KAMSACK — On Saturday, Oct. 12, the permanent signage of the Village of Voskresenovka also known as Voskreseniye was unveiled with descendants of families and friends in attendance.
On behalf of the Prayer Home Society of Doukhobors - Kamsack and District and particularly the committee who undertook the Voskresenovka (Voskreseniye) Permanent Signage Project, Patti Negrave, a member of the committee, extended a warm welcome to those in attendance. She indicated they were meeting on Treaty 4 Land, Home of the First Nations for many years. They were also meeting on the site of the Doukhobor Village of Voskresenovka, the Property of CCUB (Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood) established in 1899 by forefathers who risked their lives looking for a home where they could adhere to the precept of “Toil and Peaceful Life“. They became a part of the largest single migration of 7,500 people to Canada. She went on to state that they wished to not only dedicate the site but also to remember and thank them for affording their descendants to enjoy life in this province of Saskatchewan and Canada.
A short Prayer Service followed in the accepted Doukhobor Tradition starting with the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer in Russian by Lydia Cherkas, followed by the singing of the Lord’s Prayer and the traditional welcoming Hymn Daraheeya Menoote (Precious Moments God Grant Us) as recorded by Fred Konkin.
It was noted that although the original settlers have all passed into eternity and the Prayer Home and all other buildings are history, They are fortunate that descendants and their friends had the foresight to salvage the bricks, wood and nails before the fire: Peter and Lydia Cherkas, Gerald and Margaret Benneke and Fred Konkin. The bricks became the front of the cairn, the lumber became Doukhobor ladles and the nails became key ring holders. Bruce Cadbury, a Quaker from England was presented with a ladle when he visited the National Doukhobor Village Veregin on his trip across Canada in 2018. Many more items have found a new home all across Canada and will serve to spread the history and what existed here once upon a time.
Fred Konkin and Andrew Kazakoff, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Prayer Home Society, unveiled the plaque on the cairn. Walter Konkin from Port Alberni, a descendant, read the inscription on the plaque. Ron Zarchikoff, a descendant, shared some family history. The unveiling ended with the Hymn Speete Arli Boeviye (Sleep on You Brave Faithful Eagles).
Those who contributed to the building of the signage were acknowledged, including: Geo Verra Engineering for the land survey and Dean Cherkas for coordinating, Frameworks Yorkton Ltd. for creating the plaque, Grazier Custom Manufacturing Ltd.,Swan River, for the metal sign, Jim Tomochko for building the cairn, Jonathon Kalmakoff for his research and inscription, and Andrew Kazakoff for his supervision of the project.
Thanks was extended to all who attended. The event ended with an early supper at Lam's Restaurant.
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