Procopius the Righteous removes a cloud of stone from the Great Ustyug 1912

Nicholas Roerich made this pencil sketch titled, *Procopius the Righteous removes a cloud of stone from the Great Ustyug,* in Russia, but the date is unknown. It pictures a saintly figure averting disaster from a Russian town, an act of divine intervention. Roerich lived through the cultural shifts of late Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union. He was deeply interested in Russian history and spirituality, and his artworks often touch on themes of national identity and folklore. The Russian Orthodox Church, with its pantheon of saints and miracle stories, played a significant role in shaping Russian culture. Roerich invokes this cultural and religious heritage. He elevates Procopius, a local saint, and in doing so, gives an example of the importance of religious figures in daily life. Looking at this drawing, it's important to consider how Roerich's personal beliefs shaped his artistic choices. Exploring archival sources about Russia at the time, and Roerich’s other work, will provide additional context to the study and meaning of this drawing.