Bahai Library Online

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

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Date 1977, sorted by date, descending

date event tags firsts
1977 27 – 30 Dec
197-		 The first Bahá'í summer school of Sierra Leone was held in Magburaka. [BW17:151] First summer and winter schools; Magburaka, Sierra Leone; Sierra Leone first Bahá’í summer school of Sierra Leone
1977 15 Dec
197-		 The Hemispheric Bahá'í Radio and Television Conference was held in Panama, with 125 participants from 24 countries. [BW17:219; Mess63-86] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Other; Bahá'í Radio; Television; Media (communication); Panama
1977 Dec
197-		 Properties confiscated by the Iraqi government belonging to individual Bahá'ís were returned; properties and funds belonging to the Faith were turned over to the Ministry of the Interior for disposal. [BW17:80] Persecution, Iraq; - Persecution, Other; - Persecution; Iraq
1977 Dec
197-		 The first International Conference of Bahá'í Women in South America was held in Lima, Peru, attended by 200 women from 12 countries. [BW17:172]
  • For picture see BW17:211.
    		• Conferences, Bahá'í; - Conferences, International; Conferences, Women; Women; - First conferences; Lima, Peru; Peru first International Conference of Bahá’í Women in South America
    1977 Dec
    197-    		 The restoration of the house of 'Abdu'lláh Páshá began. [BW17:84] House of `Abdu'lláh Páshá (Akká); - Restoration and renovation; Akka, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel
    1977 17 Oct
    197-    		 At the end of the Asian Bahá'í Women's Conference Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum laid the foundation stone of the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent. [BW17:85, 180, 368–70; VV35] * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Delhi; Lotus temple, New Delhi; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Foundation stones and groundbreaking; Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Women; New Delhi, India; India; - Asia
    1977 13 – 16 Oct
    197-    		 The Asian Bahá'í Women's Conference was held in New Delhi, attended by more than a thousand women from across Asia. 1,200 women from 36 countries were in attendance. [BW17:180]
  • For picture see BW17:212.
    		•  Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Women; Women; New Delhi, India; India; - Asia
    1977 12 Oct
    197-    		 The first Bahá'í educational and cultural radio station, HCRN-1 Radio Bahá'í del Ecuador, made its inaugural broadcast at 1420kHz, 20 watts, in Spanish and Quechua from studios in Otavalo. [BBD193; BW17:169, 215–17; BW19:120; VV77; Mess63-86p373]
  • Radio Bahá'í was first housed in the Amatu'l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum Institute in Otavalo. [BW18p226]
  • For pictures see BW17:216, 218 and VV77.
  • Full time programming (six hours a day) was initiated on the 12th of December, 1977. The 1 kiloWatt transmitter was located at Cahas, 20km south of Otavalo. [Radio Bahá'í Ecuador p23, 52]
  • On December 12th, 1979, programming was initiated in the short wave band on 2340 kHz in the 120-metre band. The 1 kilowatt transmitter was located about 30 km north of Otavalo at an altitude of 10,000 feet. In 1982 the transmission frequency was switched to 4990 kHz on the 60-meter band. [Radio Bahá'Í Ecuador p205 note 23]
  • For further details on this radio station see Radio Bahá'í Ecuador by Kurt Hein.
  • See as well the compilation entitled Use of Radio and Television in Teaching attached to the message from the Universal House of Justice dated 25 May 1975.
