The Doukhobors (Duchobozetz, Duchobortzi) (Russian: Духоборы/Духоборцы) are a Christian dissenting sect of Russian origin. They are also known as Christians of the Universal Brotherhood. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ...

History

The origin of the Doukhobors dates to 16th and 17th century Russia. The term Doukhobors means "spirit wrestlers."

The Doukhobors are a Christian sect who long ago rejected secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons, all church ritual, the Bible and the divinity of Jesus. As pacifists, they also ardently rejected the institutions of militarism and wars. For these reasons, the Doukhobors were harshly repressed in Russia. Both the tsarist state and church authorities were involved in the torture and exile of these dissidents, as well as taking away their normal freedoms. At the end of the nineteenth century two-thirds of the Doukhobors left Russia en masse. They chose Canada for its isolation, peacefulness, and the fact that the Canadian government welcomed them, and migrated there in 1899. The Doukhobors' passage across the Atlantic Ocean was largely paid for by Quakers and Tolstoyans, who sympathized with their plight, and by the writer Leo Tolstoy, who arranged for the royalties from his novel Resurrection to go to the migration fund. He also raised money from wealthy friends. In Canada, the Doukhobors established a communal life style, similar to the Hutterites. The Russian Orthodox Church (Русская Православная церковь) is that body of Christians who are united under the Patriarch of Moscow, who in turn is in communion with... For other senses of this word, see icon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bible (disambiguation). ... Divinity has a number of related uses in the field of religious belief and study. ... Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE to 29–36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes. ... Monomakhs Cap symbol of Russian autocracy, the crown of Russian grand princes and tsars Czar and tzar redirect here. ... Torture is any act by which severe pain, whether physical or psychological, is intentionally inflicted on a person as a means of intimidation, deterrence, revenge, punishment, sadism, or information gathering. ... EXILE is a 6-member Japanese pop music band. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers or Friends) began in England in the 17th century by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity. ... The adjective Tolstoyan (also spelled Tolstoian) refers to the author Leo Tolstoy. ... Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: , Lev Nikolaevič Tolstoj), commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, September 9 [O.S. August 28] 1828 – November 20 [O.S. November 7] 1910) was a Russian novelist, philosopher, Christian anarchist, pacifist, educational reformer, vegetarian, moral thinker and an influential member of the Tolstoy... Resurrection, first published in 1899, was the third and last novel written by Leo Tolstoy. ... Hutterite women at work Hutterites are a communal branch of Anabaptists who, like the Amish and Mennonites, trace their roots to the Radical Reformation of the 16th century. ...

Perhaps the most dynamic leader of the Doukhobors to date was Peter Vasilevich Verigin (1859-1924). Verigin was killed in a still-unsolved Canadian Pacific Railway train explosion on October 29, 1924 near Farron, between Castlegar and Grand Forks, British Columbia. 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR; AAR reporting marks CP, CPAA, CPI), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a Canadian Class I railway operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 63 days remaining. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1903 a radical faction of the Doukhobours calling themselves Svobodniki (Freedomites) or the 'Sons of Freedom' (SOF) embraced Verigin's writings in a zealous manner. A small group of the SOF participated in mass nudity and arson as means of protesting against materialism, the land seizure by the government, compulsory education in government schools and Verigin's assassination. This led to many confrontations with the Canadian government and the RCMP which continued into the 1960s and later. 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Freedomites, also called Svobodniki or Sons of Freedom, first appeared in 1902 in Saskatchewan, Canada, as a Doukhobor extremist group. ... Freedomites, also called Svobodniki or Sons of Freedom, first appeared in 1902 in Saskatchewan, Canada, as a Doukhobor extremist group. ... The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP or Mounties; French, Gendarmerie royale du Canada, GRC) is both the federal police force and the national police of Canada. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

The other two factions of Doukhobors are the independents, who, under government pressure, gave up communal living and took up homesteads in Saskatchewan, and the community Doukhobors, who moved to British Columbia to continue communal living. Many of the independent and community Doukhobors believed that the Freedomites violated the central Doukhobor principle of non-violence (with arson and bombing) and therefore do not deserve to be called Doukhobors.

Current status

Today the majority of Doukhobors (an estimated 30,000) live in Canada. Perhaps another 30,000 live in Russia. The Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, also known as Orthodox Doukhobors or Community Doukhobors, was formed by Peter P. Verigin (son of Peter V. Verigin) in 1938. It is the largest and most active Doukhobor organization, and is headquartered in British Columbia, Canada. 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendour without diminishment) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo Area 944,735 km² (5th)  - Land 925,186 km²  - Water 19,549 km² (2. ...

