Human life inevitably ends. Once again, stating this obvious fact is somehow not accepted. However, any settlement has a cemetery nearby, and a large city is surrounded by them from all sides. Cemeteries are an integral element of urban infrastructure. Let us take a closer look at one of them. Regarding the level of maintenance and improvement of cemeteries, much can be said about administrative management and the culture of society. These things are always interconnected directly.
Beyond the Eastern Outskirts of Moscow
Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye cemetery is rightly considered one of the largest in Moscow. Its territory is located in the Moscow region, in the Balashikha district. Not far from it, the Moscow district of Novokosino is located behind the Ring Road. The Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery was founded in 1960 according to the decision of the Moscow City Council. It received its name in honor of the historical village, near which the territory was allocated under it. Today it occupies an area of 196 hectares, and there is almost no free space left on it. New territories for cemeteries are allocated by the Moscow authorities at a much greater distance from the capital. In the administrative sense, the Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye cemetery is a structural unit of the State Unitary Enterprise "Ritual", which manages most of the Moscow cemeteries.
Crematorium
Today, the cremation ritual is quite common. However, in earlier times he often met rejection as contrary to national funerary traditions. The Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery was one of the first in Moscow where a crematorium was opened. It took place back in 1973, the complex was built on an individual project. At that time it was not only one of the first, but also the largest in Europe. Today, the crematorium of the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery carries out up to forty cremations daily. Fiery burial has long become familiar, and does not cause any special objections. Mostly, the cremation ritual has become attractive for financial reasons. The cost of the ceremony fits into the standard rate - 3600 rubles. The burial of the urn with ashes in the niche of Columbaria is also very affordable and eliminates the need for the construction of an expensive memorial tombstone on the grave.
Mode of operation
Currently, the resource of the cemetery is almost exhausted. Therefore, only kindred burials are made here, as well as the placement of urns with ashes in the wall of a columbarium or in a related grave. Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye cemetery, whose opening hours depend on the season of the year, is open to visitors. From May to September, access to its territory is open from 9 to 19 hours daily, and from October to April from 9 to 17 hours. Funeral rituals are performed from 10 to 17 daily.
Location
The cemetery consists of two parts: central and eastern. Its territory was formed in stages, and therefore the scheme of the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery is quite complicated and not always logical. In total, 172 sections are marked on it, while some numbers are repeated twice, and some are completely absent. For possible clarifications, it is best to contact the administration. Service and other structures are located at the central portal. The eastern part of the cemetery has a separate entrance. It should be noted that the entire territory of the cemetery is well landscaped and meets generally accepted standards of landscaping. There is the necessary information infrastructure in the form of marking sections and direction signs along the alleys. A detailed diagram of the cemetery can be seen at each of the two entrances to its territory.
Temples and places of interest
On the territory of the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery there are two Orthodox churches - the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the north-western entrance and the chapel of the Martyr of Uara at the central entrance. Martyr Ouar is an Orthodox saint who has the grace to pray to God for those who have received death outside of Holy Baptism. At the graveyard of the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery, many important figures of Russian science, culture, art, cinema and public service found the last shelter. 40 Heroes of Russia and Heroes of the Soviet Union are buried here. At the cemetery are the graves of sailors of the Kursk submarine and special forces who died when the hostages were released from a school seized by terrorists in the North Ossetian city of Beslan. Here are the graves of those who died during the terrorist attack on the theater building on Dubrovka Street in Moscow. These memorable events are included in modern Russian history under the name "Nord-Ost."
