IN MOSCOW
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In May 1926, the first half of the itinerary was completed when the expedition crossed the frontier into Soviet Russia. On June 13, the Roerichs finally reached Moscow.
In Moscow Nicholas acted exactly like an envoy from Shambhala. He met not only with members of the government, but also with the representatives of the general public. Nicholas Roerich even had a meeting with Soviet Russia’s menacing Secret Service division. Even there, there was talk about Shambhala, the Mahatmas and about future world reconstruction. There was much interest in these meetings, and Roerich was asked many questions.
Talks with everyday people had a great impression on him. While still on his way to Moscow, during his trip across the river Irtysh in a motor boat, he answered many questions (sometimes till dawn). Seamen, young people, school teachers — everyone had something to ask him; everyone wanted to know what was going on in the world. People were also interested in Shambhala and the Mahatmas. This thirst for knowledge brought joy to Nicholas Roerich.
It’s not difficult to guess that such an activity of the Roerichs would not please everyone. The political situation in Russia in those years was very complicated. The bandits and robbers were not only in the Tibetan mountains. Quite a few of the civilized robbers managed to penetrate into the State machinery of Soviet Russia. The Great Teacher had warned the Roerichs that in Moscow they would face great danger. So it happened that when the expedition was in Mongolia, there were instructions sent to detain the Roerichs. But they had been temporarily forewarned by someone who sympathized with them. So the Roerichs urgently left Mongolia, crossing the frontier into Tibet.
Their steadfast courage and equally firm faith in the help and support of the Great Teachers, with whom the family was always connected by invisible threads, helped them to overcome this rigorous test. The Great Teachers, from the Himalayan heights, observed every step of their Envoys, and in difficult moments gave them the necessary help.
