THE DOUKHOBOR ARMS BURNING OF 1895
THE DOUKHOBOR ARMS BURNING OF 1895: In 1894 Tsar Nicholas II demanded that all citizens take the oath of allegiance. Peter Verigin, in a message from his exile, advises his followers to refuse to take the oath and also stop the use of alcohol and tobacco and to become vegetarians. |
They must forgive all debts, pool all resources, and reinstate a communal life style.
He also advises that they take a definitive stand against militarism. Through couriers, Vasil Obedkov, Vasil V. Verigin and Vasil Vereschagin, he outlines secret plans to burn all of their weapons and for all Doukhobor men in the army to refuse further drill.
1895 - Easter - A soldier, Matvey Lebedev, throws down his gun while training in the Elizavetpol reserve battalion. He states that war and Christianity are incompatible. Ten colleagues join him. They are sent to a disciplinary battalion and exile along with sixty other young Doukhobor men in active service who followed their example.
He also advises that they take a definitive stand against militarism. Through couriers, Vasil Obedkov, Vasil V. Verigin and Vasil Vereschagin, he outlines secret plans to burn all of their weapons and for all Doukhobor men in the army to refuse further drill.
1895 - Easter - A soldier, Matvey Lebedev, throws down his gun while training in the Elizavetpol reserve battalion. He states that war and Christianity are incompatible. Ten colleagues join him. They are sent to a disciplinary battalion and exile along with sixty other young Doukhobor men in active service who followed their example.
In 1895, midnight of June 28-29, [New style July 11-12] on St. Peter and Paul Day, the martyred saints, and Peter Verigin’s Saint’s name day, the secret preparations result in simultaneous fires as some 7,000 Doukhobors burn all of their weapons in three districts of the Caucuses: Bogdanovka, Elizavetpol and Kars, now part of Turkey.
This is the defining moment of the Doukhobors’ statement of pacifism and rejection of state sanctioned murder, and a support by the civilian population for the young men who were being beaten and tortured in the battalions for refusing the gun.
It was the extreme persecution and a government policy of cultural genocide following this event that aroused the sympathy and interest of Lev Tolstoy and fellow humanitarians, who launched a campaign to find the Doukhobors a place of refuge. This resulted in their immigration to Canada in 1899.
This is the defining moment of the Doukhobors’ statement of pacifism and rejection of state sanctioned murder, and a support by the civilian population for the young men who were being beaten and tortured in the battalions for refusing the gun.
It was the extreme persecution and a government policy of cultural genocide following this event that aroused the sympathy and interest of Lev Tolstoy and fellow humanitarians, who launched a campaign to find the Doukhobors a place of refuge. This resulted in their immigration to Canada in 1899.
Details & Info: goo.gl/JwimTW
Ever since that day, Doukhobors in every settlement area, remember this heroic struggle of their forefathers, and reaffirm their own faith and pacifistic understanding through commemorating this day in ceremonies of remembrance, prayers, and communal food sharing. This year [2016], will mark the 121st commemoration of this day in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
For a first hand narrative account of the event, see:
Accomplishment of the Mission:
www.doukhobor.org/Grigory-Verigin2.html
For a detailed dramatic account, see:
www.larrysdesk.com/the-spirit-of-99.html
Ever since that day, Doukhobors in every settlement area, remember this heroic struggle of their forefathers, and reaffirm their own faith and pacifistic understanding through commemorating this day in ceremonies of remembrance, prayers, and communal food sharing. This year [2016], will mark the 121st commemoration of this day in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
For a first hand narrative account of the event, see:
Accomplishment of the Mission:
www.doukhobor.org/Grigory-Verigin2.html
For a detailed dramatic account, see:
www.larrysdesk.com/the-spirit-of-99.html
2017 PETER'S DAY AT THE DOUKHOBOR DISCOVERY CENTRE
Peter's Day 2017, began at 10:00 AM with a traditional molenie and talks and speeches followed by a delectable pot luck. The afternoon program featured the Ladies' Choir followed by a reading by Larry Ewashen about the Arms Burning from God is in Truth, Not in Strength [Gregory Verigin]. Alex Ewashen presented this book for the museum's archives. An address by Bob Ewashen summed up the day as follows:
Petrov Dyen
It gives me great pleasure to share a few words on this Petrov Dyen, a day that has great significance for me.
I see this day as, first , a Celebration, secondly, a day of Remembrance, and finally, a day of Recognition.
