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In
1900, the first written record of The Living Book was collected
by Bonch-Bruevech, a Russian student of sectarianism who visited
with the Doukhobors for about a year, and proceeded to write down
their psalms, hymns and the general understanding of their beliefs.
This was the first time that this collection of The Living Book,
as previously preserved orally, was written down. In later years,
as formal schooling began to replace the oral memory, this written
collection was to prove a reference point for the psalms and hymns.
However, the melodies were not notated, so the vocal singing and
chanting, the melodic structure of today, is still dependant on
the oral memory and preservation as originally formed hundreds of
years ago. This occasionally leads to different Doukhobor psalmists
singing the same psalm in a different way.
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While
a minority of the Doukhobors took advantage of the Oath of
Allegiance to acquire previously improved communal land, the
majority did not. In 1907 the Dominion of Canada cancelled
the Homestead entries on over 257,000 acres of choice, cleared,
cultivated, and improved land. This created the greatest land
rush in Canada as this land now became available to the general
public, 'more desirable settlers' as envisioned by Frank Oliver.
Now homeless, over 5,000 Doukhobors migrated to British Columbia
between 1908 and 1913. |
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This
was the largest migration within Canada and has now been proclaimed
as an Event of National Importance. Masterminded by Peter
Verigin, recently declared as a Person of National Significance,
the Doukhobor migration to the Castlegar area provided the primary
founding settlers of this region. In 1908 when the Doukhobor migration
began, the population of this area was about 400 souls. By 1913,
5000 Doukhobors had arrived; developing basic agriculture, orchards,
lumber mills, irrigation projects, brick yards, roads, bridges,
apiaries and the construction of over 90 communal villages in the
Kootenay-Boundary region. (The Doukhobor Discovery Centre is a model
of such a village).
Beginning
in 1960 when Anna Markova came to Canada from Siberian exile,
she assisted in collecting a publication called Sbornik
[collection] where the hymns, songs and prayers were accumulated
in a volume for the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ,
the largest Doukhobor group today. She was assisted in this
task by Peter Legebokofff, (reknown author, editor and Doukhobor
historian). As the daughter of Peter P. Verigin, and father
of the current Honourary Chairman, John J. Verigin, Anna
Markova contributed a spirited interest in psalm singing,
children's Doukhobor education and also contributed to the
Doukhobor Discovery Centre, which contains a room dedicated
in her honour.
Right,
Anna Markova (in black) at a sobranie in 1960 celebrating
her arrival in Canada.
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