most widespread book on the Bahá'í Faith in German, and as such was widely accepted as a critical academic publication. At the time of its distribution a decision was taken to not dignify the publication with a rebuttal. This proved to be an error. Making the Crooked Straight was published in 1995 in German and translated/published by George Ronald Publishers in 2000. The purpose of the book, as the name suggests, was to address the distorted views presented in Ficicchia's publication. [MCSintroduction]
See The Refutation of Francesco Ficicchia and the Dangers of Silence by Jack McLean. |
Germany |
Opposition; Criticism and apologetics; Making the Crooked Straight (book); Bahai Scholarship |
|
1984 28 Feb |
The passing of Renée Szanto-Felbermann (b 21 June, 1900, d. 28 February, 1984) in Freiburg, Germany. She is considered the first to declare her faith in Hungary. [BW19p633]
She is the author of The Memoirs of Renée Szanto-Felbermann, published in London by the Bahá'í Publishing Trust. It is the autobiography of a woman of Jewish heritage who was the first Hungarian Bahá'í. Particularly interesting is the period as Jewish-Bahá'í in Hungary during the Nazi era. [BEL7.2521] |
Freiburg; Germany; Hungary |
First Bahais by country or area; In memoriam; Births and deaths |
|
1987 Nov |
Representatives of 17 national spiritual assemblies in Europe and North America, together with senior representatives of the Offices of the Bahá’í International Community, met in Germany to discuss their external affairs. [AWH56; VV105] |
Germany |
external affairs |
|
1989 18 Dec - 1990 2 Jan |
During the Youth Winter School in Traben-Trarback participants from 12 countries including East Germany, Romania, Hungary and the Soviet Union gathered for the first time since the Second World War. [BINS215:2] |
Traben-Trarback; Germany; Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Russia |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Youth; Conferences, International; Winter schools; First conferences |
|
1989 18 Dec - 1990 2 Jan |
West Berlin Bahá’í communities were joined by 26 Bahá’ís from six European countries and the United States in proclamation and teaching activities among East Germans. [BINS215:2]
More than 50,000 copies of a shortened version of the Peace Statement and other Bahá’í materials were distributed at four major border checkpoints in West Berlin and at the Brandenburg Gate. [BINS215:2] |
Berlin; Germany |
Promise of World Peace (statement); Teaching |
|
1990 (In the year) |
With the approval of the Universal House of Justice, the Bahá'í administrative institutions of the eastern and western parts of Germany were re-united. [BINS230:2] |
Germany |
East; West; united |
|
1991. 5 Feb |
The highest legal authority in Germany, the Federal Constitutional Court, overturned the decisions of a number of lower courts that had refused to register the by-laws of a Local Spiritual Assembly on the grounds that the authority granted to the National Spiritual Assembly in the document violated the legal principle requiring the autonomy of all legally incorporated associations.
The case was first brought before the District Court of Tübingen when the legal administrator refused to register the Local Assembly on the 8th of December, 1983. The decision was appealed on the 5th of May 1985 to the High State Court in Sturrgart and rejected on the 27th of January 1986. News of the decision caused other jurisdictions to demand that local assemblies amend their By-Laws or face cancellation of their existing incorporation. The National Spiritual Assembly was in danger of the same fate. An appeal was submitted in March of 1986.
The ruling affirmed Bahá'í community, by it’s right as a recognized religion, recognized by public knowledge and by the testimony of scholars of comparative religion, had the right to a legal identity. [AWH87]
See Ridván Message 1991.
For complete details of the case see Mess86-01p206-235. |
Tubingen; Germany |
Local Spiritual Assembly; National Spiritual Assembly; By-laws; Legal recognition |
|
1991 Ridván |
The Bahá'ís of East and West Germany were united at their 61st convention for the first time after the war. [VV113] |
Germany |
Conventions, National |
|
1992 7 Mar |
The first local spiritual assembly in Eastern Germany was formed in Erfurt. [BINS267:3] |
Erfurt; Germany |
Local Spiritual Assembly |
|
1993 Ridván |
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Leipzig, Germany, was re-formed 56 years after its dissolution during the time the Faith was banned. [BW93–4:82] |
Leipzig; Germany |
Local Spiritual Assembly, reformed |
|
1994 Jul 20 – 25 |
The European Bahá'í Youth Council sponsored five regional ‘Shaping Europe' conferences, in Berlin, Bucharest, St Petersburg, Barcelona and Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. [BINS323:3–5; BW94–5:177–8, 189] |
Berlin; Germany; Bucharest; Romania; St Petersburg; Russia; Barcelona; Portugal; Wolverhampton; United Kingdom; Europe |
Conferences, Bahai; Conferences, Youth; Conferences, International; Youth |
|
1995 (In the year) |
The publication of Desinformation als Methode by Udo Schaefer, Nicola Towfigh and Ulrich Gollmer. This book was written in response to a pseudo-academic monograph on the Bahá'í Faith by an embittered ex-Bahá'í, Francesco Ficicchia, claiming to be the standard work on the Faith and published in Germany under church auspices. For over 15 years the accusations raised in Ficicchia's book largely shaped public and academic perception of the Bahá'í Faith in German-speaking Europe, damaging its reputation with a picture of an authoritarian cadre-dominated cult with totalitarian, fascist goals.
