Thirtieth anniversary of new foundation
On 22 and 23 December 2020 the Anthroposophical Society in Russia celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of its new foundation in Moscow (RU).
Denis Solomkin, a member of the Russian Anthroposophical Society’s Council, looked back on the Society’s history in Europe and Russia, from the beginnings of the Theosophical Society in 1875 and the founding, in 1912, of the Anthroposophical Society in Cologne (DE) by Rudolf Steiner to the laying of the foundation stone for the First Goetheanum on 20 September 1913 and the simultaneous foundation of the first Anthroposophical Society in Russia. Like the building, this society only lasted a few years, until February 1923.
Prohibition, continued work, new foundation
After the prohibition of the Anthroposophical Society, the friends in Russia continued to work cautiously and secretly until the thawing of political relations in the 1970s and 1980s made it possible for anthroposophical groups to emerge again in various places. Thanks to lively contacts with European friends, the groups were able to grow and start preparations for a new foundation of the Society. On 22 December 1990, the International Anthroposophical Society was officially registered at the Ministry of Justice – as part of the global Anthroposophical Society.
The co-founders Alla Rogozhina, Pyotr Tchaikovsky (the present country representative) and Lydia Demidova (Alexander Demidov’s widow) spoke about the past fifty years of anthroposophical life, including the performances of Rudolf Steiner’s first and second Mystery Dramas in the late 1970s in a living room: with costumes and scenery, but without an audience because everyone was involved in the plays. Decades of valuable educational and social activities in ‘Club Aristotle’ under the direction of Alla Rogozhina came to life again. Eurythmy and recitation were practised intensively in this club which also inspired the founding of many schools.
Olga Pronina spoke of the inauguration of the Society in the summer of 1991, with over 60 international guests, held in Moscow’s cultural centre for composers in the city centre. Ignatiev Rozhdestvensky described the development of diverse groups in Moscow that would later find a place to work on the Society’s centrally located premises. Eurythmy and singing with piano accompaniment enhanced the festivities.
Good wishes from the Council in Russia
As a special gift for the Russian Society’s library, Astrid Prokofieff handed over the book on Rudolf Steiner’s Representative of Humanity by Mirela Faldey and David Hornemann von Laer (Anthroposophy Worldwide 11/2020) with contributions by her late husband, Sergei O. Prokofieff.
A compendium with memories of the first anthroposophical groups in Russia is in preparation.
With good wishes for the continued fruitful work within the anthroposophical movement, the Russian Council sent to the members of the Anthroposophical Society in Russia both an invitation for this anniversary and the programme of anthroposophical events held during the twelve Holy Nights and Epiphany. In Russia, Christmas begins on 7 January and, in accordance with the Julian calendar, the Baptism in the Jordan is celebrated on 19 January.