A Bahá'í Glossary - Bahá'í House of Worship

Fifth Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental
Hofheim-Langenhain, Germany, Europe
Mother Temple of Europe

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The Mother Temple of Europe is located at the foot of the Taunus Mountains of Germany, in the village of Langenhain, in the Frankfurt suburb of Hofheim, Hesse. The design was made by Teuto Rocholl. It was completed in 1964 and is constructed of steel, aluminum and glass. Five hundred and forty diamond-shaped windows give the dome an optical lightness and permit the sunlight to play in it. The outstanding characteristic acoustics of this setting are created by the reverberation within the dome and the resonance of its myriad window ledges.

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Dedication of Temple in Germany
Frankfurt, Germany

On July 4, 1964, the Mother Temple of Europe°, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany, was dedicated to the unity of God and of mankind. Nearly one thousand five hundred Bahá’ís came from all over the world to participate in this historic event that began with two dedication services on Saturday morning. An equal number of people, including many Bahá’ís, attended the public programs in the afternoon. The gigantic task of building the first Bahá’í House of Worship on the European continent, given to the Bahá’ís of Germany by Shoghi Effendi over a decade ago and assisted by the believers throughout the world, thus drew to its victorious conclusion.

The Temple stands on a low hill in the midst of peaceful, green countryside near the village of Langenhain in the Taunus Hills. Planned and built by Teuto Rocholl, architect from Frankfurt am Main, this House of Worship seats approximately five hundred persons. The diameter at base measures one hundred and fifty-eight feet and there are twenty-seven pillars supporting the dome on the interior. The construction of the dome is such that a maximum amount of light can enter, bringing about an interesting play of light and shadow, attractively brightened by the sun's reflection on the five hundred and seventy glass panels.

After ascending the low steps encircling the Temple and entering through the clear glass doors, the beauty and light of the interior impels one to look upward to the Greatest Name, set in gold against a light blue background in the apex of the dome. Below the level of the dome, purple and gray-blue draperies line the glass walls, the color being further enhanced by the many beautiful floral arrangements for this day of dedication.

Dedication Program

The Bahá’í dedication program opened with a solo, the twenty-third Psalm, sung in German by Norman Bailey, the famous English baritone. This was followed by the reading of Bahá’í prayers in several languages and the dedication address in German by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, the representative of the Universal House of Justice. At the close of her address, she asked all to rise while she read a prayer revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. This was followed by a prayer of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in German, an extract from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh in English, a prayer chanted in Persian and further readings from the Old and New Testaments in German. Maria Montana sang a modification of a music arrangement of the Arabic Hidden Words composed by Charles Duncan. There were readings in German from the Bhagavad-Gita, the Qur'an and the Bahá’í Writings, with additional prayers in Swedish, French and Spanish. The program concluded with the prayer of Bahá’u’lláh, 'From the Sweet-Scented Streams, set to music by Charles Wolcott and sung solo in German.

Viewing of Sacred Portraits

Following this program, Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum arranged the portraits of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb on a table before an exquisite golden and red Persian rug which she had brought from the Holy Land as a gift to the German National Spiritual Assembly for the Temple - a rug which had lain in the room of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí. Red roses brought from the grave of the beloved Guardian in London were placed near the portraits. The Bahá’ís were then privileged to view these sacred pictures, first passing in front of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum who anointed each one with attar of rose.

Special Inaugural Service for Dignitaries

Preceding the two public programs, a special inaugural service was held at 2:30 p.m. for officially invited guests from the government, including regional and local authorities. For this occasion Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum read an address in German. A Frankfurt chorus of twenty voices sang three selections, a cappella, for this service and for the first of the public programs which followed. These were Sigt dem Herrn ein neuces Lied by J.S. Bach; Exulate deo, adjutori nostro by Alessandro Scarlatti sung in Latin; and, for closing, Cantata domini canticum novum by Schütz, sung in Latin.

Publicity in Leading Newspapers

On July 3 about thirty press representatives had attended a press conference on the Temple dedication. Articles appeared in five leading Frankfurt newspapers and on Saturday and Sunday radio and television publicity occurred. On Sunday, July 5, following the day of dedication, two thousand people visited the Temple. Weekly informal programs were inaugurated. Illuminated at night, the Temple is visible from the city of Frankfurt.

Miss Edna True, representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, commenting on the significance of the Temple dedication said: "As the day of dedication progressed, the spiritual radiance of this Bahá’í House of Worship became increasingly evident, setting aglow the hearts of all who were privileged to be present."

The Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land cabled their joy and gratitude:

“OCCASION HISTORIC DEDICATION MOTHER TEMPLE EUROPE JOIN ASSEMBLED FRIENDS PRAYERS PRAISE THANKSGIVING ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT OBJECTIVE BELOVED GUARDIANS WORLD REDEEMING PLAN STOP ACCORDANCE DIVINE PROMISES SACRED EDIFICE CONSECRATED EVERLASTING GLORY MOST GREAT NAME WILL BECOME POINT OF LIGHT RADIATING SPIRIT BAHAULLAHS TEACHINGS AND HASTEN FULFILLMENT SPIRTUAL DESTINY ENTIRE CONTINENT”

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Photographs of the Fifth Bahá'í House of Worship - Continental
Hofheim-Langenhain, Germany, Europe
Mother Temple of Europe