Her father was Ivan Ivanovich Shaposhnikov, a famous architect, academician. His race came from the Baltic. The family kept the legend of how the ancestor of Ivan Ivanovich, a former mayor of Riga, Peter gave a great hat Monomakh. For this he was Invited to serve in Russia, and in memory of this event has received the name of Shaposhnikov [3, str.389].
Through his mother, nee Golenischeva-Kutuzova, Elena Ivanovna, belonged to a noble aristocratic family. Among her ancestors - the leader of the People's Volunteers in 1612 Prince Dmitry Pozharsky [1, p.88], winner of Napoleon MI Kutuzov. Through one of the grandmothers in her veins Mongol blood, the blood of Genghis Khan [3, str.394]. Composer MP Mussorgsky was a cousin of her mother and even dedicated her some of his works.
Helena won, as was the custom in this range, excellent education at home, continued it in the Mariinsky girls' high school and music school.
But in this prosperous and not alien to the spiritual interests of the environment, she felt a strange, painful Sensitive to the hypocrisy and insincerity in the people around her.
From the early years it showed a special love for the beauty in all its facets, the desire for knowledge, a deep religious feeling, love of books and the need for self-education.
It has a subtle, intuitive, visionary, accompanied her entire life and helped her and her family. I saw prophetic dreams. Dreamed devote themselves to serving the disadvantaged and in need of spiritual help. In it lived a premonition of its special mission.
In 1899, the estate of his uncle Prince Putiatina she met Nicholas Roerich, who had come there for the Archaeological Society. That meeting changed her life.
Relatives of Helena were strongly against her marriage with the artist, though known, but then did not have lasting social and economic situation. But Elena and Nick overcame all obstacles, and in 1901 married in St. Petersburg, in the church of St. Catherine at the Imperial Academy of Arts [1, p.93].
Helena became a collaborator, the inspiration of her husband. She accompanied him in archaeological expeditions, participated in the excavations. Learn techniques of photography and taking pictures of monuments of ancient Russian culture in the expeditions to the ancient cities of Russia. Together with Nikolai Konstantinovich she collected antique painting. Her particular flair helped to find a truly valuable paintings unjustly neglected masters, and talent restorer helps to bring them beauty. Nicholas Roerich wrote with admiration of her surprisingly easy "music" arm, which gave new life to old canvases [2, p. 112-113].
But a special place in her life took their sons - George and Svetoslav. Family pedagogy Roerich - the topic is almost unexplored. Closely noticing Helena propensity of children, ably directed and supported them and, most importantly, she and Nicholas were for them an example of labor for the common good. Their children have become associates and successors to the cause of their parents.
In early 1915 NK Roerich ill. The illness becomes protracted chronic form, and the doctors strongly recommend to change the unhealthy climate of St. Petersburg. Because of hostilities can not get in traditional in such cases, the Alps or even the Crimea and in the end of 1916 the family moved to Serdobol (Karelia). This is where being overtaken their first events of February, and then the October Revolution. In 1918, Finland gets independence, and Roerich are abroad.
Soon the family is sent to Sweden, where the exhibition of paintings by NK Roerich, then to England. There, in 1920, an event occurs, opening a new stage in the life of Helena. March 24 in London, she meets with her teacher and from that moment, in collaboration with the Masters of Wisdom of the East begins work on the Teaching of Living Ethics. This work continued until the last days of her life.
At the end of 1920 the family moved to the United States. There NK Roerich lays the groundwork for the broadest of cultural activities: organized by the Institute of United Arts, an international art center Corona Mundi, Association of Artists Cor Ardens, participates in other projects, which have provided impetus to the development of cultural life of America. And in all these endeavors has been actively involved Elena Ivanovna. With the help of organized group closest associates for many years became a mainstay of cultural activities of NK Roerich.
In 1923 Roerichs able to realize a dream that emerged from them even in Russia - to get to India. Thus began the Central-Asian expedition to the most inaccessible areas of the Sacred Heart of Asia.
Helena took an active part in all stages of the expedition. It included all the details of the organization, its flair and deep knowledge of people helped in the selection of members of the expedition.
Along with the expedition, on a par with men, she overcame thousands of route miles, 35 mountain passes up to 6 and a half thousand meters, the great Takla Makan and Gobi, nearly perished on the mountainous Tibetan plateau Chantang.
