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90th Anniversary Celebration –
of the Spiritual Health of Humanity
15 April 2025 is the 90th anniversary of the Roerich Pact with its accompanying Banner of Peace.
The Pact was signed in 1935 in the White House by President Roosevelt and 20 countries to protect the cultural product and activity of the world – during war and peace.
The Roerich Pact has frequently been referred to as the Red Cross of Culture as where its banner flies the site is declared neutral and protected in the same way as the Red Cross flag has served for hospitals. The founder of the pact, polymath – artist, philosopher, lawyer, archaeologist and teacher – Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947) said:
“What the Red Cross flag is for the preservation of physical health,
our Banner of Peace is a protector of
the spiritual health of humanity!
The Banner of Peace was dedicated to ALL true treasures of Humanity. (1)
The Banner of Peace is a symbol which calls forth a response from the human Heart.
On the day of the signing the Roerichs were far from Washington in the Gobi Desert. They raised the Banner of Peace above their tents. Nicholas Roerich said it was one of the happiest days in his life, and that the day “will remain in history as a memorial cultural achievement”. (2)
The emergence of the idea
Nicholas Roerich who incarnated in Russia, originally conceived of the idea in 1904, when he advanced proposals to the Russian Imperial Government to protect cultural and scientific sites.
As Roerich came to realise that the culture heritage of each nation was and is, in essence, a world treasure, his idea of cultural heritage broadened beyond the physical forms of earlier cultures (buildings and artwork) to include educational, artistic, and scientific institutions, their personnel, property and collections and missions. Roerich promoted the idea at an international level and, in the late 1920s, proposed establishing a pact for the preservation of the world’s treasures of art and science beyond boundaries of nations and creeds.
The idea garnered support from governments, scientific and artistic institutions, women’s organisations and leading statesmen who together created the necessary momentum that brought what came to be known as the Roerich Pact to the White House for signing.
(See companion article on “Deep Dive into the History of the Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace”)
The protection of creative power
Roerich said that although the banner would not always be successful that it will always and everywhere, call in mind our indispensable duty of caring for the fruits of creative genius. (3)
He said that evolution is not possible without Culture and that:
Culture has two roots: the first one in Druidism and the other in the East. “Cult-Ur” means “Venerating the Light” – and in the name of this inextinguishable great Light (or Fire), you are cooperating, mutually enlightening each other, carrying spiritual aid to young souls, who are looking for perfection in their daily labour. (4)
Culture is foundational to international or mutual understanding. It is necessary for humanity to understand culture or venerating of light or fire to embrace all needs of evolution. In its conception, the Banner of Peace comprises all subtle concepts that will lead nations to the understanding culture. The Banner of Peace will assist Humanity to understand how to manifest reverence for that which comprises immortality of spirit. Thus, the Banner of Peace will open the gates to a better future. (5)
It is written in the Agni Yoga Teachings that:
When we affirm the great significance of the Banner of Peace, it must be adopted in spirit. Verily, thus the salvation of the world will come. The time is great! The time is significant! (6)
Nicholas Roerich wrote: “Let us remember the behest of Light that, first of all, spirit and creative work will be the most important thing for us, then comes the health, and wealth is only on the third place”. (7)
Culture = Venerating the Light = Peace
In his book Realm of Light, Roerich wrote that:
Culture is the accumulation of the highest Bliss, of highest Beauty, of highest Knowledge. Where there is Culture there is Peace. (8)
Peace and Culture are indivisible. (9)
Only the values of culture will solve the most complex problems of life. Only in the name of the treasures of culture, may humanity prevail. At the very root of this concept, so sacred to us, is enfolded the entire veneration of Light, the true service to Bliss. For it is precisely the concept of culture that must be regarded, not as sterile abstraction but as virility of creativeness; it lives, nourished by the indefatigable achievements of life, of enlightened labour and of creation. Not for our own sakes but because we are already mindful of it, but for the sake of those growing generations to come, let us repeat again and again that during the proudest epochs of human history, a renaissance and efflorescence were achieved where the tradition of reverence for culture grew. And we know that this tradition cannot be strengthened instantaneously. It must be tended daily by the benediction of light. For even the worthiest garden withers in darkness and in drought. (10)
In this moment, as great shifts are happening in the Manifest World in a great battle between the Forces of Light and Darkness, it is said in the Agni Yoga Teachings that the manifestation of the Banner of Peace is the fundamental sign which will give a new step to humanity. Thus Beauty, Knowledge, Art, and all nations will unite under this sign. (11)
The Banner of Peace – Symbol and Flag
Nicholas Roerich designed the symbol for The Banner of Peace.
