In any large modern city there are closed ancient cemeteries. Today, such necropolises are often recognized architectural monuments, often organized tours are even conducted on their territory. And indeed, any fairly old churchyard has something to see and think about. If you are interested in this subject, be sure to visit the Lutheran Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg.
Ancient necropolis for the Gentiles in St. Petersburg
Until the events of the 1917 revolution, the attitude in Russia towards foreigners was special. Specialists of various industries and scientists from European countries were held in high esteem and lured to work and move to Russia in every possible way; it was prestigious to marry a foreigner of worthy origin. As a result, Germans, French, and British immigrated to our country as whole families, and many remained here forever. What is important, foreigners maintained their status, and sometimes it was even easier for them to get public recognition or a high position than the "local" one. Such visitors were not even required to accept Orthodoxy, regardless of their status, Europeans were allowed to maintain their faith and not hide religious beliefs. It was for this reason that in 1747, by the order of the Synod, the organization of the first necropolis in St. Petersburg for non-Orthodox burials began. That is how in the south of the island of the Decembrists there appeared the Lutheran Smolensk cemetery, which received its name in honor of the Smolenka river, flowing nearby.
Who was buried in the non-Orthodox necropolis?
The place for organizing the burials of “foreign gentiles of foreign origin” was not chosen by chance. Very close is Vasilievsky Island, on which at that time many visitors lived. Since a significant number of foreign families residing in St. Petersburg permanently were Germans, the definition of this nationality has become somewhat synonymous with the word "foreigner". For this reason, Smolensk Lutheran cemetery is often called and is called today “German”. In fact, representatives of various faiths were buried here, among whom were people of various nationalities. The initial plan of the cemetery was drawn up by the architect Trezzini. Burials in this necropolis in most cases were carried out with special chic and by all the rules of that era, since most often the last refuge here was found by famous, respected and wealthy people. Tribal crypts, sculptural compositions and massive lavishly decorated tombstones are a common occurrence for the Smolensky churchyard.
The heyday of the necropolis
In 1836, it was decided to increase the territory of the cemetery. To implement this project, the council of the Church of St. Catherine purchased the land owned by the state adviser Kireev. As a result, the total area of the necropolis was increased to 15 hectares. A book of records of those buried in 1912-1919 has been preserved to this day. Having studied this document, we can conclude that in one year the Smolensk Lutheran cemetery in St. Petersburg increased by at least 350 new graves. In total, according to experts, about 25-30 thousand people were buried in this necropolis.
Smolensk cemetery in the late XIX - early XX centuries
Until February 1, 1919, the necropolis officially belonged to the parish of the Lutheran Church of St. Catherine. The Church Council has always invariably taken care of improving the territory of the cemetery and maintaining proper order on it. In 1882, for example, a list of monuments that were to be restored or replaced was even compiled. In total, more than one and a half thousand gravestones were included in this list. Those that were particularly damaged were described in detail and preserved at the church. In 1860, the church council officially responded to the Commission’s request for the construction of cemeteries on the availability of buildings and gravestones of the 18th century on the territory of the necropolis. According to this document, at that time there were 83 gravestones and 5 architectural monuments of the indicated period on the territory of the graveyard. On February 1, 1919, the Lutheran Smolensk cemetery was nationalized and transferred to the Office of the Commissariat for Internal Affairs.
Official closing and the years of the Second World War
For mass graves, the necropolis was closed in 1939. But, despite this fact, up to the middle of the 20th century, solitary burials were carried out here. From this moment begins the story of the decline of the famous cemetery. Some of the most valuable tombstones were transferred to the territory of the necropolis of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, while the rest of the graves began to gradually overgrow with grass, and their monuments began to decay and collapse. During the Great Patriotic War, the Lutheran Smolensk cemetery also accepted Orthodox deceased. A mass grave was organized here for the soldiers of the Leningrad Front and an unusual children's burial. On May 9, 1942, in one of the kindergartens of Leningrad, the kids and their teachers went for a walk, the entire group and staff of the institution were killed under enemy artillery fire. Children were buried here in a large common grave.
Famous people buried in the Smolensk cemetery
Today the cemetery makes a deplorable impression. Gorgeous sculptures and tombs are seriously destroyed, around garbage and desolation. Meanwhile, walking along the rows of graves, you can trace a significant part of the history of this glorious city. Be sure to walk along the old cobbled alley - this is the real Smolensk Lutheran cemetery in St. Petersburg. Who is buried here? Various great figures of past times of foreign origin: scientists, writers, architects, artists, doctors. The unusual tombstone with a stone bust belongs to Gaetano Ciniselli - the founder of the circus on the Fontanka. Let’s go further and see the family burial of the Shaubovs, the most famous architects in St. Petersburg. Also buried in the Smolensk cemetery: Agafon Gustavovich Faberge (younger brother of the jeweler Karl Faberge), S.K. Greig and A.K. Greig (admirals) and their close relatives, Karl Mai (founder of the May gymnasium), Nikolai Fedorovich Arendt (medical label of Nicholas I), Mauritius Wolf (publisher of Vokrug Sveta magazine) and many other prominent people.
What does Smolensk Lutheran cemetery look like today?
Photos taken in our time on this graveyard show that it is badly launched. The modern territory of the necropolis is only about 7 hectares. In 1985, part of the territory of the churchyard was transferred to the construction of a fire station, and then, in the mid-90s of the last century, a gas station was built near the entrance (on cemetery land). The Smolensk Lutheran cemetery suffered greatly from time and vandals. Although St. Petersburg is considered the cultural capital, the city seems to have forgotten about such an important architectural and spiritual monument. An interesting fact - the cult film “Brother” brought fame and popularity to the old necropolis, one episode from this picture was actually shot right here - at Smolensky Pogost. In the frame you can see one of the unusual and memorable “gazebos” - the entrance to the crypt. And since the release of the film on the screen, an increasing number of tourists want to visit this cemetery and take pictures, "like in a movie."
