March 1996: Progress on the Arc and Terraces Projects at the Baha'i World Center

(The Baha'i World 1995-1996)

circa 1847: The “first imprisonment He [Bahá’u’lláh] suffered for the sake of His loved ones. He remained in captivity for a few days”

Bahá’u’lláh who was at that time residing in Tihrán, was informed of the plight of these prisoners who had been the companions and supporters of Táhirih. As He was already acquainted with the kad-khudá in whose home they were incarcerated, He decided to visit them and intervene in their behalf. That avaricious and deceitful official, who was fully aware of the extreme generosity of Bahá’u’lláh, greatly exaggerated in the hope of deriving a substantial pecuniary advantage for himself, the misfortune that had befallen the unhappy captives. “They are destitute of the barest necessities of life,” urged the kad-khudá. “They hunger for food, and their clothing is wretchedly scanty.” Bahá’u’lláh extended immediate financial assistance for their relief, and urged the kad-khudá to relax the severity of the rule under which they were confined. The latter consented to relieve a few who were unable to support the oppressive weight of their chains, and for the rest did whatever he could to alleviate the rigour of their confinement. Prompted by greed, he informed his superiors of the situation, and emphasised the fact that both food and money were being regularly supplied by Bahá’u’lláh for those who were imprisoned in his house.

These officials were in their turn tempted to derive every possible advantage from the liberality of Bahá’u’lláh. They summoned Him to their presence, protested against His action, and accused Him of complicity in the act for which the captives had been condemned. “The kad-khudá,” replied Bahá’u’lláh, “pleaded their cause before Me and enlarged upon their sufferings and needs. He himself bore witness to their innocence and appealed to Me for help. In return for the aid which, in response to his invitation, I was impelled to extend, you now charge Me with a crime of which I am innocent.” Hoping to intimidate Bahá’u’lláh by threatening immediate punishment, they refused to allow Him to return to His home. The confinement to which He was subjected was the first affliction that befell Bahá’u’lláh in the path of the Cause of God; the first imprisonment He suffered for the sake of His loved ones. He remained in captivity for a few days, until Ja’far-Qulí Khán, the brother of Mírzá Áqá Khán-i-Núrí, who at a later time was appointed Grand Vazír of the Sháh, and a number of other friends intervened in His behalf and, threatening the kad-khudá in severe a language, were able to effect His release. Those who had been responsible for His confinement had confidently hoped to receive, in return for His deliverance, the sum of one thousand túmans, but they soon found out that they were forced to comply with the wishes of Ja’far-Qulí Khán without the hope of receiving, either from him or from Bahá’u’lláh, the slightest reward. With profuse apologies and with the utmost regret, they surrendered their Captive into his hands.

- Nabil (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

1996: First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of Moldova

It was Shoghi Effendi who initially called for the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith into the territory of Moldova at the launching of the Ten Year Plan in 1953. The first Bahá’í who visited Moldova with this goal in mind was Mrs. Krüger in 1974. As a result of her repeated trips and constant correspondence, the first Moldovan embraced the Bahá’í Faith in Chisinau in 1984. Later, with the easing of restrictions and changed political conditions, Bahá’ís from different parts of the world were able to settle as pioneers or visit Moldova as traveling teachers. In 1991, the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Moldova was formed and placed under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of what was then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The following Ridván, there were 26 Bahá’ís and the administrative duties of this infant community were placed under the Regional Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova. It was not, however, until the Three Year Plan (1993-1996) that the numbers of Bahá’ís expanded rapidly—from 66 in June 1994 to 173 a year and a half later—allowing for the formation of the country’s own National Assembly. 

(The Baha’i World 1996-1997)

“grandsons of both Násiri’d-Dín Sháh and of Sultán ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz… turned to the World Center of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh” for assistance

Already grandsons of both Násiri’d-Dín Sháh and of Sultán ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz have, in their powerlessness and destitution, turned to the World Center of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, and sought respectively political aid and pecuniary assistance. In the case of the former, the request was promptly and firmly refused, whilst in the case of the latter it was unhesitatingly offered. 

- Shoghi Effendi (‘The Promised Day Is Come’)