One of the variants of the central part of the triptych “Fiat Rex” (“Long Live the King”). In 1931, the artist turned to the image of the Lord of Shambhala, about whom he collected many tales during his travels through Central Asia. The painting depicts an elder standing on the steps cut in a rock. The elder is immersed in deep meditation, his gaze is lowered, his face is calm. In his right hand, at the level of his chest, he holds a sacred cup, with tongues of silvery flame curling over it; his left hand is ready to carefully maintain the precious object. Standing on the steps leading down, the Elder is ready to carry the light of his Fire into darkness, deprived of access to the Heavenly Light. The readiness to make this feat is also indicated by the silvery halo around the Elder’s head. The glow of this halo merge with the Heavenly Light, which, like rain, streams from the dark blue sky, melting in its stream the outlines of the surrounding rocks.

In the picture, this image is associated with Saint Sergius of Radonezh, whose biography mentions many fire phenomena. This is also evidenced by the clothing of the Elder in the picture, resembling a cassock and a pallium of a Russian monk.

Nikolay Konstantinovich himself said:

“The Reverend was houseled from a fiery cup. The Fiery one served the Reverend. In this blessed flame, in this good live-giving fire, we got the image of Saint Sergius… In this tongue of fire, in the heart of fire, we will gather and, forgetting the darkness of yesterday’s day, we will go to the light.

Light is unique, and darkness is unique, and when you make light, darkness is dissipated.

May the Reverend help us to join the great unique Light”.

(N.K. Roerich. The Speech for the Consecration of the Chapel of Saint Reverend Sergius // The Power of Light)