DOUKHOBOR-L Archives

From: "" <>
Subject: [DOUKHOBOR] Hundreds Mark Verigin's Passing
Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:05:19 -0000

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.

Author: Jon_Kalmakoff
Surnames: Verigin
Classification: queries

Message Board URL:

http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.religious.doukhobor/3160.5/mb.ashx

Message Board Post:

Castlegar News

Hundreds Mark Verigin's Passing

By Francisco Canjura - Castlegar News

Published: November 04, 2008 5:00 PM
Updated: November 04, 2008 8:29 PM

More than 800 people attended the final ceremony and burial of loved Doukhobor leader John J. Verigin.

On a drizzly morning, the sky held off for the procession to move from the Brilliant Cultural Centre to the burial site at Peter 'Lordly' Verigin's tomb.

Hundreds of people walked alongside the family as they followed the casket up the hill to its final resting place.

John J. Verigin Jr. said the amount of people that attended the funeral reflects the amount of lives his dad touched.

"We were touched by the fact that so many people came out to show their respect to our dad," Verigin Jr. said.

Verigin added it was a little overwhelming to see that many people out, even though they knew he was a loved individual not only by those in the Doukhobor community in the Kootenay Boundary, but worldwide.

"The entire family was touched by the turnout, by the tributes and by the love and condolences they expressed to the family.

"It was overwhelming and we are grateful to the people for expressing that degree of support and love for the family and my dad. It was very touching and humbling," Verigin Jr. said.

He said as he walked up the hill to his fathers' final resting place, he could not help but think all of his father's life work was not in vain.

"We have to remember we are burying a great Doukhobor not Doukhoborism. And to see all those kids and young people - because there is always a concern on the part of elders of any tradition about the youth and whether they would carry on the tradition or not - well that was a fine testimony to the fact that his life efforts were not in vain.

"Those young people are our future and they will take Doukhoborism into the 21st century and that is special," he said.

Verigin Jr. said he will miss his father a great deal.

"I loved him dearly as a father I also loved and respected him as a teacher and as the head of our organization and he was a mentor and he was also someone who I turned to for counsel," he said.

As for the future, Verigin Jr. said it is up to the people to choose who will carry on doing his father's work saying, "that's the people's role."

He added his father was a guiding light to him and to the people as his lengthy biography showed all he contributed to not only the Doukhobor community, but the world.

"No one can fill his shoes all that we can do is continue walking the path that he laid out for us and enhancing that pathway for those young people that were present and passing the traditions, the life concept, and the responsibilities of Doukhobors onto them," he said.

Verigin Jr. said what he will miss most about his father is his unconditional love and smile that would just melt you, as well as the discipline he had to do what he was called to do.

Important Note:
The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This thread:

• [DOUKHOBOR] Hundreds Mark Verigin's Passing by "" <>