was translated from the German to English by Dr Geraldine Schuckelt and published in 2000 under the title Making the Crooked Straight; A Contribution to Bahá'í Apologetics and is available from George Ronald Publishers.
|
Germany |
propaganda; persecution, Iran; propaganda, counter; Udo Schaefer; Nicola Towfigh; Ulrich Gollmer |
|
2007 7 Apr |
A memorial removed by the Nazis when the Bahá'í Faith was outlawed in 1937 was restored by municipal authorities in the resort town of Bad Mergentheim in Germany. The stone commemorates the visit of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on April 7-8, 1913. The new memorial was unveiled on 7 April, by Mayor Lothar Barth accompanied by Bahman Solouki, a representative of the Bahá'í community of Germany. Please see the news story for pictures of both the original and the replacement monuments. [BWNS524]
|
Bad Mergentheim; Germany |
Abdul-Baha, Pictures and portraits; Portraits; Monuments; Opposition; BWNS |
|
2009 7 – 8 Feb |
Regional Conferences were held in Frankfurt, Germany and Padua, Italy. [Padua, Frankfurt]
|
Frankfurt; Germany; Padua; Italy |
Regional Conferences |
|
2010 27 Apr |
The passing of Dr Nossrat Peseschkian (b. 18 June, 1933 in Iran d. 27 April, 2010 in Wiesbaden, Germany). He came to Germany in 1954 for his studies in medicine at the universities of Freiburg, Frankfurt am Main and Mainz. After his medical specialization and his dissertation, he had his postgraduate training in psychotherapy in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the United States. Prof. Peseschkian was the founder and leading figure in the growth and development of Positive Psychotherapy for almost 40 years. As an international lecturer, he had traveled to 67 countries worldwide. A global network of over 100 local, regional and national centres of Positive Psychotherapy has been established in 33 countries to date. Among his works is the book "Oriental Stories as Tools in Psychotherapy: The Merchant and the Parrot", which included short stories from Persia and other countries that can be used in psychotherapy. [Wikipedia] |
Wiesbaden; Germany |
Nossrat Peseschkian; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; Psychology; Stories |
|
2012 20 Feb |
The passing of Anneliese Bopp, former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre at Bad Bruckenau, Northern Bavaria, Germany. [BWNS892]
First appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors at Ridván 1970, she served at the International Teaching Centre from 1979 until 1988.
See Vimeo for a short biographical film on Anneliese Bopp entitled Miss Anneliese Bopp: A Champion of Faith.
Bahaipedia.
|
Bad Bruckenau; Germany |
Anneliese Bopp; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; International Teaching Centre; BWNS |
|
2017. 17 Dec |
The announcement by the Universal House of Justice of the passing of former House member Mr. Hartmut Grossmann.
"...he poured out his life in uninterrupted service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, as a teacher, pioneer, and member of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Germany (1963-1969) and Finland (1977-1980), the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, (1980-1988) the International Teaching Centre (1988-2003) and, ultimately, of the Universal House of Justice (2003-2008)." [BWNS1228]
He was the son of Hand of the Cause of God Hermann Grossmann (1899-1968). He was predeceased by his wife Ursula. [BWNS622; Bahá'í Chronicles]
|
Germany |
Hartmut Grossmann; In Memoriam; Births and deaths; BWNS |
|
2019 Aug |
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest inter-religious coalition. Their mandate is to work to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies. It is comprised of a world council of religious leaders and bodies from over 125 countries.
Its organization, built over its 50-year history, comprises of six regional Interreligious Councils and is built on the principle of religious representation that reflects the fabric of religious demography.
The Bahá'í International Community’s Principal Representative, Ms. Bani Dugal, was elected as a co-president and member of the World Council of Religions for Peace to become part of the 51 member council of co-presidents. The election, which is held every five years, was held in August in Lindau, Germany. Ms. Dugal was elected by over 700 voting delegates.
Dr. Azza Karam, Professor of Religion and Development at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Netherlands and former senior advisor on culture at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was elected as the body’s new secretary-general, becoming the first woman to hold the post. At UNFPA, she also served as chairperson of the UN task force on engagement with faith-based organizations.
[BIC News] |
Lindau; Germany |
Bahai International Community; Bani Dugal; Religions for Peace; Azza Karam |
|
2019. 30 Aug |
The passing of Dr Udo Schaefer (b. October 19, 1926 in Heidelberg, Germany). He enrolled as a Bahá'í in 1948 and became one of the most important contemporary theologians of the Bahá'í Faith, well known for his scholarship and his defence of the Faith. He came from a family of musicians and his early studies were in in that field but he changed streams and became a lawyer. [FaceBook]
English translations of his work include:
His publications in German.
His publications in French
His publications in Spanish
His publications in other languages, (Russian, Portuguese, Dutch and Farsi).
His articles.
His website.
Wikipedia.
|
Heidelberg; Germany |
In Memoriam; Udo Schaefer |
|