Nicholas Roerich Estate Museum in Izvara
Nicholas Roerich
Estate Museum
in Izvara
O.A. Cherkasova «Museum as the center of ecological education»

Therefore, philosophical and scientific thought of the previous century put forward the need for a new, creatively managed step of evolution which basis is constituted by recognition of man’s unity with nature and Cosmos (return to this unity).

In this connection the idea of N.K.Roerich, one of the most prominent representatives of the “Silver age”, the outstanding Russian artist, scientist and public figure becomes very relevant today. The Trinity of Kindness, Truth and Beauty as goals, meaning and principle of life was incorporated in definition of Culture as synthesis of science, art and religion, past, present and future achievements of the humanity. The idea of protection of culture was adopted by International Treaty on Protection of Cultural Values as Global Human Heritage which was called the Roerich’s Pact.

It was signed on April,15 1935 in the United States by 21 countries of the American continent, the Roerich’s Pact became a historical event. This international legal document is a relevant symbol of victory of fundamental peacekeeping idea of the 20th century “Peace through culture” as the principle of interpersonal and international relations.

All life of N.K. Roerich represented service to this great idea.

Due to the fact that successful solution of the global problem of survival of the humankind is more frequently associated nowadays with spiritual motivation, recognition that “the human being is, first and foremost, a spiritual creature”, search of new cultural, life-building paradigm based on trinity of the notions of Kindness, Truth and Beauty as the principle of life which is a quintessence of Russian philosophical thought is very important.

Harmony of man and nature which stems from supranational, divine commandments of Peace and Love can and must become active, uniting force, the principle of international relations, basis for diverse international, social, cultural, ecological and educational programmes.

Russian culture is based on priority of Kindness, criteria of morality and justice. Unity of nature and human being plays predetermined leading role due to its spiritual tradition.


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Thus, to learn bases of “ecological arithmetic” we must “be filled with the idea of unity, include it in our general education, make it the basis of our culure”.

Therefore, issues of education start to be very important.

According to the just notion of academician N.Moiseev:

“All the history of human society can be studied in the context of development of the system of knowledge, culture and education accumulation and transferring to other generations. Based on this analysis we would see the teacher, I stress it, not a politician, military man or even engineer but the teacher gradually becomes the core figure of “human history”. Today the teacher, first and foremost, defines not only the destiny of civilization but preservation of human being in the planet… there is no more important task for the nation than to develop the system of education and hand on baton to successive generations”.
In this case the notion “TEACHER” means “the system of formation, storage and development of collective knowledge, morality and nation’s memory, transfer of the accumulated to successive generations and all the people who create and are able to introduce elements of soul warning for their future and future of their nation as well as future of the planet civilization to the world”. Today we speak about not only ecological education but also a new understanding of the place of man and tasks of civilization.


Museum Address: 188414, Izvara Village, Volosovo District, Leningrad Region, Russia.
Phones: +7-813-73-73-273 (group tours); Phone/Fax +7-813-73-73-298 (general)
Museum Director: Cherkasova Olga Anatolievna E-mail: izvara@inbox.ru