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| Baha'u'llah Shrine |
The Bahá’í Faith, originally founded in Iran, now has its spiritual and administrative center in Israel. This shift occurred due to historical events that led to the exile of its Founder, Bahá’u’lláh, to Acre, a city across the bay from Haifa.
The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, situated north of Haifa near Acre, holds the highest sanctity for Bahá’ís worldwide.
Bahá’u’lláh, after multiple exiles from Iran, was sent to Acre in 1868 along with his family and a few followers. Acre was then a desolate penal colony under Ottoman rule. Despite being prisoners, the Bahá’ís gained respect as a religious community in Acre. Bahá’u’lláh was eventually granted limited freedom and, during a visit to Haifa in 1891, he designated Mount Carmel as the site for the Bahá’í world headquarters. He also instructed that the remains of the Báb, the Faith’s Herald and a Prophet, be buried on Mount Carmel.
Following Bahá’u’lláh’s death and burial near Acre in 1892, the spiritual center of the Bahá’í Faith was established there. His burial site at Bahjí, north of Haifa, is the holiest place for Bahá’ís.
In 1909, the Báb’s remains were interred in a stone mausoleum on Mount Carmel. By 1953, a golden-domed, white marble superstructure was built over the mausoleum, completing the Shrine, which is the second holiest site for Bahá’ís.
Over the years, Bahá’ís have developed a series of gardens and other holy monuments, as well as administrative buildings in the Haifa/Acre area, funded entirely by contributions from the global Bahá’í community.
Today, over 800 Bahá’ís volunteer at the Bahá’í World Center, coming from all over the world to care for the Bahá’í Holy places and manage the Bahá’í world community’s internal affairs.
The city of Haifa and the Israeli government have welcomed the Bahá’í presence and new constructions. Haifa’s Mayor, Amram Mitzna, recently praised the nearly completed Gardens and Terraces for the Shrine of the Báb, describing them as offering an “unforgettably stunning panorama” for all beauty lovers.