It has ancient origins. The Roerichs came across the three spheres – without the enclosing circle – again and again in their travels confirming the universality and a deep pervasiveness and understanding of the triune nature of existence.
For the purposes of the Banner of Peace, Roerich encompassed the three spheres in a circle representing the synthesis of culture.
The three spheres within the circle are representative of Art, Science, and Religion.
He also saw that the outer circle represented the circle of eternity embracing the past, present, and future achievements of humanity.
The sacred origins of the symbol remains central to the meaning of the Pact and the Banner today . (12)
As this banner unfurls and is flown over sites of cultural treasures it alerted countries to their significance as world treasures, housed within, and thus served as a protective mechanism to save them from destruction.
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
In March of 1929 Roerich was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the University of Paris for his efforts to achieve peace “through raising the cultural levels of nations, the constant promotion of brotherhood and the creation of culture and…beauty in all spheres of life”. (13) Also, 1929 saw the opening of the Master Institute of United Arts in New York city where the Banner of Peace is engraved on its cornerstone.
The deep significance of The Banner of Peace
Helena Roerich, Nicholas’s partner and co-worker, responsible for bringing through the Agni Yoga Teachings, said that the Banner of Peace and Culture, when completely realised, will become a foundation for new creativeness where future generations would learn about the vital significance of constructive and creative work in all its aspects. (14)
In a letter to co-workers Helena urged them to open their eyes wider and to make an effort to broaden and refine their consciousness. She asked:
And what can be better for the growth of your consciousness than the alert and creative utilization of the rules of the Teaching? Indeed, develop your creativeness! Penetrate more deeply into every idea that has been given to you! The ideas are growing, together with the opening of possibilities, but these possibilities should not be missed. The time will come when the Banner of Peace and the Banner of Culture will cover the whole world. So you sense the beauty and the power of this Symbol? (15)
Nicholas Roerich said, “Positive creativeness is the fundamental quality of the human spirit. Let us welcome all those who, surmounting personal difficulties, …propel their spirits to the task of Peace-building, thus ensuring a radiant future.”
According to Helena Roerich the Banner of Peace expresses a “new step in the development of the consciousness and awareness of the great significance and sacred inviolability of the creations of human genius”. The next step “could be the acceptance of the Hierarchy of the Spirit”. (16)
She said that the Banner of Peace:
“is the great requirement of the future. It is essential as a great touchstone of the consciousness of humanity. By safeguarding human creativeness there is implanted in the consciousness of the masses and of the growing generations reverence precisely for the spiritual values, which gave life to Humanity.”
The Call of the Banner of Peace in this moment
On the 15 April 2025 we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace.
Where are we now in Helena Roerich’s prediction that “a time will come when the Banner of Peace will cover the world”? Is it in the past, in the present or the future or all three simultaneously?
In 1990, Russian cosmonauts, A. Balandin and G. Strekalov, took the Banner of Peace into space with the conscious intention of holding it over the planet. From February to August 1990, the Banner of Peace was on board the orbital piloted complex “Mir” and was taken out into the open Space where it stayed for 9 days and performed 144 turns around the Earth. (18)
Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov said:
If we raise our culture and spirituality it helps us to strengthen our economy, makes politics be ethical and stops military conflicts. This is the true meaning of the Roerich Pact. The more time passes, the more urgent it becomes for the planet. (19)
In 1997, implementation of the International scientific and educational project “Banner of Peace” started. Its main purpose was a call to collaboration under the Banner of Peace, the Banner of Culture, in the name of preservation of life and beauty on our planet. (20)
Delivered on board the orbital complex “Mir”, the Banner of Peace stayed in Cosmos for a year, many International teams cooperated together overshadowed by its presence. Cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov said:
We have raised the Banner of Peace above the planet so that the space of Culture will forever supersede the space of war and hostility. We call to construction of new, spiritual, scientific, and artistic collaboration of all people and peoples of the Earth. (21)
After the project completion, the cosmonauts transferred the Banner for eternal custody to the Nicholas Roerich International Centre Museum.