  • Pictures
    		• Bahá'í Radio; Bahá'í-owned radio; Firsts, other; Education; Otavalo, Ecuador; Cahas, Ecuador; Ecuador first Bahá’í educational and cultural radio station in Ecuador makes inaugural broadcast
    1977 21 Sep
    197-    		 The government of Idi Amin in Uganda banned all religion groups but for four. President Amin, who was a Moslem convert, granted the freedom of worship only to Islam and the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches. The vast majority of Christians belonged to the Anglican and Catholic churches. Some of those organizations banned had been included in previous bans imposed by President Amin in 1973 and 1975. [CG113]
  • The ban remained in place until the overthrow of the Amin government by the ousted former President Obote on the 11th of April, 1979. The Bahá'ís of Kampala formed an administrative committee until elections could be held. [CG124]
    		•  Persecution, Uganda; Uganda
    1977 Oct
    197-    		 The Bahá'í Faith, along with many other religious groups, were banned in Uganda. The National Assembly and 1,550 local assemblies were dissolved. The ban was lifted in April of 1979 and the community began the process to re-build. [BWNS135; BW17:141]
  • The National Spiritual Assembly was re-established in 1981. [BW18:553]
    		•  Persecution, Uganda; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Uganda
    1977 16 Sep
    197-    		 In Uganda, 27 religious organizations were banned, including the Bahá'í Faith, and the Bahá'í House of Worship was closed. [BW17:81]
  • The national spiritual assembly and all 1,550 local assemblies were dissolved. [BW17:141]
  • The Assembly was able to re-form in 1981. [The Achievements of the Seven Year Plan p2]
    		•  Persecution, Uganda; - Persecution, Bans; - Persecution; National Spiritual Assembly, formation; LSA; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Kampala; * Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Uganda
    1977 14 Sep
    197-    		 The first Spiritual Assembly of the Galapagos was established on the island of Santa Cruz. The members of this first local Spiritual Assembly of Puerto Oyora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos were: Sr. Catlos Patino, Sr. Golo Paredes, Sta. Nilda Pena, Srta. Ester Margarlta Panedei, Sr. Gonzalo Salinas, Sra. Luzmila Villacis de Salinas, Sra. Vilma de Arguello, Sra. Soila Robaliino, and Sr. Victor Hugo Arguello. . [Heroes of God: History of the Bahá'í Faith in Ecuador, 1940-1979 p82] Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Puerto Ayora, Galápagos; Santa Cruz, Galápagos; Galápagos Islands, Ecuador; Ecuador the first Spiritual Assembly of the Galapagos
    1977 16 Aug
    197-    		 The passing of Annamarie Honnold (b. 23 December 1914 in Urbana, Illinois) in Kennet Square, PA, USA. She was an American Bahá'í author, teacher and United Nations representative. Her mother became a Bahá'í a year after her birth and in 1921 the parents and their two daughters, Annamarie and Margaret Rosa, went on pilgrimage and met 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

    Her publications were:

  • 1982 - Vignettes from the Life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
  • 1986 - Divine Therapy: Pearls of Wisdom from the Bahá'í Writings
  • 1994 - Why They Became Bahá'ís: First Generation Bahá'ís By 1963
  • In 1972 she published Glimpses of Early Bahá'í Pilgrimages, a discussion of early pilgrimages based on the resulting pilgrim's notes. Includes text from a variety of memoirs.
    		•  - In Memoriam; Annamarie Honnold; Urbana, IL; Kennett Square, PA; Pennsylvania, USA; United States (USA); Biography
    1977 12 – 14 Aug
    197-    		 An International Bahá'í Youth Conference was held in Enugu, Nigeria, attended by over 250 Bahá'ís from 19 countries. [BW17:150, 153] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Youth; Youth; Enugu, Nigeria; Nigeria; - Africa
    1977 5 Jul
    197-    		 The passing of Mírzá Ahmad Khán Yazdání Kasrawí (b. April 24, 1891) in Tehran. Born into a Muslim family he learned of the Faith from a peddler and then studied under Hand of the Cause Ibni-Abhár and from the renowned teacher, Aflavén-i's-Safé and became an avowed believer at the age of twenty-two.
  • In 1919 he was commissioned by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to accompany Hand of the Cause Ibn-i-Abhár to The Hague to take a Tablet addressed to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace along with its English translation.
  • In addition to this service for 'Abdu'l-Bahá he served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Tehran and travelled at the request of Shoghi Effendi to India and Pakistan to teach and to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai to cheer the hearts of the pioneers that had settled in those countries. He also travelled to Iráq and Hijaz as well as Turkey and Afghanistan.
