Chronology: Date 1984-09-01

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1984-09-01, descending — sort earliest first

date	event	tags	firsts
1984 1 Sep 198-	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	Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Ugo Giachery; Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); - Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Mother Temples; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Quick facts; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Apia, Samoa; Dedications; Marble; Husayn Amanat; Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa; - Architects; Boxes containing dust, earth or plaster; Gifts; Bahá'u'lláh, Shrine of (Bahjí); Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Basic timeline, Expanded; Margraf; Apia, Samoa; Samoa; Pacific; Chiampo, Italy; Italy


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