Continuing Our Sacred Work Through Deepest Pain

GA 259 — 1 January 1923, Dornach

after the fire at the Goetheanum on New Year's Eve 1922/23, before the Epiphany play

My dear friends! Great pain knows how to remain silent about what it feels. And so you will understand me when I say just a few words to you before we begin the Epiphany play.

The work that was created by the self-sacrificing love and devotion of numerous friends enthusiastic about our movement within ten years was destroyed in one night. Of course, today of all days, silent pain must feel how infinite love and care our friends put into this work. And that's where I'd like to leave it at first, my dear friends.

I would just like to say that now, for the work that seemed for an all-too-short time as if it could become a work of salvation, and for which, in turn, the most devoted, self-sacrificing work, even sometimes quite dangerous work, has been done by many of our friends, the most heartfelt thanks are due, which can be expressed from the spirit of our movement.

Since we start from the feeling that everything we do within our movement is a necessity within the present human civilization, we want to continue what is intended within the framework that is still left to us , and therefore, even at this hour, with the flames still burning outside, which are a source of great pain to us, we want to perform the play that was promised at the end of this course and that our course participants are counting on.

Likewise, I will give the scheduled lecture here in the carpentry shop at eight o'clock tonight. In this way, we want to express that even the misfortune that has befallen us, which cannot really be described in words, with words, should not crush us, but that our pain should instead urge us to continue to do what we see as our duty, to the extent that we are given the strength to do so.

From this point of view, my dear friends, please accept the three kings play, which we are performing, in addition to the other two Christmas plays, which are drawn from real folk tradition, even though we were of course unable to hold the right rehearsals today. You will have to take this into account, but I am sure you will also be willing to take it into account during this painful time.

I just wanted to say a few words to you before we begin our performance. It is not a showpiece that we are presenting, but rather that through which the people once rose to their most sacred being in his art. And if one considers this, it will not be found inappropriate at all to let this sacred seriousness arise before our souls, even out of the deepest pain.

There is no transcript of an address by Rudolf Steiner from the performance of the Epiphany Play on January 6, 1923.