A member of a Russian Christian religious sect that rejected church hierarchy and icons, and many of whom migrated to Canada seeking religious freedom in the early 1900s.
From Russian 'dukhoborcy' (духоборцы), literally 'spirit wrestlers,' from 'dukh' (spirit) + 'borets' (wrestler). The name reflects their theological emphasis on direct spiritual struggle and resistance to institutional authority.
The Doukhobors are a fascinating example of religious minorities who shaped Canadian history—entire communities migrated to escape Russian persecution, and their descendants still maintain distinct cultural practices in British Columbia, making them one of Canada's most distinctive immigrant groups.
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