celebrate the opening of a Baha'i monument on Mount Carmel in Israel today.

Some 4,500 people, 3,300 of them Baha'is from 200 countries, are expected to gather at the foot of Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel to witness the opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of Bab.

For Baha'is worldwide, this event marks a culminating point in a process of development at their World Centre that began more than a century ago in 1891 during the Ottoman regime.

Baha'u'llah pointed out to his son Abdu'l-Baha the location of the permanent resting place for the remains of Bab, his martyred forerunner.

Abdu'l-Baha erected a modest mausoleum and interned the remains of the Bab there in 1909.

The site continued to be developed and the superstructure with the golden dome was built in 1953 and nine rudimentary terraces were also constructed in the early 1950's.

The superstructure was designed by William Sutherland Maxwell, a well known Canadian Architect, who was also the great uncle of local faith member and spokesperson Mary Walker.

Mrs. Walker's family continues to have a strong presence within the religion as her son Blythe has spent the last five years helping to redesign a new computer system for the faith at their World Centre.

Mrs. Walker, her husband Jordy and two daughters Samantha and Elizabeth have also made several visits between them to Israel as well as to the Baha'i House of Worship for the Indian subcontinent in New Delhi, India.

In 1990, the latest phase of development commenced with the construction of the nineteen terraces designed by Canadian architect Fariboz Sahba, who has also served as project manager for the entire complex.

The terraces now stretch a kilometre up the mountain reaching a height of 225 metres and their landscape spans the entire mountain from 60 metres to 400 metres.

The opening takes place on the 158th anniversary of the declaration by the Bab of his mission.

The opening will be available to television stations around the world via a satellite feed and will be shown on ZFB channel 2/7from noon to 2 p.m.

All are welcome at the Baha'i Centre on Cedar Avenue in Hamilton to watch the telecast and for more information, call Mary Walker at 236-5013 or log onto www.bahaiworldnews.org.