A Rare Glimpse Inside A Zoroastrian Temple In New York

Members of one of the world's oldest religions have built a new spiritual home in suburban New York.

The Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr Zoroastrian Temple is a sacred space meant to serve about 1,000 followers of the Zoroastrian faith who live in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Thirty priests from around North America, and a high priest visiting from India, were present to inaugurate the temple located in Pomona, New York on March 26 .

Zoroastrianism was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster, also called Zarathustra, nearly 4,000 years ago in Persia, or modern-day Iran. Followers of the religion, who call themselves Zarathushtis after their prophet, are monotheistic. They pray to God Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) and believe in a code of ethics that can be summed up with the phrase: "Good Words, Good Thoughts and Good Deeds."

Fire is an essential part of the Zarathushtis' worship, since it is believed to be a pure and perfect representation of God's light and wisdom.

See a video of Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-e-Mehr's inauguration ceremony below and keep scrolling to continue reading.

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