Bahai World Center
Bahai World Center - Haifa, Israel
The Bahai World Center is located in Haifa, Israel as part of a large garden complex that extends down the side of Mount Carmel.
Bahaullah said that after he died, the area around Haifa and Akka (or Acre) would be the center of the faith, and that is what has happened. The Bahai garden complex area and a few other sites within close vicinity serve as the world headquarters for the religion both spiritually and administratively.
The burial sites of both Bahaullah, the Bab, and Abdul Baha are all in
this area, either within the gardens themselves or across the bay at
Bahji, outside of Akka/Acre.
Also located in the Bahai gardens are buildings that house the major administrative functions of the religion. These include:
- the Seat of the Universal House of Justice - the governing council of the religion
- the International Teaching Center
- the Center for the Study of Texts
- the International Bahai Archives
Together, these institutions guide the global Bahai religion, preserve and translate the sacred scriptures and original texts of the faith, publish the instructional and devotional materials for the community, and protect the sacredness of the burial sites of the religion's historical leaders.
The Bahai gardens in Haifa are one of the top tourist destinations in Israel, and one of the most beautiful park-like sites in the world.
Related Pages
Stay In Touch!
Dr. Jill Carroll (your world religions professor) holds a Ph.D. in religious studies and has taught world religions for over 20 years. Learn more about her here.
Keep up with Dr. Jill Carroll on Facebook and Twitter. Click the icons below.
World Religions Chart
Check out this chart for many of the world's major religions. This is a perfect reference tool for students, researchers, writers and anyone who wants basic information at their fingertips in a user-friendly format.