Twin Holy Birthdays
National Spiritual Assembly
nsa@bahai.org.uk
27 October 2016
13 ‘Ilm 173 B.E.
All believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The Twin Holy Birthdays of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb are fast approaching, and the National Spiritual Assembly sends you its warmest love and greetings at this special time.
This year, the Twin Holy Birthdays – two days which Bahá’u’lláh has stated “are accounted as one in the sight of God” in His Most Holy Book – will fall on 1 and 2 November. To assist in preparing for the bounty of celebrating these days, we wished to share once more the following words, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, which impart a compelling vision for the nature of the occasion:
On each of these blessed Days nearly two centuries ago, the whole world was illumined with the light of a new Manifestation of God. The friends should regard the Twin Festivals as a sacred moment to gather and strengthen the devotional and social life of the community and as a priceless opportunity to reach out to friends, family, and the wider society and share with them the significance of the lives and missions of these two most precious Beings.
(Letter dated 8 September 2015 to all National Spiritual Assemblies)
These coming days are a wonderful opportunity to create an awareness amongst friends, colleagues and family of the special and blessed nature of these Twin Holy Days. As well as inviting them to our celebrations this year, this may also be a chance to let them know of coming bicentenary years when, in 2017 and 2019, we will be celebrating the 200th anniversaries of the births of the Founders of our Faith, Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb.
As you may be aware, in the letter mentioned above the House of Justice also reminded us that “the beloved Guardian, in a letter written on his behalf to a National Assembly, advised that refraining from work and gathering for observances are required on both days.”
Dear followers of Bahá’u’lláh: As you gather in your communities, joining with fellow believers, seekers, friends and family members in thanksgiving for the Healing Message brought to humanity by these Divine Luminaries, please be assured of the ardent prayers of the National Assembly on your behalf. May you all be immersed in the divine grace of the Abhá Beauty, and may your every endeavour rendered to exalt His Cause attract heavenly confirmations.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary