Great Creative Power and the Development of the General on March 28, Sergei O
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Annual General Meeting: Remembrance for Sergei O. Prokofieff the First Class of the School for Spiri- tual Science through cognitive work Great Creative Power and the development of the General On March 28, Sergei O. Prokofieff and Hella Wiesberger were recalled as part of the Anthroposophical Section as a place remembrance of the dead during the Annual General Meeting. Virginia Sease spoke for spiritual research. ” about Sergei O. Prokofieff; her remarks (in abbreviated form) concerning his work on I would like to cite some of Serge Pro- the Executive Council at the Goetheanum are shared here. kofieff’s own words from that catalog, and note how I experienced what he de- ollowing Sergei O. Prokofieff’s death the refounding of the Anthroposophi- scribes: “But looking back at the ten years Fmemorials were held around the world. cal Society in Russia; Manfred Schmidt- of my work with the Executive Council I However one aspect of his life could not Brabant, Heinz Zimmermann, Rolf Ker- must say I was unable to achieve this goal. be taken up there—his work as a mem- ler, and I were able to attend. Those of I did not even succeed in establishing the ber of the Executive Council of the Gen- us who had not known Sergei Prokofieff initial steps for it in some enduring form at eral Anthroposophical Society at the earlier were able to experience him the Goetheanum.” In my own view and as Goetheanum. Only seven people there in his own context. an Executive Council colleague I believe it ever experienced him in that is too soon to evaluate what remains of his context. When he joined the Five Objectives personality and his work at the Goethea- Executive Council it consist- Sergei Prokofieff pub- num. Time will reveal that—at least this is ed of Heinz Zimmermann, lished prolifically, and in my hope. Paul Mackay, Rolf Kerler, and 2014 [on the occasion of his myself. During the summer 60th birthday] he assembled Responsibility for Rudolf Steiner’s of 2000, before he fell ill, a catalog of all his publica- Christology Manfred Schmidt-Brabant tions. In this catalog he wrote “Similarly, in my second year on the Ex- was able to take part in Ser- about his biography and de- ecutive Council my attempt to establish a gei Prokofieff’s appointment. scribed the goals and themes he Christological Section remained without Sergei Prokofieff and Bodo von chose when he was appointed to positive response.” Here I can say at least Plato joined the Executive Council at the the Executive Council. “In 2001 when I I—and I believe my colleagues as well—had same time; a year later—in 2002—Corne- was invited to join the Executive Council not perceived this intention. We always lius Pietzner replaced Rolf Kerler. Heinz of the General Anthroposophical Society assumed Rudolf Steiner’s Christology be- Zimmermann died in 2012 and Cornelius at the Goetheanum and the leadership longs to the General Anthroposophical Pietzner withdrew from the Executive of the School for Spiritual Science I had Section. In the Executive Council we each Council in 2011—which left five people agreed to the task principally because I agreed to certain responsibilities—Sergei who were connected with Sergei Proko- wanted to work there intensively on the Prokofieff and I took up Rudolf Steiner’s fieff as colleagues on the Executive Coun- five anthroposophical themes I had often Christology. Sergei Prokofieff fulfilled his cil. Although it was not intentional, the dealt with before. They appeared to me responsibility for that Christology in an constellation of the new Executive Coun- then as they appear to me today—and exemplary way. cil was an image of the west, the east, and above all for the future—to be an insepa- He writes: “In addition, during my ten the middle. rable part of the Goetheanum insofar as years with the Collegium of the School the Goetheanum might evolve further as for Spiritual Science we never came to 1st Council Member from Eastern Europe Rudolf Steiner had hoped so that it could a shared conversation concerning the Sergei Prokofieff was the first member truly become a place for the New Myster- anthroposophical and School themes I of the Executive Council from Eastern Eu- ies. These themes are: had written about.” Unfortunately this rope. From his youth he had experienced 1. Cultivating the connection to Rudolf is correct. Many colleagues were unable what it meant when a free spiritual life Steiner; to free themselves sufficiently from their was oppressed by political power. He was 2. Deepening the contents of anthro responsibilities to read these substantial able to bring these aspects into our Execu- posophy and especially anthroposophi books. For example, the weekly meetings tive Council work—something we valued. cal Christology; consume quite a lot of time. Preparing a He had been active in the anthroposophi- 3. Working for an ever better understand review of my 31 years on the Executive cal underground in Russia, always in the ing of the 1923/24 Christmas Confer Council, I noticed that 31, 25, 20 years ago face of great danger. ence as the founding of the New Mys I had much more time for reading and my What effect did this have? It gave teries; own research than I do now. For want of rise to courage. In our Executive Coun- 4. Developing the esoteric of the Anthro time we never discussed his wonderful cil work he always demonstrated this posophical Society (often wrongly con books. Then he writes:“Nonetheless, I courage—courage for the right deci- fused with the esoteric of the First am convinced now as before that only sions, projects, and so forth, courage Class), for the founding of the General the realization of these five tasks can for anthroposophy, courage for Rudolf Anthroposophical Society was a eso make of the Anthroposophical Society, Steiner. That was a part of his character. teric deed of the highest order; the School for Spiritual Science, and the We experienced this as well in 1991 at 5. Strengthening the effectiveness of Goetheanum—their center—what the Anthroposophy Worldwide No. 7-8/15 | 9
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spiritual world expects of them in accord himself—even from difficult topics—and As his work on the Executive Coun- with the time spirit.” see a situation differently. His capacity to cil drew to a close he was increasingly In concluding, Sergei Prokofieff looks to experience another perspective was the concerned about whether the Goethea- the future: “And I hope that along the way source of his humor. num and those with responsibility there an engagement with my written works He frequently appeared to act as a so- would do enough to carry out what was will have a deepening and helpful effect loist, but this was not intentional on his needed to meet Rudolf Steiner’s expec- for all whose quest takes them in this di- part. The impression often arose because tations and contribute to the renewal rection.” This sentence belongs perhaps to he traveled extensively on his own. But of the Christian Mysteries. This weighed his most important legacy. when he collaborated with one of us or a heavily on him; he was already ill and it member of the Collegium he did so glad- was difficult for him to work at full -ca Listening to Members ly. For example, I recall a conference for pacity. He demanded much of himself Sergei Prokofieff, of course, contribut- which we shared responsibility at Christ- in exemplifying a Christian ethos. When ed significantly to our anthroposophical mas 2005, The Fifth Gospel as the Gospel something that evokes great reverence or work—and what he offered was always of the New Mysteries. There were six lec- even a will for the truth is violated, then enriching. He could describe the most tures to be assigned and he shared them one responds accordingly. Thus during complicated situations in the briefest with me in a very brotherly/ sisterly way: the Annual General Meeting on March time and make barely visible relationships one for you, one for me, one for you, one 30, 2012, Sergei Prokofieff expressed his visible. When he cited Rudolf Steiner he for me… concerns in his address commemorat- was able to provide the exact sources for ing Rudolf Steiner. He had experienced each citation with clarity and certainty. Responsibility toward Rudolf Steiner that something quite sacred for many He was an enormous asset for our small Sergei Prokofieff took up important people—namely, the Carpentry Build- Executive Council circle. initiatives. It was his impulse to organize ing—had been remodeled to provide If we review the years between his and conduct five important conferences, exhibition space. This was deeply pain- affirmation at Easter 2001 and when he each at Ascension. In these conferences ful for him. And further, when he saw became an emeritus member in 2012, we he took up Rudolf Steiner’s major works; empty picture frames hanging in the de- see that they coincided with a very dif- Rudolf Steiner’s Christological view al- serted, still-unfinished north stairwell— ficult and challenging period for the An- ways served as a focus. One such con- with a very special picture of Rudolf throposophical Society. There was much ference was connected with his book Steiner in their midst—he felt compelled unpleasantness—the constitution ques- Anthroposophy and the Philosophy of to mention this. His words sounded like tion and various controversies, legal ac- Freedom. The 2011 conference at the a reproach, a criticism, but they were a tions, and financial questions, as well as Goetheanum commemorating Rudolf wake-up call. I think my colleagues also the 2011 call for a vote of no confidence Steiner’s 150th birthday was jointly or- took this as a wake-up call. in regard to the Executive Council. Three ganized by the Goetheanum Executive Executive Council members underwent Council and the Council of the Anthro- Michaelic Christ-Impulse that process and, of course, all received an posophical Society in Switzerland. Ser- Although at the end he suffered great- affirmation of confidence from the -mem gei Prokofieff had an essential role in this ly, a strong creative power lived in him, bers. Of the members present, more than collaboration and he offered a lecture always under the sign of the Michaelic 1000 expressed their confidence in Sergei titled “Rudolf Steiner and Michael.” Christ-impulse. And today, as a mem- Prokofieff. Often when we in the Execu- Soon after—already unwell—he went ber of the Executive Council, I would tive Council were uncertain about how to to Rome and then attended a large in- like to thank him from the depths of my weigh a decision, Sergei Prokofieff would ternational congress in Bologna. His heart—and thank him also in the name ask, “What would the dear members say lecture was titled, “Rudolf Steiner’s Path of the current Executive Council and our about this?”—And I had to think during of Initiation and the Mystery of the I.” friends in the Goetheanum leadership— this vote that the dear members spoke Thus, 100 years after Rudolf Steiner’s in the hope that from his present place in more than 1000 times over in regard to participation in the 1911 International the spiritual world he might experience his work. Philosophy Congress in Bologna, some- how these streams of gratitude now rise My colleagues and I also had to marvel one stepped forward again to speak on toward him. at his patience. The meetings were drawn the theme “The Mystery of the I” –and If I had to summarize in a single sen- out with the weighing of decisions, and Rudolf Steiner! tence why Sergei Prokofieff was called he listened, participated collegially—even Sergei Prokofieff felt a great responsi- to the Executive Council and how he when not directly involved. Yet when the bility toward Rudolf Steiner and toward worked there, it would be as follows: He time for a decision came after a lengthy the members of the First Class. This led was a great and true representative of discussion, he frequently surprised us by to two comprehensive books for mem- anthroposophy. | Virginia Sease, Goethea- stating that he had long since come to his bers of the First Class, The First Class of num Executive Council emerita own conclusion but had waited until it the Michael School and Its Christologi- was his turn to share it. cal Foundations (2009), and The Esoteric Complete text with biographical details Sergei Prokofieff brought surprising Path through the Nineteen Class Lessons upon request: vorstandssekretariat@goe- moments of humor. He could distance (2014)—completed just before his death. theanum.ch