Celebration; celebrating the life of Peter Lordly, A leader, a guide, and a teacher.
Remembrance; the accomplishments of this man; the Arm's Burning, the elucidation of the essence of Doukhoborism, the emigration to Canada, the creation, for Doukhobors, of communal life first, in Russia, and then in Canada.
Recognition; of the fact, that the Arms Burning clearly illustrated and brought to the eyes of the world, the most fundamental precept of Doukhoborism, thou shalt not kill, under any circumstances, and soldiers, government, and judges are not exempt. And what gives this rule full meaning, and potential for development, is: love thy neighbour as thyself.
Peter Lordly enlarged on this in a writing, The Rules of Life of the CCUB and I would like to remind us all of these fundamental beliefs.
THE RULES OF LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD:
1. The members of the community revere and love God as a source of all being.
2. They respect the dignity of man both in themselves and in their fellow men.
3. The members of the community regard everything that exists with love and admiration and they try to bring up their children in the same tendency.
4. By the word God they understand, The power of love, the power of life which is the source of all that exists.
5. Life is progress and everything tends towards perfection, in order that the seeds received should be returned to the source of life in the form of ripe fruit.
6.. In everything that exists in our world we see consecutive stages towards perfection. Thus beginning with a stone and passing over to plants, we come to animals, the fullest development of which is man, regarding him from the point of view of life and a conscious being.
7. The members of the community hold that to destroy or hurt any living thing is blame-worthy, in every separate being there is life hence God, especially in a human being. To deprive a man of life is in no way permissible.
8. The members accord full freedom to the life of man, and therefor all organizations founded on violence they regard as unlawful.
9. The basis of man's existence is the power of thought-reason.
10. It is recognized that the communal life of man is based on the moral law which has for its rule: What I do not wish for myself, that I must not wish for anyone else.
Petrov Dyen
It gives me great pleasure to share a few words on this Petrov Dyen, a day that has great significance for me.
I see this day as, first , a Celebration, secondly, a day of Remembrance, and finally, a day of Recognition.
Celebration; celebrating the life of Peter Lordly, A leader, a guide, and a teacher.
Remembrance; the accomplishments of this man; the Arm's Burning, the elucidation of the essence of Doukhoborism, the emigration to Canada, the creation, for Doukhobors, of communal life first, in Russia, and then in Canada.
Recognition; of the fact, that the Arms Burning clearly illustrated and brought to the eyes of the world, the most fundamental precept of Doukhoborism, thou shalt not kill, under any circumstances, and soldiers, government, and judges are not exempt. And what gives this rule full meaning, and potential for development, is: love thy neighbour as thyself.
Peter Lordly enlarged on this in a writing, The Rules of Life of the CCUB and I would like to remind us all of these fundamental beliefs.
THE RULES OF LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD:
1. The members of the community revere and love God as a source of all being.
2. They respect the dignity of man both in themselves and in their fellow men.
3. The members of the community regard everything that exists with love and admiration and they try to bring up their children in the same tendency.
4. By the word God they understand, The power of love, the power of life which is the source of all that exists.
5. Life is progress and everything tends towards perfection, in order that the seeds received should be returned to the source of life in the form of ripe fruit.
6.. In everything that exists in our world we see consecutive stages towards perfection. Thus beginning with a stone and passing over to plants, we come to animals, the fullest development of which is man, regarding him from the point of view of life and a conscious being.
7. The members of the community hold that to destroy or hurt any living thing is blame-worthy, in every separate being there is life hence God, especially in a human being. To deprive a man of life is in no way permissible.
8. The members accord full freedom to the life of man, and therefor all organizations founded on violence they regard as unlawful.
9. The basis of man's existence is the power of thought-reason.
10. It is recognized that the communal life of man is based on the moral law which has for its rule: What I do not wish for myself, that I must not wish for anyone else.
PETER'S DAY IN CASTLEGAR
JUNE 26 - 2016
Well attended prayer meeting with an afternoon variety program, with guest speakers and a capella singing. Prayers began at 10:00 AM, breaking for a delicious lunch, partially provided by the Creston Doukhobor Society, at 12:00. At 1:00 a variety program commenced featuring the Ladies' choir, greetings and Peter V. Verigin's eulogy* by Larry Ewashen, songs by Ewashen Brothers, speakers John J. Verigin, Laura Savinkoff, Peter Rilkov and Bill Voykin. Under an azure sky, all ended @ 3:00, the 121st. Peter's Day commemoration.
