Helena Roerich
| Helena Ivanovna Roerich | |
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| Born |
February 12, 1879 Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire |
| Died | October 5, 1955 (aged 76) Kalimpong, India |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Russian philosophy |
| School | Living Ethics |
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Influenced
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Helena Ivanovna Roerich (born Shaposhnikova) (Russian: Елéна Ивáновна Рéрих; February 12, 1879 – October 5, 1955) was a Russian philosopher, writer, and public figure. In the early 20th century, she created, in cooperation with the Teachers of the East, a philosophic teaching of Living Ethics ("Agni Yoga"). She was an organizer and participant of cultural and enlightened creativity in the U.S., conducted under the guidance of her husband, Nicholas Roerich. Along with her husband, she took part in expeditions of hard-to-reach and little-investigated regions of Central Asia. She was an Honorary President-Founder of the Institute of Himalayan Studies "Urusvati" in India and co-author of the idea of the International Treaty for Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historical Monuments (Roerich’s Pact). She translated two volumes of the "Secret Doctrine" of H. P. Blavatsky, and also selected Mahatma’s Letters ("Cup of the East"), from English to Russian.
Roerich was born in the family of Ivan Ivanovich Shaposhnikov, a well-known Saint-Petersburg architect.
Ekaterina Vassilievna Shaposhnikova, Roerich’s mother, belonged to an ancient Golenischev-Kutuzov family, which originated from Novgorod at the end of the 13th century. Significant members of this family included field marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Golenischev-Kutuzov, well-known poet of the end of 19th century; Arsenii Arkadievich Golenischev-Kutuzov, composer; and Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky.
Roerich grew up and was educated in rich cultural traditions of her family. Since childhood she was inquisitive, independent and purposeful. She was extremely talented in many ways — played piano with great excellence and by the age of seven could read and write in three languages./ From the very young age, she started reading artistic, historical, spiritual and philosophic books.
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