The International Committee for the Banner of Peace

Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact
and the Banner of Peace in Russia

Invitation to the Moscow Roerich Museum

Last October, I was again in Moscow, having accepted the kind invitation of the organisers to give an address in the Roerich Museum as part of the international celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace. The organisers honoured me with the award of the Svetoslav Roerich medal for my twenty years of work to promote THE CULTURE OF PEACE in many countries of the world. Distinguished persons from many different countries came to pay homage to the illustrious founder of the PACT and the BANNER OF PEACE movement. I had the great pleasure to meet old friends who I had met during my previous visits to Russia, especially the one during which I had the privilege to present the Peace Flag to the Russian people in the prestigious and powerful Writers» Union in Moscow.

The Museum has undergone enormous change: it has been completely remodelled. The galleries not only contain many examples of Professor Roerich»s beautiful and inspiring paintings, but in addition, fascinating photographs that reflect important and historic moments like, for example, when the Peace Flag was planted at the North Pole. Unfurled in one gallery is one Peace Flag that orbited the earth in of the missions of the NASA space station. During the orbital flights, while they were weightless, the astronauts placed their signatures and seals on the flags that later on their return to earth were presented to several Heads of State. I was particularly impressed by another peace flag that made 180 orbits of our planet. To see it hanging there gave me tremendous emotion.

One exhibit is a Mexican postage stamp with the symbol of the Banner of Peace joined with the United Nations symbol. It was issued in 1986, to commemorate the International Peace Year. This stamp is a particularly emotional for me because it represents one of the first occasions that we achieved the full collaboration of the Mexican government authorities.

Another glass case showed a photo of the Cintamani Casket which the Roerichs received in La Rue de la Paix in Paris. It contained a sacred petition from Mahatma M. I could hardly tear myself away from the exhibit so strong were the sublime vibrations.

How sceptical I was, years ago, when they told me that they were planning a beautiful Parthenon-style palace in the very centre of Moscow to house the future Roerich Museum. At that time, it seemed an impossibly idyllic dream. However, today, there it is, an elegant building that houses The Roerich Bequest.

Dozens of paintings that Roerich»s son Svetoslav had in his house in India and that he later donated to the Russian People, the beloved culture, into which his venerated father was born.

Long ago, before the Museum existed, the Banner of Peace was presented in a simple but moving ceremony to the Roerich International Centre and was received by the Doctor Ludmila Shaposhnikova who told me that the flag would hang unfurled for ever in the Museum; and so it has.

On this occasion Ludmila turned to me mysteriously and asked me to follow her because she had a surprise for me, We passed through a long narrow passageway towards the cellars of the office building in which at that time the International Roerich Centre was housed.. We came to a metal door that guarded by an armed guard with a rifle. After descending several steps we entered into a cold damp chamber and there, lit only by a hand-held lamp on a long wire, were 14 large, heavy wooden packing cases.. I was astounded when I saw their contents: dozens of Nicholas Roerich»s art works. In her distinctive voice Ludmila told me in English, «This is the artistic inheritance of your Master... we would like you to see it before anyone else». With these surprising words that to me seemed so full of unexpected tenderness we began to sort through the many paintings that one day would be exhibited in the Museum.

I do not remember now how long we were there staring with astonishment at the marvellous paintings that Corbachov had ordered to be brought to Moscow in a private plane from Bangalore (India). I had lost all sense of time so completely absorbed was I in profound contemplation of the art works of my beloved Master.

My emotion soared to its limit when they removed carefully from one packing case the triptych dedicated to the Master M. Who is depicted in a cave surrounded in his eminence by a violet blue aura. On his right, is a beautiful woman, Utha. On his left is man in ancient dress carrying on his arm a shield that bore the three spheres of the Banner of Peace. The man was the illustrious Maese Eckhart.

When I visited the Roerich Interntional Centre in Moscow I had the opportunity to meet the young man who had the mission to review several unpublished manuscripts. Professor Roerich mentions his several reincarnations: in one he was the illustrious and enlightened German philosopher Echart.

At this point, I interrupt my story about the paintings to mention the curious fact that, years later, in an unforgettable ceremony during which I presented the Banner of Peace to Gurumai (the Venerable Guru of India) before more than five thousand people, the Guru replied to my message not expressing himself with his own words, but with those of the Maese Eckhart, the figure portrayed in the triptych that was removed in my presence from the packing case. Here we might pause and ask ourselves: Did the illustrious guru perceive in some way the Master, Nicholas Roerich. In his other-life existence?

All the hours we spent exploring the Roerich Bequest. I was completely overcome and lost in adoring admiration. Then, just when I felt my heart was about to explode and tears of purification were flowing non-stop down my cheeks, they placed in my hands the casket that contained the ashes of the illustrious Nicholas Roerich. I was speechless because the inscription gave not his earthly name, but the name with which He had been appearing to me for years as one of my Cosmic Masters: my beloved Spiritual Guide. This is the name he used when we made spiritual contact and when he would say, «We are at the summit of the Mountain». After this, he would offer me the appropriate teaching to help me carry out my planetary mission with the Banner of Peace.

Seeing my cosmic master»s spiritual name engraved on the metal box that contained Nicholas Roerichs ashes confirmed for me that my spiritual contacts, about which I never had any doubt, were absolutely real.

These spiritual beings, so evidently highly evolved, like Mahatma M and Nicholas Roerich are speaking to us their disciples, to enable us to carry out our spiritual tasks on earth. All these scenes returned my mind again on the occasion when in Moscow I gave an address titled «The New Culture of Peace» during which I invited the participants to really live the teachings of Nicholas Roerich and not just accept them as mere theory. I explained that they must apply in their lives the arcane message of the Banner of Peace with its three spheres united in a stable triangle with the apex upwards and all enclosed in a circle. In this way they will become true standard bearers of the philosophy of the Peace Flag and they themselves will become living, vibrant, symbols of peace. The Logo will give vital energy to their lives, will help them develop positive thoughts, harmonious words, powerful constructive attitudes and actions. Only In this way will we be TRULY UNITED IN LOVE AND PEACE WITH ALL EARTHLY BEINGS.

(Referirse al libro ”Transfórmate en Bandera de la Paz” de Panorama Editorial)

Alicia Rodríguez

Translation: David Schofield

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Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact
and the Banner of Peace in Russia

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The International Committee for the Banner of Peace

Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace in Russia

Photos

Articles

Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact
and the Banner of Peace in Russia