*NELSON DAILY NEWS November 4, 1924
MAX BASKIN SPEAKS AT GRAVE SIDE
Writes Poem Eulogizing Peter Lordly, Late Verigin, as Leader
The only address at the grave side of Peter Verigin, late leader of the Doukhobors, yesterday, was made by Max Baskin, his friend and business associate. Mr. Baskin had also written a poem on the death of the president and spiritual leader of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, a copy of which was attached to the flowers he sent.
In his address Mr. Baskin said, in part:
"Verigin died, but his work will never die. His memory will live in your hearts and your deeds. Remembering his ideal, you will go forward in the ray of progress on the well-made path which he has left you to follow, "Toil and peaceful life" was the motto of a ceaseless worker. Until the last moment he worked ceaselessly for the welfare of his people. He died like a plow man behind his plow.
Courage of a Lion
"With the courage of a lion, the vision of an eagle, and the tender heart of a doe, he combined in himself everything to be an ideal leader. Having a strong will, he marked out one route, which he followed, and led you with him.
"He was the bright star of process, and no obstacles could stop him. His great devotion he showed you by advising you to emigrate to Canada from Russia, foreseeing the great revolution, the terrors of which you did not suffer. Like a good shepherd, he looked ahead and saved you from much hardship. Under his good leadership the brotherhood progressed, steadily, just as the promised land according to the promise of God.
"He took a personal interest not only in you and your families, but in every tree and in every grass that you cultivated. With his great knowledge and experience he not only showed you how to work, but how to live to find favor in the eyes of the Creator. How can I with mere words describe your terrific loss? Could a pen describe or write what the heart of the people feels when it weeps over the untimely death of their leader? No. A sincere grief can only be helped by God alone, and the tears of the toilers are asking him to take their leader under his wing. But still from the heights your leader will inspire you and lead you to go on the path of truth and godliness. The great work which the great father has left unfinished should not be left by you, and you should follow in the path of your leader as taught you while he was here."
The Poem
Mr. Baskin's poem, translated from the Russian in which he wrote it, goes as follows:
"There were no drums at the funeral procession when we carried our leader;
There were no rifle shots when we let his body down, into the earth:
But with sincere prayers and with humility in our hearts,
We gathered today to give back to the earth your body, dear to us,
And to bow before you low,
We leave you here alone with honour which will never die.
For your great work God has given you a bloody wreath of thorns;
The honours were sincere which we have given you, and we dug the grave ourselves
Around you were all your children, and your nearest closed your eyes,
You have died, our leader, but your spark has left a strong flame;
Your people will lift lovingly your great brotherly standard."
A Russian Eulogy
Attached to the flowers Mrs. Baskin sent was a card bearing one of the short poems of Nadson, a great young Russian poet, who died at the age of 21, about a quarter of a century ago, whose poetry is a great favourite with the Russians, particularly the Doukhobors. This eulogy translated, runs:
"Don't tell me that he is dead.
He lives,
Though the altar is broken,
The fire is still flaming;
Though the rose is plucked,
She still is blooming;
Let the heart be broken,
The chord is still sobbing."
**WHAT IS A COMMUNE?
by Peter "Lordly" Verigin
May The Lord Give Us His Blessing
What is a commune?
A commune is an assembled group of true Christians who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and abide by the Law of God.
And what is comprised in the teachings of Christ and the Law of God?
The central essence of the teachings of Jesus Christ is embodied in His revelation wherein He opened the way for people of all the world to attain the everlasting life.
Our physical body dies, but the soul, which dwells within, lives forever. The soul within is our power of thought and reason, which comes from the Creator of the Universe.
The Law of God, as it was taught by Jesus Christ, obligates us to love all people in the world, and respect them as our brothers.
Because all people are children of the one Father — God abiding by His laws — we should not ever cause injury to one another under any circumstances whatsoever.
And even more emphatically so, by God's laws, it is not permissible to take the life of a human being, be it under pretence of the laws of emperors and kings such as in the performance of military service, the carrying out of capital punishment or other state duties.
All this, we consider as wrong, and non-permissible.
This is also why we do not kill even animals, do not eat meat, do not smoke tobacco, and in witness of our dedication to these beliefs, we have burned all of our firearms in Russia in 1895, and on the day of commemoration of Saints Peter and Paul, the martyred apostles.
Our God Be praised.