The committee announced in October 2019 that the One World Religion headquarters, known as the "Abrahamic Family House" would open in 2022. The facility was inaugurated in a glittering ceremony on February 16 by Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. It was an honor to attend the inauguration of the historic Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. The Abrahamic Family House is now officially open to the public starting Wednesday, March 1. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Learn More Fellows 22 Watch on Join Our Mailing List Keep informed on upcoming events and stories from our houses. The Abrahamic Family House, a new centre for learning, dialogue and the practice of faith in Abu Dhabi, was officially opened on Thursday by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. Bookings: Visitors must book guided tours ahead of visiting the facility. But after speaking with Emiratis, I realized that it was simple: a fundamental belief in the tolerance of others and willingness to set aside differences. As such, the complex innovatively recounts the history and builds bridges between human civilizations and heavenly messages.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When the UAE announced in 2019 the building of the Abrahamic Family House - a mosque, a church, and a synagogue all sharing the same campus, I knew that this These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Situated in the UAE capital, the three Houses of the complex are officially unveiled as "Imam AlTayeb Mosque," "St. Francis Church," and "Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue". [7][6][9], The design of the Abrahamic Family House has been prepared by the award-winning architectural and design firm Adjaye Associates, headed by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye,[16] who unveiled the plan of the project during a New York City event.[17][18]. The opening of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi is a reflection of the vision of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to further human fraternity. All worshipers and visitors are allowed to visit the Abrahamic Family House, starting March 1. He added: The Abrahamic Family House initiative is our message to the world to promote the values of coexistence, maintain social peace, achieve peace, and consolidate the human values agreed upon by the heavenly religions among human beings. and In fact, King Solomon used the majestic cedars of Lebanon to build the Jewish Temple, preferring it to what was nearby. The complex will house a mosque, church, and synagogue, each of equal size, and will provide a space for people from all walks of life to exchange knowledge and practice their faith. Located on Saadiyat Island a cultural hub positioned off the coast of Abu Dhabi the project incorporates three separate houses of worship for the three Abrahamic religions Christianity, Judaism and Islam. When the Abrahamic Family House initiative was first announced, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Abu Dhabi official placed in charge of the project, spoke of the message his country's leadership intended to send - from, and to, a region long viewed as indifferent or hostile to inter-religious harmony. The government is also planning to build a community center and day school, further evidence of their commitment to creating a thriving Jewish community in the UAE. 2023 Galadari Printing and Publishing LLC. They note that the ceiling was built with a forest of wooden beams reaching down from the rafters to symbolize rays of light. It has only been two weeks since award-winning architect Sir David Adjaye Obe received the news that the . The complex, which houses a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, has offered religious services since its inauguration on February 16, and now offers guided tours highlighting the need for interfaith harmony. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Last month, Dubai's Crossroads of Civilisations Museum put on display a Torah scroll that survived the Holocaust. It is now welcoming worshippers, with access to the forum and guided tours available to visitors from March 1, 2023. Our world needs to see our commitment to peace and prosperity. UAE Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan said the center is the Emirates attempt to answer these questions. While it has not been revealed how much the complex cost to build, The Times of Israel estimates that it could have cost in the hundreds of millions. ), An aerial night view rendering of the Abrahamic Family House, including a mosque, from left, church and synagogue, on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. [6], The three houses of worship have been named after the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, St. Francis of Assisi, and Moses Ben Maimon, a 12th-century Jewish philosopher and rabbinical scholar Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, respectively. "The walls feature more than 470 operable panels of delicate latticework, creating the mashrabiya on a grand scale one of the most admired features of Islamic architecture," said the architecture firm. In the spirit of this Document, the Abrahamic Family House complex will welcome all visitors wishing to worship, learn and engage in dialogue. With the Abu Dhabi document on human fraternity, a prophetic and far-sighted document, religions are presented in their original capacity to collaborate and contribute together to the formation of a more humane world, in which we all recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters, called to fraternity, to coexistence and tolerance, mutual acceptance, and the promotion of justice and peace.. All rights reserved. The compound is located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Abrahamic Family House, set to be completed on 2022, is the first initiative by the new committee, according to media reports. The Abrahamic House will be open to the public starting March 1, 2023. