† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

Prince Andre Orbeliani.

THANK YOU NELSON – A sad news reached us in Russia: in Nelson, British Columbia there passed away one of her remarkable sons, Prince Andre Orbeliani. He had reached almost one hundred years of age. All of his life he was true to the far away land of his birth but his generous heart was not enough in itself to be of any help to her. The realities of life in his beloved country were too far removed from his pure ideals. He was exceptionally modest, open hearted and cordial to everyone. He was active, agile and clear minded and he was an excellent dancer even into his more than ninety years of age.

My wife and I were very fortunate to have had several visits with Andre Alekseevich and Irina Leonidovna Orbeliani. I shall call them according to the Russian custom of adding their names of their fathers. We met first in 1975 in what was then Leningrad and in 1992 and 1997 in Nelson. Together or alone we would visit this family of our relatives and lived in their home on Second Avenue in Nelson, B.C. We found ourselves in a world of wonderful kindness, intellectuality and spiritual values. We travelled together in many places and delighted in the sights of mountains and lakes, the vast ocean, Vancouver City and Vancouver Island. We lived amid the exquisite beauty of their home. Andre Alekseevich would recount in long conversations the many events of his life: as a boy and youth in Russia, as a student and young engineer in Brussels and Congo, and as a mature specialist in Canada where he and Irina Leonidovna emigrated in 1951. Close by the city of Nelson there are many emigrants from our country. We met them many times and heard the Russian language spoken in different situations and places. We wish to thank this city on behalf of those of live in Russia.

Andrey Bulaakh, Professor of St, Petersburg University and Victoria Kondratieva.

Andrey Alekseevich and Irina Leonidovna Orbeliani were parishioners of Holy Resurrection Church in Vancouver and each year would come for communion during Lent. They had not been able to attend as much as they would have wished owing to the great distance and advancing age. I myself have spent a lot of time in their company both in Vancouver and in Nelson. It was joy to visit them, they were unassuming, open hearted and willing to share their words of wisdom and fair play. Andre Alekseevich was deeply religious and always counted the blessings of life. May his soul rest in peace and our sympathy be extended to Irina Leonidovna Orbeliani. The couple had been married for sixty years.

By Irina A, Rozvaliaeff