  • He served as editor of the Bahá'í News of Iran for 12 years and contributed articles regularly. He was the founder and a contributor to the Bahá'í Women's Journal and contributed to the Bahá'í Youth Magazine as well as the Year Book of the Iranian Bahá'í youth. [Bahaipedia; BW17p4380439]
    		•  Ahmad Yazdani; - In Memoriam; Central Organization for a Durable Peace; Tehran, Iran; Iran; Biography
    1977 Jul
    197-    		 The first Bahá'í summer school of Ecuador was held in Cuenca. [BW17:170] Cuenca, Ecuador; Ecuador first Bahá’í summer school of Ecuador
    1977 11 Jun
    197-    		 The centenary of the termination of Bahá'u'lláh's confinement in 'Akká was commemorated at the World Centre. [BW17:64] Centenaries; Bahá'u'lláh, Banishment of; Haifa, Israel; - Bahá'í World Centre
    1977 Jun
    197-    		 At the behest of the Universal House of Justice, two conferences were held for Persian-speaking Bahá'ís resident in Europe, one in Germany and one in London. [BW17:194] Conferences, Bahá'í; - Conferences, International; Conferences, Persian-speaking Bahá'ís; Diaspora, Persian; Germany; London, England; United Kingdom; - Europe
    1977 31 May
    197-    		 Joe Rabess, the first Carib to become a Bahá'í, enrolled in Dominica. Joe Rabess; Dominica first Carib Bahá’í, in Dominica
    1977 14 May
    197-    		 The house of a Bahá'í in Fádilábád, Iran, was attacked; the Bahá'í was killed and his sister severely injured. [BW18:391]
  • BW17:79 says this was June.
    		• * Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Deaths; - Persecution; Fadilabad, Iran; Iran
    1977 May
    197-    		 Paul and Jane Jensen arrived on Andros Island in the Bahamas, the first Bahá'ís to reside on the island. - First travel teachers and pioneers; Andros Island first Bahá’ís to reside on Andros Island
    1977 May
    197-    		 The Himalayan Conference was held in Gangtok, Sikkim. [BW17:180–2] Conferences, Bahá'í; Gangtok, Sikkim; Sikkim, India; India
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The first National Spiritual Assembly of the unified nation of Vietnam was elected. [Bahaipedia] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Vietnam
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The first National Spiritual Assembly of the French Antilles was formed with its seat in Pointe a Pitre in Guadeloupe. [BW17pxviii, 336; Guadeloupe by Daniel Caillaud]
  • Its jurisdiction covered Guadeloupe and its dependencies, Iles des Saintes; Marie-Galante; St. Barthelemy; Desirade Island, St. Martin/St. Maarten.
  • Note: Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin left the union of Guadeloupe in 2007.
    		• National Spiritual Assembly, formation; French West Indies; Guadeloupe; Îles des Saintes, Guadeloupe; Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe; St. Barthélemy; Desirade Island, Guadeloupe; St. Martin Island first National Spiritual Assembly of the French Antilles is formed.
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The Bahá'ís of Guyana elected an independent assembly while Surinamé and French Guiana communities organized their own national assembly. The elected members of the first National Assembly of Guyana were Sheila Dolphin, Henry Dolphin, Ellen Widmer, Frank Sheffey, Ivan Fraser, Eileen Hill, David Morris, Rooplall Doodnauth, and Krishna Seegopaul. [BN No 555 June 1977 p11] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Guyana
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of Suriname and French Guiana was formed with its seat in Paramaribo. [BW16:219, 341]. National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Suriname; French Guiana first NSA Surinam and French Guiana
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of Greece was formed with its seat in Athens.This had been a goal of the German community. [BW16:287; BW17:190] National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Athens, Greece; Greece first NSA Greece
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of the New Hebrides was formed with its seat in Port Vila. Since 1964 it had been administered by the National Spiritual Assembly of the South West Pacific Ocean. With the name change it became the National Spiritual Assembly of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980. [BW17:xxviii,186, 341]
  • With the independence of New Hebrides the National Spiritual Assembly of the South West Pacific Ocean was renamed the National Spiritual Assembly, Bahá'ís of New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
    		•  National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Port Vila, Vanuatu; Vanuatu first NSA New Hebrides
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Marshall Islands was formed with its seat in Majuro. [BW17:174]
  • See letter sent on behalf of the Universal House of Justice dated 23 June 1995 regarding "Marshall Islands population statistics".
