Yuri

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Yuri or Youri was the ward of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and her husband Nikofor Blavatsky.

Various accounts have been made of Yuri, based on few facts. It is likely that he was the child of Italian opera singer Agardi Metrovich and his wife, who were close friends of HPB and her family. Spurious stories passed around in HPB's lifetime that Yuri was the love-child of an affair with Metrovich, but she vigorously refuted that as slander.

1862 Passport

Original Russian passport

In 1862 a Russian passport was issued, at the request of her husband, for Madame Blavatsky and "their infant-ward Youry" to travel in Ukraine and in northwest Russia. A translation of the Russian document into English was made by the Russian Consul-General in London, with his signature certified by the Consul-General of the United States. The original document, translation, and certificate are in the archives of the Theosophical Society with international headquarters in Pasadena, California, and we are grateful that scans of those documents have been made available. These documents with another translation may also be seen at Teopedia.

Passport page 1

Passport page 2

Transcription of passport

Translation of a Passport

Granted to Madame H. P. Blavatsky

August 23rd 1862 ----- Passport -----

This document is given to the wife of the Civil Councillor & Attaché of the Chief Department of the Viceroy of the Caucasus, Blavatsky, Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, in pursuance of a petition presented by her husband to the effect that she, Madame Blavatsky, accompanied by their infant-ward Youry, proceeds to the provinces of Tauris, Cherson & Pskoff for the term of one year. Therefore the local governments are invited to give Madame Blavatsky unimpeded passage and to lend her every lawful assistance. August 23. 1862 – The city of Tiflis.

(Signed) Orlovsky

Civil Governor. (Countersigned) Nicolas Blavatsky

Secretary.

No 2111. The Imperial Russian Consulate General herewith certifies the correctness of the foregoing translation. London, 1st September 1890.

Consul General for Russia:

A. De Vorborth

[Embossed seal] Imperial Russian Consulate in London

Transcription of certificate

Certificate from American Consul-General

Consulate-General of the United States of America, FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AT LONDON

I, John C. New, Consul-General of the United States of America for Great Britain and Ireland at London, do hereby make known and certify to all whom it may concern, that the signature “A. de Volborth” subscribed to the annexed Certificate, is of the true and proper handwriting of A. de Volborth; that the said A. de Volborth is the Russian Consul General in London, that the seal affixed to the said Certificate is the seal of the Russian Consulate General in London, and that to all acts signed as the annexed full faith and credit are and ought to be given in Judicature and thereout.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed

the Seal of the Consulate-General of the United States at London,

aforesaid, this 1st day of September 1890.

John C. New

Consul-General

[Embossed seal] United States Consulate-General London