Article taken from castlegarnews.com dated June 26, 2008:

Celebrating Peter's Day

June 26, 2008

An event marked by Doukhobors everywhere has been the annual tradition of Peter's Day. The first Peter's Day was in 1895 when Doukhobors in three separate areas of the Caucasus secretly met on June 29th and burned all of their weapons as a determined statement of pacifism, these guns would not kill another human being.

This event was orchestrated by Peter Verigin, and coincided with Peter's Saint's Day; June 29, the Name Day for the martyred saints, Peter and Paul. Since then, this day has been known as Peter's Day.

Reaction by the authorities was swift and severe and the well meaning Doukhobors were whipped, imprisoned and exiled. About 10 % had perished before Lev Tolstoy and his associates had created enough world wide attention to make Czar Nicholas II allow them to leave, and resulted in their emigration to Canada.

This year the commemoration will be held for the 112th time and there will be a special program on June 29th at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre and the Verigin Memorial Park.

The morning will begin with a prayer meeting at 10:00 AM at the Memorial site followed by a pot luck lunch at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. After lunch there will be a program consisting of choirs, singing, guest speakers, followed by a musical interlude and open mike.

This year's event is especially significant because of the National Proclamation naming Peter Verigin a Person of National Historic Significance.

All of the public is invited to participate in this important anniversary.

Link to original article: http://www.bclocalnews.com/kootenay_rockies/castlegarnews/ne...