Bahai House, Panama

Panama's Bahai temple's construction was completed 1972, serves as the mother temple of Central America. It was designed by Peter Tillotson. It is perched on a high cliff overlooking the canal, and is constructed of local stone laid in a pattern reminiscent of Native American fabric designs.

At present seven Bahai Houses of Worship around the world, although Bahai communities own many properties where they plan for Houses of Worship to be constructed as the Bahai community grows and develops. Most Bahai meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Bahai centers, or rented facilities.

Mashriqu'l-Adhkar (Arabic: "Dawning-place of the Remembrance of God") is the name used in the Bahai writings for Houses of Worship . All Bahai temples share certain architectural elements, only two of which are specified by Bahai scripture, that they are nine-sided and surmounted by domes. To date all the temples built or planned have a single, undivided room under the dome. In all seven, the seats in the auditorium face the Shrine of Bahai'u'llah in Akka Israel.

The seven existing Houses of Worship were built as the regional community could support their construction. They express local design and culture in their selection of materials, landscaping and architecture.

Without instrumental accompaniment the Bahai House of Worship sings. No sermons or lectures are permitted inside the House of Worship. As the Bahai Faith has no priesthood, ordinary members of the community - men and women, adults and children - read the textsBahai Houses of Worship are open to people of all faiths - or of no particular faith. Services focus solely on the worship of God. There are no collections and no sermons. Only the Word of God is uttered within the Temple, with readings from all the Holy Writings of the earth. The only instrument used is the human voice, and the choir in any. There are no collections during the service. Only Bahais are permitted to contribute to the upkeep of the House of Worship.

The key element of a complex of these buildings which facilities such as schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and other social and humanitarian institutions to serve the neighborhoods in which they are located.