Day 3: Now They Call It Akko

The "white market" in Akka

The “white market” in Akka

Day 3: It was Wednesday morning, January 5th. Our day to sleep in! Why is it that when you think you have all the time in the world, you find out you’ve run out of time?

We caught the pilgrim’s bus at the stop near our hotel and then headed around the bay northward to Akka. The city was once known as Acre, then Ptolemais, and Akko.

It was raining when we arrived in Akka

It was raining when we arrived in Akka

We arrived at the land gate to the old city area of Akka, where the bus dropped us off. Inside the fortress walls, we stopped near the “White Market” where Jamshid explained to us that this market had existed here during the time of Baha’u’llah’s imprisonment.

When Baha’u’llah arrived in Akka, many of the Baha’is in Persia were hearing all sorts of rumors about what had happened to Him. Some rumors indicated that He was no longer alive. A Persian Baha’i travelled on foot to ‘Akka to find out for himself. I will have to find the full story and post it later here, so I don’t get it wrong. Bottom line: when the man was able to confirm Baha’u’llah was still alive and in the prison, he traveled home to Persian and told the Baha’is there, which gave them immense hope and joy.

An opening in the sea wall at Akka

An opening in the sea wall at Akka

Akka Sea Wall

Akka Sea Wall

We walked from the market to the prison where Baha’u’llah and family and friends lived for over 2 years, a place He called the Most Great Prison. We spent a significant amount of time there, as we learned more about the history of the prison and its surrounds.

We walked from the Prison to the House of 'Abbud

We walked from the Prison to the House of ‘Abbud

Then we walked to the House of Abbud which was also within close walking distance. This house sits overlooking the Meditteranean. It’s really a warm and welcoming sight. This is also where ‘Abdu’l-Baha and his wife Munirih Khanum were married and spent their early years together.

House of 'Abbud

House of ‘Abbud

We returned to Haifa early enough to have the bus drop us off at our hotel, so we could meet up with the Roshans and walk up the mountain stairs together (there are so many stair steps)  to the evening event.

Our evening was scheduled as a welcome reception and tea with the International Teaching Centre at the ITC building. Each of the nine resident Counselors were there to greet us. One counselor said a prayer and another spoke briefly to us about the work of the ICT, as well as their joy at being able to meet all of us. They stressed how important it was to have pilgrims coming to the World Centre to bring their joyful spirits and sharing news of their communities all over the world. Afterwards, we could meet each of the counselors and have some tea in the ITC dining hall.

 

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