Chronology: Date 1903-05

date	event	tags	firsts
1903 May	Russian poet Isabella Grinevskaya wrote the play "Báb" which was performed in St. Petersburg in 1904 and again in 1914 and once again in 1917. It was translated into French and Tatar (and later into German by Friedrich Fiedler) and lauded by Leo Tolstoy and other reviewers at the time. It is reported to have been Tolstoy's first knowledge of the Faith. In 1910-11 she spent two weeks in Ramleh as a guest of `Abdu'l-Bahá and after she returned to Russia she had several letters and Tablets from Him. Immediately upon her return from Egypt in January of 1911 she began work on the book "A Journey in the Countries of the Sun", an account of her visit with 'Abdu'l-Bahá. This work was not completed until 1914 because in the summer of 1912 she made a trip to Paris to work with the French translator of "Báb", Madame Halperin, and when she returned to Leningrad she began work on the drama entitled Bahá'u'lláh. It was published in Leningrad in 1912 but was never performed. "Journey", a book of some 550 pages did not get published because of the disruption caused by the advent of the war. See BW6p707-712 for the article "Russia's Cultural Contribution to the Bahá'i Faith" by Martha Root. For a photo see BW6p709 or here. Also see Notes on the Bábí and Bahá'í Religions in Russia and its territories by Graham Hassall. Isabella Grinevskaya (the pen name of Beyle (Berta) Friedberg), born in Grodno in 1864, died in Istanbul in 1944. [Revolvy] In His message to Isabella Grinevskaya, 'Abdu'l-Bahá praised her efforts to stage theatrical performances about the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh but cautioned her that people's attention at that moment was focused on "war and revolution." However, He added, "the time for staging it will come" and it will "have a considerable impact" in Europe. Ms. Grinevskaya's play about the Báb was first staged in St. Petersburg in January 1904. Mr. Tolstoy read the play and wrote Ms. Grinevskaya to praise her and share his sympathy with the Baha'í teachings, according to an article by Martha Root in the 1934-1936 edition of The Bahá'í World.	Isabella Grinevskaya; Leo Tolstoy (author); * Publications; Drama; Plays; Arts; St. Petersburg; Ramleh, Egypt; Alexandria, Egypt; Egypt; Istanbul, Turkey; Turkey; Grodno; Russia
1903 03 May	Upheaval at Rasht. [BBRXXX, 373] See BW18p385 for a chronicle of events. 3 May: Agitation against Bahá'í's following publication of photograph of the Bahá'í community; several Bahá'ís beaten. May: Mob disrupted a Bahá'í funeral, exhumed body and burned it. May: Renewed uproar in the town following the placing of a forged placard at the door of the local mujtahid, Haji Khumami. 17 May: Two leading Bahá'ís, Ibtihaju'l-Mulk and Mudabbiru'l-Mamalik, expelled from the town. The Bahá'ís take sanctuary at the Russian Consulate. [BBR376] For Western accounts of the episode see BBR377–385]	Persecution, Iran; - Persecution; Rasht upheaval; Isfahan upheaval; - Upheavals; Russian consulate; Rasht, Iran; Isfahan, Iran; Iran
1903 23 - 28 May	Upheaval in Isfahan: Muhammad-Javad-i-Sarraf seized was by students of Aqa Najafi and beaten severely; this caused a large number of Bahá'ís to take sanctuary in the Russian Consulate. 28 May: Large mob gathered outside Russian Consulate and beat Bahá'ís as they left; Sayyid Abu'l-Qasim-i-Mamani, aged 90, died as a result of the injuries he received. [BW18p385]	Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Russian consulate; - Persecution, Mobs; Russian consulate; Isfahan, Iran; Iran
1903 30 May	A letter from `Abdu'l-Bahá was received by the Chicago House of Spirituality giving His approval for the building of a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in North America. [BFA2:119]	Spiritual Assemblies; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Petitions; Wilmette, IL; Chicago, IL; USA	First Tablet approving building Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in North America
Try also a shorter date like 1903-0 or 1903 try also the Chronology Canada — 1903-05 or 1903-0 or 1903

Home

Site Map

Links