Last modified on Tuesday August 03, 2004 at 8:15 PM EDT
When I first met her in Paris she was a slender, eager person. Her father, as far as I can remember, was the last Russian ambassador to France under the Tsarist regime.
Photo: Helen on left; Catherine on right
I remet her in New York and then she came to Madonna House. She gave us a course on the history of Russia; we have it on tape. She gave us a beautiful talk on the Byzantine rite which was, at the time, not very popular, but still her audience was interested. She was for many, many years at Fordham University teaching Russian history and the Russian language, and writing books and articles.
She "came home", I don't know in what year. Russians do not consider themselves to be "converted" to the Catholic Church. It is sort of like "coming home"; difficult to explain, but very simple. I remember when Nicholas, my cousin, decided to join the Roman Catholic Church in Montreal. The priest was, at the time (this was in the 20's ), quite lost as to what to do. Eventually the Chancery straightened things out. All that Nicholas had to do was recite the Creed. Solving a theological question called the "Filioque" which dealt with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Also acknowledging the infallibility of the Pope. And that ended his return.
But I don't remember when Helen "came home".
All I remember is someone whom I loved deeply; who was a real Russian with a heart as big as Russia itself, and also whose burning desire was the unity of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church. She published the Third Hour, a most interesting quarterly. She was one of the few of my contemporaries, but she was more… she was Russian to me. Together we could talk simply without having to explain anything. We understood one another.
How is it possible to explain a person like Helen Iswolsky! How does one tell about another person and what they mean?
I can write an obituary but for Helen there is no obituary; in my heart she keeps on living and talking to me and being with me. I want to thank Dorothy Day so much for her kindness, for her hospitality to Helen — Helen, who lived with her for so many years. I want to thank Dorothy too for being in constant attendance at the hospital and present when Helen died.
I wish I could have been there but it was impossible for me to get there. The Apostolate of Madonna House held me tight, but strangely enough I was there; we all were there because I have spoken so much of Helen that she was part of our family. And if you are part of a family it makes no difference if you are dead or alive, because you are always there in the hearts of all.
Helen, remember me before the face of the Lord!