STATE FUNERAL
Doukhobor leader dies at 86
(Kyra
Hoggan - Castlegar Current)
An era has ended with the Oct. 26 death of John J. Verigin, leader of the Doukhobor community for almost 70 years.
Verigin died in his home just weeks before his 87th. Birthday, after a lifetime devoted to the Doukhobor ideals of pacifism, brotherhood and community.
He also furthered his community’s ideology provincially, nationally and abroad, receiving the Order of Canada in 1976, the Order of the Peoples’ Friendship from Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989 and the Order of British
Columbia in 1996.
“He introduced a great many democratic reforms into the operations of our organization, and all of its programs and services,” said his son, J.J. Verigin (to be referred to as ‘J.J.’ in this article to avoid confusion).
J.J. said his father found himself, under the title of secretary, at the helm of a struggling community in 1938 at the tender age of 17 - Verigin’s uncle, the nominal leader, was at the time imprisoned in Russia in one of Stalin’s Gulags, where he died in 1942.
It wasn’t until 1957, though, that the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies informed the community in Canada that their leader had died, and three more years passed before that communique was verified and his death officially acknowledged in 1960.
“(Verigin) was proclaimed as leader as early as 1960, but he declined the title and advised the community to reconsider the role,” said Doukhobor historian Jim
Popoff.
J.J. explained that his father had no desire to dictate the views, values or decisions of his people.
“He said, ‘please don’t make a god out of me. We only have one true leader, and that’s Jesus Christ’, J. J. said. “He said if he could serve in a useful capacity, he would.”
Verigin was thus named ‘honorary chairman‘ in 1962, and served alongside a democratically-elected committee chosen during the community‘s annual convention. Verigin also created. a process by which, every year, the convention posed two questions: was the role still relevant and necessary? And, if so, who should fill it?
“He always insisted that his position be reaffirmed to get away from that theocratic, hereditary practice of our history,” J.J. said. “As Doukhobors, we’re always supposed to be listening, instead, to that voice within.”
Verigin’s body of work spanned decades and continents, including Russian-Canadian cultural and educational exchanges, humanitarian outreach projects, peace-building symposia and more.
Rubbing shoulders with international leaders like
Gandhi and Gorbachev and, at home,
Prime Minister Jean
Chretien, Verigin lived a comparatively simple life in Grand Forks, furthering the agro-industrial undertakings of his people.
J.J. said his father also served as role model on far more personal levels, overcoming alcoholism and battling his own private demons in what was a very public life, “never surrendering or giving up in making this world a better place.”
Verigin’s leadership role gradually diminished over recent years, as age and ill health took their toll - he suffered a broken neck a decade ago that slowed him considerably- and his final days were prefaced by a fall that saw him hospitalized on Oct. 21. J.J. said his father, that day, suffered a broken hip as well as a hand abrasion serious enough to require skin grafts.
On Oct. 22, Verigin was transported from Grand Forks to a
Trail hospital for subsequent surgeries, only to discover his kidneys were failing, and he was unlikely to survive any one of the procedures, much less, the several that would be required. Furthermore, his ability to recover from any such invasive action was very much in question, and the anesthesiologist declined to participate in any operation because of the inordinate risk, J.J. said.
“The family decided to allow him - unlike other Doukhobor leaders, who died alone, in Gulags far away - to spend his final days in the loving arms of his family,” J.J. said. “He came home for (Oct.) 23, 24 and 25, and passed away at 4:11 a.m. on the 26th”.
Verigin died on the day his community held their annual memorial for the leader, Peter ‘Lordly’ Verigin, who led them from Russia to Canada more than a century ago. J.J. and his brother attended services in Castlegar and Grand Forks, respectively, waiting until the ceremonies were over to inform the community of John Verigin’s death.
Castlegar mayor (and Doukhobor community member) Lawrence
Chernoff said that, while the community has suffered a great loss, he feels they’ll weather it well. He said that Verigin’s advancing age diminished the shock, if not the grief, of the event, while J.J.’s careful stewardship on his father’s behalf has instilled a confidence that will serve all Doukhobors in good stead as they await the outcome of a leadership vote at their Convention this February.
“He (Verigin) was a true representative of the community - and by that I mean the community at large, not just the Doukhobors,”
Chernoff said. “But I think the direction we’re headed in (under J.J.’s leadership) will continue - he has developed very strong relationships with other communities and organizations.”
Chernoff went on to offer condolences on the city’s behalf, welcoming the hundreds, possibly thousands, of people who will come to Castlegar this weekend for Verigin’s memorial.
Services will be held Friday evening and Saturday in Grand Forks, then Saturday evening and Sunday at the
Brilliant Centre in Castlegar, with a procession walking from there up to his final resting place (weather permitting) Sunday afternoon. Verigin will be interred next to his mother at Verigin Memorial
Park. For specific service times and addresses, call 250-442-8252.
J.J. said his family is comforted, in their grief, by their gratitude for the hospital and home care staff who helped Verigin, and for the condolences being offered by friends, neighbors and people from around the globe.
“It helps - It underlines the impact he had on the many people he encountered over the course of his life,” he said, adding that, while he understands the historic nature of his father’s passing, it’s important to remember Verigin’s humanity; that he was a simple Doukhobor man. “His whole life was dedicated to walking the walk of being a bearer of light and love.”
“He was a loving father and husband,” J.J. added. “And he loved softball.”
*From Castlegar Current, October 30, 2008