The Doukhobors no longer live communally. Their prayer meetings and gatherings are dominated by the singing of a cappella psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in Russian. Doukhobors do not practice baptism. They reject several items considered orthodox among Christian churches, including church organization & liturgy, the inspiration of the scriptures, the literal interpretation of resurrection, the literal interpretation of the [Trinity], and the literal interpretation of heaven and hell. Some avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and animal products for food, and involvement in partisan politics. Doukhobors believe in the goodness of man and reject the idea of original sin. A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... The logo of the worlds first Vegan Society, registered in 1944 [3] Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle that avoids using animals and animal products for food, clothing and other purposes. ... Michelangelos painting of the sin of Adam and Eve (the Fall) According to Christian tradition, Original sin is the general and non-personal condition of sinfulness (lack of holiness) into which human beings are born. ...

The religious philosophy of the Doukhobors is based on the two commandments cited by Jesus in Matthew 12:28-31: "Love God with all thy heart, mind and soul" and "Love thy neighbour as thyself." The Doukhobors have several important slogans. One of the most popular, "Toil and Peaceful Life," was coined by Peter V. Verigin.

Doukhobors are often associated with the Molokans, who originated in the same circumstances in Russia. At the end of the 17th century the protest movement against the official church split into Molokans and Doukhobors. These groups are distinguished more by their original social composition than by any major theological differences. Also the Molokans chose a leadership of elders rather than a single authoritative leader as with the Orthodox Doukhobors. The Molokans (Russian: ) are a Biblically-centered religious movement, among the Russian peasants, who broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1550s. ...

See also

• Christian anarchism
• Peace church
• Simple living
• Spiritual Christians
• Freedomites
• List of pacifist faiths

Christian anarchism (also known as Christian libertarianism) is the belief that the only source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable is God, embodied in the teachings of Jesus. ... Peace churches are Christian groups in the pacifist tradition. ... Simple living (similar but not identical to voluntary simplicity or voluntary poverty) is a lifestyle individuals may pursue for a variety of motivations, such as spirituality, health, or ecology. ... Spiritual Christianity (Russian: ) is a type of religious thought among the sectarianism of Russian Orthodoxy, with followers called spiritual Christians (Russian: ). Traditionally, the following sects are spiritual Christians: Molokans, Dukhobors, Khlysts, Skoptsy, and Ikonobortsy (Icon-fighters, Iconoclasts). These sects often have radically different notions of spirituality. Their common denominator is... Freedomites, also called Svobodniki or Sons of Freedom, first appeared in 1902 in Saskatchewan, Canada, as a Doukhobor extremist group. ... This is a list of faiths or religious groups that teach pacifism. ...

External links

• Doukhobor Genealogy Website
• ISKRA, a Canadian bilingual Doukhobor magazine
• [1], a Canadian site with international roots
• www.Doukhobor-Museum.org
• Canadian Museum of Civilization Exhibit on the Doukhobors
• Sons of Freedom History
• CBC Archives: Doukhobor bomb blast ignites fear in the Kootenays
• Ivan Sysoev, prolific and well-known Doukhobor poet and hymnist
• Explosion on the Kettle Valley Line: The Death of Peter Verigin - Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History

References

• Doukhobor Place Names by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff
• Guide to Doukhobor Names & Naming Practices by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff
• Doukhobor Historical Maps by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff
• Songs of the Doukhobors: an introductory outline, collected and edited by Kenneth Peacock
• The Doukhobors of British Columbia, by Harry B. Hawthorn
• The Doukhobors: their history in Russia; their migration to Canada, by Joseph Elkinton
• The Doukhobors, by George Woodcock and Ivan Avakumovic
• Spirit Wrestlers: Doukhobor Pioneers' Strategies for Living, by Koozma J. Tarasoff
• Plakun Trava: The Doukhobors, by Koozma J. Tarasoff
• Spirit Wrestlers: centennial papers in honour of Canada's Doukhobor Heritage, by Koozma J. Tarasoff and Robert B. Klymasz
• The Community Doukhobors: A People in Transition, by John W. Freisen and Michael M. Verigin
• Spirit Wrestlers, from Jim Hamm Productions Limited, a 2002 documentary video and DVD about the Freedomite Doukhobors.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. George Woodcock (May 8, 1912 - January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Nuttall Encyclopaedia is an early 20th century encyclopedia, edited by Rev. ...