† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

by N. Tchernousoff

Timofey Ivanovich Nahorny, was born on February 21^st, 1897, in the village of Velikoe Verbche in Volynia. He sang in the church choir from an early age and he learned the rubrics under the local choirmaster, in order to prepare himself to be a cantor. In 1915 he was recruited into the army and did duty in the Engineering Corps. In 1918, after the formation of the Polish State, he served with the Polish army, which gave him the right to a Veteran’s pension in Canada. In the 1920s he served as a clerk of the county council, but he was forced to relinquish this position because the Polish Government insisted that all civic employees should become Catholics.

Nahorny left for Canada in 1930 to seek work, leaving behind his wife, son Aleksei and daughters Yefrosinia and Anastasia, who are still living. Tom Nahorny (as he was called here) lived in Alberta from 1930 until 1936 and then came to Vancouver, where he became a member of the Russian Orthodox Society in 1948. In 1963 he was engaged as cantor of the Holy Resurrection Church.

Timofey Ivanovich possessed knowledge of the church rubrics, a rare fact in this age, and he willingly imparted this knowledge to his co-workers and clergy. He conducted the small choirs on weekdays, if there was a feast, and at vespers Saturdays. When a suite was built for him at the rectory, he lived there and took upon himself the guarding of the church property, which was then often the target of vandals and pranksters. He not only checked the pranksters, but also had gained their love and respect. After the last rites were said for Nahorny; these young men asked to be permitted to carry the casket.

Mr.Nahorny was deeply religious and fervently devoted to the church, and he always looked after the interior decoration of it. He collected many service books and spent his salary on the purchase of the Twelve Books of the Monthly Miney and a Book of Gospels. He was one of the few faithful to have been given the foreknowledge of his impending death. He went to confession after vespers on Saturday and took communion on Sunday, the Day of Transfiguration. When he came back to the choir after reading the Epistle, he was heard to remark: “Well, I have read the Epistle for the last time.” On Aug. 21, 1979 he fell unconscious outside the rectory and died in hospital.

A good testimony of him will remain in the hearts of those who knew him.