    		•  National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Majuro, Marshall Islands; Marshall Islands first NSA Marshall Islands
    1977 Ridván
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) was formed with its seat in Ouagadougou. [BW17pxviii, 141, 341]
  • The former regional assembly of Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta was reformed as the National Assembly of Ivory Coast and Mali at this time.
    		• National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Upper Volta, Burkina Faso first NSA Upper Volta
    1977 16 – 17 Apr
    197-    		 The first annual Bahá'í Studies Seminar supported by the Departments of Religious Studies and of Sociology at the University of Lancaster, England, took place. [BW18:204] Bahá'í Studies, Associations for; Firsts, other; Bahá'í studies; Conferences, Other; Lancaster, England; United Kingdom first annual Bahá’í Studies Seminar England
    1977 Apr
    197-    		 The first National Bahá'í Children's Conference of Samoa took place. [BW17:211] Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Children; - First conferences; Samoa first National Bahá’í Children’s Conference of Samoa
    1977 24 Mar
    197-    		 In a cabled message, the Universal House of Justice called upon Bahá'í women around the world to arise and play an active role in the service of the Faith. [BW17:202]
  • For the report of the response to this call see BW17:202–14.
    		• Women
    1977 4 – 6 Feb
    197-    		 An International Teaching Conference was held in Mérida, Mexico, attended by more than 2,000 Bahá'ís. [BW17:81; VV33]
  • For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:139.
  • Three Hands of the Cause were present – Paul Haney, Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir, and Enoch Olinga, as well as Counsellor Florence Mayberry who had been on the first national assembly of Mexico.
  • For pictures see BW17:112, 126–7.
  • VV33 says this was 2–6 Feb.
    		• Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, International; Teaching; Merida, Mexico; Mexico; Latin America
    1977 27 – 30 Jan
    197-    		 An International Teaching Conference was held in Bahia, Brazil, attended by 1,300 Bahá'ís, the largest such gathering of Bahá'ís to date in Brazil. [BW17:81; VV33]
  • For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:137–8.
  • For pictures see BW17:110, 124–5.
    		• Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, International; Teaching; Bahia, Brazil; Brazil; Latin America
    1977 19 – 22 Jan
    197-    		 An International Teaching Conference was held in Auckland, New Zealand, attended by 1,195 Bahá'ís. [BW17:81; VV33]
  • For the message of the Universal House of Justice see BW17:136–7.
  • For pictures see BW17:111, 122–4.
    		•  Conferences, Bahá'í; Conferences, Teaching; - Conferences, International; Teaching; Auckland, NZ; New Zealand; - Asia-Pacific
    1977 (In the year)
    197-    		 The first Macuxi people to become Bahá'ís enrolled in the northern state of Roraima, Brazil. Macuxi people; Roraima, Brazil; Brazil first Macuxi Bahá’ís in Brazil
    1977 (In the year)
    197-    		 The National Spiritual Assembly of Thailand re-formed. National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Thailand
    1977 (In the year)
    197-    		 The publication of Call to the Nations, by Shoghi Effendi. It was composed of selections from the writings of the Guardian's "World Order letters" chosen by the Universal House of Justice and offered as a light and a guidance to all humankind in a "dark period of our history".
  • For a download in English see Call to the Nations.
  • For a Spanish translation see Llamado a las Naciones.
    		• Shoghi Effendi, Writings of; * Publications; Call to the Nations (book); Shoghi Effendi, Works of; - Bahá'í World Centre
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