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. The three pillars of the Abrahamic religions are honoured in the form of three striking structures a mosque, a church and a synagogue all leading to a central garden under which will sit a museum and centre for education. ABU DHABI ( LifeSiteNews) The United Arab Emirates' Abrahamic Family House opened last week with an interreligious meeting as Catholics, Muslims and Jews held . 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These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The Abrahamic Family House, which encloses a synagogue, a church and a mosque in a single complex, and which is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2022, is 20 percent complete, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) said in a statement on Tuesday. The Abrahamic Family House derives its name from the Old Testament biblical figure, Abraham, who is recognized and greatly revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims. A daily newsletter containing the latest stories from Dezeen. Some have questioned the sincerity of these types of efforts, seeing them as a way to distract from the regions rough politics or deficits when it comes to democracy. Imam Ahmed el-Zayed of al-Azhar and Pope Francis endorsed the overall design. Adjaye Associates has studios in Accra, London and New York. There is a genuine desire to rebuild connections with the Jewish people, their language, and history. The Jewish community in the UAE is already growing, with Hebrew spoken openly on the streets, kosher food readily available, and young Jewish children playing without fear outside the synagogue. The Emirates also has a long tradition of tolerance, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other port cities historically serving as an opening to the world. As a rabbi, he worked on Jewish-Catholic relations. The Media Line Staff. News about our Dezeen Awards programme, including entry deadlines and announcements. Well send you latest news updates through the day. All rights reserved. The three cubic houses of worship sit upon a secular visitor pavilion,[17][18] and aim to represent the diverse worshippers, residents, and visitors of Abu Dhabi. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A top UAE official has issued a clarification on the objectives and importance of the Abraham Family House, which was recently inaugurated in the UAE, and . Our biblical poets celebrated these sites. The iconic geometric architecture of three cubes, representing the separate places of worship, evokes the unified commonality and mutual coexistence between the three religions. We will only use your email address to send you the newsletters you have requested. By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp. The UAEs leadership has also focused on countering ISIS ideology and the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Abrahamic Family House can be seen as a positive flipside to these darker battles. What happened when the Pope and Grand Imam found themselves with no lunch plans, United Nations follows Pope Franciss lead in declaring international day. Will the welcoming spirit include converts from Islam, nonbelievers and other communities persecuted in nearby countries, such as Bahs and Ahmadis? With all the worlds challenges, can the new complex foster an environment respectful of different beliefs? Its not just the governments commitment to Sheikh Zayeds vision that gives me hope. The site itself stands out as a stark, white . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It houses the St. Francis Church, Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue in separate structures. Visit www.vaticannews.va. Worshippers can also join a service of another faith group as guests. Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every newsletter. The shared garden is another space for gathering, learning, and conversation for members of diverse faith communities and visitors of all beliefs. According to the architecture firm, the plinth references the universal concept of a mound, which intends to move people closer to higher things and encourage interfaith dialogue. Construction work has been progressing on the UAE's Abrahamic Family House, which is being built on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island, with the project having marked 20% completion and is scheduled to open in 2022. Like all movements of man, it has a palatial headquarters, known as the Abrahamic Family . The complex has been hailed as a sign of the UAEs focus on diversity and peace, and has been designed by British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye. On completion, the complex of the Abrahamic Family House will offer the followers of the respective faiths enough spaces for real peace of mind and soul within an atmosphere in which a spirit of intimacy prevails. Twenty percent (20%) of the project is now complete, and it is . It also allows non-worshippers to enjoy the grounds, including a shared garden housing 200 local plants, and soak in its spirit of tolerance. 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