聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 For as long as the National Doukhobor Heritage Village has existed in Veregin, the third Sunday in July was reserved as Heritage Day, a day to celebrate Doukhobor Heritage by way of prayers, food, tours and a cultural program.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year, in order to accommodate an expanded celebration in recognition of the centennial of the Veregin Prayer home, which is the heart of the village, and Canada鈥檚 150th anniversary, the annual Heritage Day has been spread over two days: July 15 and 16.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he weekend of July 15 and 16 has been designated as a time to celebrate Canda鈥檚 150th birthday and to commemorate the 100 years of the historic Prayer Home,鈥� said Walter Ostoforoff, chair of the Heritage Village committee. 鈥淚t is hoped that we can provide the opportunity for our brothers, sisters and visitors from across Canada to participate in this event and reflect on our life in Canda since 1899 and the history of the Prayer Home.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e welcome choral groups so that the air will once again resound with traditional song,鈥� he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Registration begins Friday afternoon and continues on Saturday morning.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Members of the board of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood (CCUB) will have a meeting in the Prayer Home at 10 a.m. and then lunch will be served by the New Horizons Centre committee.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Shortly before noon a bus tour of cemeteries and villages of the Veregin area will be held. Supper will be served beginning at 4 p.m., followed by time for socializing. At 7 p.m. there will be a program performance of choirs at the Heritage Village.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A prayer service in The Prayer Home will start Sunday鈥檚 activities. A blini ethnic brunch will be served beginning at 10 a.m., and then the Heritage Day program will begin at 1 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Among persons who have accepted invitations to speak during the program are Cathay Wagantall, Yorkton-Melville MP, and Terry Dennis, Canora-Pelly 小蓝视频. Also invited were Ken Cheveldayoff, minister of sport, recreation and culture, and John J. Verigin of Grand Forks, B.C., who is the executive director of the USCC and the great-grandson of Peter Verigin.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e expect a larger Saskatchewan Doukhobor Heritage Choir to assemble for the occasion,鈥� Ostoforoff said. 鈥淲e are also expecting a large choir from the Castlegar, B.C. area, and a group from Victoria, B.C.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n total we should have four choirs,鈥� he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 During the program, Laura Verigin of Yorkton will be speaking about the history of the building, which is still in excellent condition and is a Provincial Heritage Building.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Veregin Prayer Home is an historic structure that recalls the first settlement of pioneers in northeastern Saskatchewan, Ostoforoff said. In 1899 the Doukhobors first arrived on Canadian soil believing in the principle of 鈥渢oil and peaceful life鈥� and 鈥渦niversal brotherhood.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dedication to this principle had resulted in the loss of lives and property under the czarist regime in Russia. This led to the migration of the Doukhobors to Canada during the reign of Queen Victoria who had granted the Doukhobors freedom of worship and exemption from military service.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A prayer home had been built north of Veregin in a former village known as Poterpevshi which was renamed Otrodno after the arrival of Peter Verigin. The prayer home was lost to fire so a decision was made to build a new structure in Veregin.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This new building was built by members of the CCUB in 1917 under the direction of P.V. Verigin and A.A. Horkoff, the architect, with carpenters F.F. Bloudoff, W.S. Lapshinoff and J.W. Horkoff and the exterior metalwork by J.J. Mahonin, he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The main floor was used for meetings and prayer services, while the second floor was used as living quarters for P.V. Verigin and guests, and later for his son Peter P. Verigin.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Following the bankruptcy of CCUB in 1938, the buildings at the Doukhobor village were purchase by Bill Walykhova from the CCUB receiver, he said. After the purchase, buildings were 小蓝视频 demolished and the materials repurposed for use in the construction of other buildings.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Prayer Home was one of the remaining structures left for demolition when the Veregin Doukhobor Society was given the opportunity to purchase the structure for $1,500. A group of members, including Joseph P. Fofonoff, Mike Deakoff, Andrew Bloudoff and Alex Sherstabitoff Sr. decided to raise the money to save the building.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The community was very supportive and the required money was raised, Ostoforoff said. The Prayer Home was registered under the name of the Doukhobor Society of Veregin.
In 1982, the entire building was designated a Provincial Heritage Site by the Province of Saskatchewan. It is now part of the National Doukhobor Heritage Village and while services are held on the lower floor, the upper floor has been converted into a museum.