On Earth, the Banner of Peace has been unfolded at the North and South Poles, on the tops of the Altai, in middle Asia and on Mount Everest.
Just as the first images of the Earth from space impacted humanity’s consciousness – identifying our home as a single sphere in Cosmos, the act of taking the Banner of Peace into space to orbit the planet is both a literal illustration of Helena Roerich’s prediction as well as an energetic indicator of humanity taking global responsibility for ensuring peace on Earth: Peace through Culture.
On the day of its launch on 15 April 1935, a coworker wrote:
The Banner is raised. In the spirit and in the heart it will not be lowered. By the luminous fire of the heart the Banner of Culture will flourish. So be it! (22)
As a side-note, owing to his creative work and outstanding achievements the Commission of the International Astronomic Union granted to small planet 4426 the name of ROERICH. (23)
In the recent present, since at least 2016, a collaboration of peace and culture, Roerich, space and cosmonaut groups from Russia, India, Brazil and Argentina have been holding The Banner of Peace in Space artistic competition where children from 6 to 18 years of age are invited to create artworks on this and related themes in relation to Humanity’s future. The organisers acknowledge the timelessness of the idea of the Banner of Peace as a worldwide symbol of protection of cultural achievements of the past, present and future. They write:
Space unites us all. Therefore the Banner of Peace in Space is a symbol of union and cooperation among all peoples of the world for peace-building, a creative endeavour and prosperity. (24)
As we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace may their true significance and essence be realised.
Invitation to participate in a meditation on the
Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace
If resonant with the purpose of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace, you’re invited to participate in a zoom meditation on 15 April 2025 at 7am to 8am EDT New York/9pm to 10pm AEST Sydney.
Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87199061644?pwd=FTdBVYj8fu9ibAbAqSZOtwmxi0qAYv.1
Meeting ID: 871 9906 1644
Passcode: 938896
Acknowledgements:
Nicholas Roerich’s paintings have been sourced from www.wikiart.org
Inspiration for this article has been drawn from various books written by Nicholas Roerich including Adamant, Beautiful Unity, Fiery Stronghold, Heroica, Himavat, Realm of Light and The Invincible as well as specific references cited below.
-
- “The Sacred Sign of Peace” – article by Nicholas Roerich reprinted in Agni Yoga Quarterly Vol. XLI No.1 https://wmea-world.org/MMI/PDFs/AgniYogaQuarterly_Jan.Feb.Mar.2019-EN.pdf
- From an article from International Centre of the Roerichs’ website: https://en.icr.su/museum/layout/banner/02.php
- Realm of Light, 96
- Ibid, 152.
- Inspired by Hierarchy, sloka 331
- Ibid, 339
- Drawn from International Centre of the Roerichs’s website: https://en.icr.su/museum/layout/banner/02.php
- Realm of Light, 100
- Ibid, 220
- Ibid, 104-105.
- Hierarchy, sloka 377
- Drawn from “Roerich Pact and Banner of Peace” from Nicholas Roerich Museum’s website: https://www.roerich.org/roerich-pact.php
- Decter, J (1989). Nicholas Roerich: The Life and Art of a Russian Master, page 129
- Adapted from Letters I, 21 August 1931
- Letters I, 20 July 1931
- Letters I, 15 November 1934
- Letters I, 5 March 1935
- Drawn from the International Centre of the Roerich: https://en.icr.su/museum/layout/banner/02.php
- Ibid
- Ibid
- Ibid
- The Invincible, 142
- Drawn from the International Centre of the Roerich: https://en.icr.su/museum/layout/banner/02.php
- Link to website: https://banner-of-peace-in-space.ru/en/history
