HELENA IVANOVNA ROERICH (1879-1955)

A great granddaughter of the famous Russian Field Marshal Kutuzov, who defeated Napoleon in 1812, was born on 13 February, 1879 in St.Petersburg, Russia.

From her very youth she has shown exceptional musical talent, and also strong attraction to the sacred teachings of the East, of which she made a thorough study.

Destiny brought two pure souls of Nicholas Roerich and Helena Shaposhnikova together, and they got married in 1901.

Helena Roerich labored quietly and invisibly, always being behind her illustrious husband. And he painted ‘She Who Leads' - thus erecting an incomparable monument to his wife - his companion, advisor and guiding star on all his paths and endeavors.

Deep thinker, Helena Roerich wrote 2 books on Eastern philosophy:

Foundations of Buddhism; On Eastern Crossroads. She undertook a giant work on translating into Russian language “The Secret Doctrine” – monumental philosophical work of H.P.Blavatsky. Under spiritual guidance of her Indian Master, between 1920 and 1938 she created a glorious series of philosophical teaching called ‘The Living Ethics', or ‘The Agni Yoga' which deals with the problems of the Cosmic evolution of humanity. It is a synthesis of the spiritual, philosophical and scientific teachings from the ancient times - the quintessence of timeless ancient Wisdom. And also, a practical guide for those who wish to broaden their consciousness, and labor selflessly for the Good of the mankind.

The Agni Yoga Teaching was translated into more than 12 languages and has tens of thousands of followers all over the world. Helena Roerich also had a great number of co-workers and disciples around the globe and carried out incessant correspondence with them on the Teaching and purpose of life: it embraces over 5 volumes of her letters.

“Thou, spirit, striving to the Creator of Cosmos, turn to the Mother of the World.
Proclaim what thou seest. Space is revealed as manifesting the utmost creativeness.
The immensity of Space and the inalienability of the cosmic forces enrich the kernel of our being. The levers of evolution are the finest energies which may become the possession of men....”

Infinity, 22