In this expedition, the aims and objectives which has already been said many, in Helena had a special mission, the importance of which we have yet to realize. On Paths of Middle Asia to create the book "Community" and "Signs of Agni Yoga", as well as the book "Basics of Buddhism," published by it under the pseudonym Natalya Rokotov.
Upon completion of the expedition in 1928 the family settled in Kullu valley in northern India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. It was created to systematize the materials of the Central Asian expedition and comprehensive study of the region's Institute of Himalayan Studies Urusvati ", the founding president of which was Helena Roerich [
www.roerich.kz /publication /uruswatyinstit.htm] .
In 30-ies she begins an active correspondence with cultural organizations, initiated by NK Roerich, with individual correspondents. In the letters she answered questions about the different facets of the new cosmic worldview that underlies the teachings of the Living Ethics.
This correspondence lasted until the end of her life and became a parting word to all seekers of truth.
At the same time under the pseudonym Natalya Yarovaya Helena wrote the book "The Banner of St. Sergius," translates into Russian Mahatmas favorite passages in the letters published under the title "Chalice of the East" (a pseudonym Iskander Khanum), takes 1 and 2 volumes of the Secret Doctrine E.P . Blavatsky. Actively working with the editor of Occultism and Yoga AM Aseev, printed in this magazine article under the pseudonym M. Sundri, answers readers' questions.
In 1940 in Riga, is published in two volumes of the Letters Helena Roerich, containing fragments of letters to predominantly European correspondents.
The outbreak of World War II made serious changes in the cultural activities of the Roerich family. It was dismantled and mothballed the Institute's work "Urusvati" dropped correspondence, in the crucible of war were lost personnel.
Soul and thoughts Helena Roerich was with the homeland, fighting the forces of darkness. And only a few can understand the importance of such support.
And before the war and on its completion NK and EI Roerichs dreamed of returning to his homeland, the Soviet Union. But their dreams come true was not given. In 1947, died Nicholas. Because of the complicated political situation Helena was forced to leave Kullu. Few months she waits in vain for permission to return home, and then settles down with her son Yuri in Kalimpong, a small town in the foothills of the Himalayas.
It continued its cooperation with the Teachers of mankind, which resulted in the book Teachings of the Living Ethics, and not yet published full record on science and the Future of Fire experience - a change that took place in the body of Helena in the course of this cooperation.
Helena passed away Oct. 5, 1955 and was on the Indian custom cremated near Kalimpong. Later in the place of its cremation stupa was created - the first in the Indian stupa dedicated to the woman. Now with her came a Buddhist monastery.
They say that when the stretcher with the body was carried to the cremation place, along the road were villagers who had come to take her final journey. They knew nothing about Elena Ivanovna Roerich, but his heart felt the need to do it.
Life mission Helena and Nicholas Roerich continued their sons George and Svetoslav, who had returned to the motherland priceless heritage of the Great Families.
In the name of Helena Roerich called Jubilee Medal, established by the International Roerich Center in Moscow and the College of Arts, Roerich estate in Kulu, public library in Altai in Ust-Cox, Charity Fund and the International Prize.
In the house, where we did the last years of her life in Kalimpong (India) opened the museum.
Monument to Elena Ivanovna and Nicholas Roerich in the territory of ICR.
One of the peaks in the Altai about Belukha Urusvati named in honor of EI Roerich.
Small Planet at number 44 26 got the name "Roerich" in honor of all members of the great family.
Literature:
Museum named after NK Roerich. Guide. IDC, Master-Bank. M. 2006
NK Roerich "diary sheets, etc. 2. IDC, Master-Bank. M. 2000
"Biographical notes of Helena Roerich Shaposhnikova" (annex to the book by Dubaeva "Roerich" ZHZL, M. 2003)
Helena Roerich, "On the Threshold of the New World", 2 ed. M., IDC, 2007
R. Rudzitis, "Diary". Minsk, 2003
P.F Belikov "Roerich" (experience of spiritual biography). Novosibirsk, 1994
Author: Sadouskaya IA, Cultural Center. NK Roerich, Almaty, Kazakhstan
February, 2009
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1.Hronika life of Helena Roerich.
http://www.roerich.kz/eir_hron.htm
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2.Kartiny Roerich (Central Asia)
"All the distance trembling in the radiant rainbow fumes.
Sapphire desert and mountains ester blended with the sky.
Decorate the hills of gold.
Oh very beautiful you, Asia. Your turn.
Take the bowl of the world. "
NK Roerich.
http://www.roerich.kz/gallery.htm