Little Gabriel

For three years a small band of Doukhobors in Hilliers, on Vancouver Island, have struggled to establish a "Spiritual Community of Christ." It was started by Michael ("The Archangel") Verigin, who decided that other "Douks" were losing sight of original Doukhobor tenets and becoming worldly and materialistic. Unlike other British Columbia Doukhobors, the new community stressed the old precepts of non-violence and communal sharing of all property, including husbands & wives. Its ruling elders decreed that until the colony was economically self-sufficient, no children should be born to any member.

Near the end of last year, the colony had ten cows; 50 of its 320 acres had been cleared for vegetable gardens and 300 orchard trees had been planted. The elders met, decided to lift the ban on children. In July, husky, unmarried, 36-year-old Florence Berikoff bore the first child, a boy. It was, said Colony Spokesman Joseph Podovinikoff, "the first free motherhood" based on 400-year-old Doukhobor principles.

The youngest member of the clan was christened Gabriel Archangelovich First, and dedicated "to the service of God and humanity." Last week little Gabriel's name was in the "White Book," a catalogue of those who "renounce themselves and private family ties to become eligible for membership in the universal family of whom the head is Christ and the Father in Heaven." The term "first" was used in lieu of a last name since "the earthly father is totally discounted." After christening, the earthly mother renounced her maternal ties (as will future mothers), turned Gabriel over to the joint parenthood of the 75 community members.

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