The Best Photos of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Chicago, USA
Updated: Jul 26, 2019
There are tens of thousands of beautiful photographs of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Chicago in USA. Here is a list of our favorite.
What is a Baha'i House of Worship?
As a gathering place for prayer and meditation, Bahá'í Houses of Worship, or a "Mashriqu'l-Adhkár", are the religious buildings that most closely approximate the role of the church, the temple or the mosque. Yet they are also something more.
The term `Mashriqu'l-Adhkár' means literally, `Dawning-place of the praise of God'.
To appreciate the significance of this Bahá`í institution, we must lay aside all customary ideas of the churches and cathedrals of the past. The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár fulfils the original intention of religion in each dispensation, before that intention had become altered and veiled by human invention and belief.
Integral with the Temple are its accessory buildings, without which the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár would not be a complete social institution. These buildings are to be devoted to such activities as a school for science, a hospice, a hospital, a home for orphans. Here the circle of spiritual experience at last joins, as prayer and worship are allied directly to creative service, eliminating the static subjective elements from religion and laying foundation for a new and higher type of human association.
So far, eight continental Houses of Worship have been built with a number of local ones built in multiple locations around the world- a token of the Faith's global progress. At the present stage of the Faith's development, Bahá'ís have focused on creating and developing the social and spiritual institutions of community life rather than on the construction of physical buildings in every community. Yet those Houses of Worship which have been constructed stand as beacons calling the world to a new mode of religious worship and life.
The Baha’i House of Worship, North America, United States of America
The cornerstone for Baha’i temple in North America was laid in the year 1912 and the construction was completed in the year 1953. The stunning architecture of the temple amidst gorgeous gardens has earned it a place among the Seven Wonders of Illinois. Fountain Hall, which is the temple’s oldest part and Cornerstone Room are located in the lower level. The temple is the oldest and the largest of the Baha’i temples in the world. The intricate designs on the walls of the auditorium are awe-inspiring. Baha’i principles are communicated throughout the design. For example, to illustrate the Baha’i belief in the unity of religion, Louis Bourgeois (the architect) brought together elements of religious architecture from around the world. The Temple’s arabesque panels embrace natural light during the day and illuminate from within at night, creating a “Temple of Light and Unity.” From the main floor, the dome rises to 135 feet high and is amazing to look at. Learn More>
