Fans of wandering around old graveyards in search of interesting sculptures, inscriptions or peace, reminiscent of the transience of everything earthly, will be interested to know where the Novodevichy cemetery is located in St. Petersburg. It was founded in the middle of the 19th century. In the first year of its existence, only three people were buried on it. But later it became a popular and privileged resting place. According to Christian tradition, the churchyard is located near the Orthodox Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Although the female monastery built near it did not officially receive its name, and most of it was occupied by an educational institution for raising girls of noble origin, known to us as the Smolny Institute, the adjacent territory for burial of the deceased is also called the Novodevichy Convent cemetery in St. Petersburg.
Graveyard for gentlemen
All the monuments, crosses, steles, obelisks preserved here are able to impress visitors to this place. After all, this churchyard was intended for the burial of people belonging to the upper class. Also, the honor of being buried here was awarded to members of the creative elite, statesmen, scientists, military leaders. Therefore, their friends and relatives were not constrained in the means and manifestation of imagination in the expression of grief, installing memorials on the graves of their loved ones. Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg) has always been kept in order. They looked after not only the graves, but also the territory adjacent to them. Paths were sprinkled with sand, decorative flower beds were planted, and, of course, they were watched so that nothing was lost from sites belonging to rich people. And they often left expensive icons and other luxury items in their relatives' resting place, which, in their opinion, could maintain the status of the deceased at a high level.
Lost greatness
Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg) has been closed for burial since 1934. Before that, he had to survive the 1917 revolution, during which the churches standing on it were torn down, graves were looted or desecrated, and monuments were destroyed. For those who were not injured, there was no one to look after. The relatives of the deceased buried in them either went abroad or became victims of the revolution themselves, because the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg) served as a resting place only for people of high social status, who at that time were persecuted in our country. The last refuge and sisters of the female monastery were found on this graveyard. Their graves have survived to the present day. Until now, people come to one of them - Blessed Daria. This burial is another reason why people are interested in the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg), how to get there to bow to the blessed grave? This woman lived her life meekly and God-fearing. People loved her for her kind attitude to man. She died at a venerable age, but left a "testament". She promised to help everyone who came to honor her memory. But before that, you need to cross yourself and read three times, “Virgin Mary, rejoice!” In 1930, authorities worried about saving the remains of famous people. And although the Novodevichy cemetery in St. Petersburg was dilapidated and abandoned, the graves of celebrities, for example, the artist A. A. Ivanov, the sister of A. S. Pushkin, O.S. Pavlishcheva, and the composer Rimsky-Korsakov were transferred to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Churches aren't needed either
However, during the Great October Revolution, not only burial sites suffered. Three churches were also dismantled, the location of which was the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg). The first of them - the Church of Our Lady of Joy, All Who Sorrow Joy - was built in 1856 according to the project of E. I. Zhiber. This temple was erected at the expense of A.K. Karamzina, who lost her husband during the Crimean War. He died in a battle near Klafat. A.N. Karamzin was buried right there at the Novodevichy cemetery, and a few years later his widow lay down next to him. In the fall of 1883, the small church of Elijah the Prophet was illuminated, which became the tomb for the wealthy St. Petersburg timber merchant Ilya Gromov. Lined with glazed bricks, the building was designed by L.N. Benoit. The wooden Kazan Church, standing in the territory of the cemetery, also suffered at the hands of the revolutionaries.
Another test
The high position in society during life after death could not help those whose Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg) became the final resting place. The graves of celebrities, the photos of which are presented in this article, could be destroyed in the same way as those that were liquidated in the late 60s. This was not done by the vandals, but by the city services in accordance with the decision of the Executive Committee of the City Executive Committee of September 16, 1968. They removed the ownerless burial grounds and monuments that were not of artistic or historical value. Thus they decided to ennoble Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg). The list of burials that were destroyed during this action is presented in a guide compiled by A.V. Kobak and Yu. M. Priyutko. Only in 1964 they got rid of 400 tombstones. In our time, it has been established that the significance of some burials has been underestimated, and thus a part of the history of St. Petersburg has been lost.
Save the old days
In modern society, they understand how important it is to protect the memory of their ancestors. At the Novodevichy cemetery, there are ancient graves that are taken care of by relatives, and there are also those that are taken care of by organizations, others are supported by donations. For example, the Military Medical Academy raised funds and restored the monument of Doctor of Medicine Aleksey Troyanov. The Institute for Advanced Medical Studies pays tribute to the first director of this educational institution, E. Eischwald, annually caring for his grave. Students of the Institute of Railway Engineers volunteered to restore 23 gravestones belonging to former graduates of this educational institution, among whom there were many prominent people who participated in the famous construction projects of our vast country. The society of St. Petersburg is trying to preserve the historical necropolis. The city also allocates budget funds, for example, to refine the territory. Due to such revenues, the fence was replaced, the office building was repaired. Such places are valuable in that you can easily come and visit a famous person and thus touch the history of our country. Therefore, I want these graves to look worthy and consistent with the former greatness of their "residents".
Famous personalities
What you need to know for those who are going to visit the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg)? Who is buried there, of course. Of particular interest are the graves of famous people. It is very curious to see which tombstones are installed at the places of their burial. For example, the monument to M. A. Vrubel is a simple pedestal of blocks of black granite stacked on top of each other. Is a well-known artist who painted "Demon", "Pan", "Swan" worthy of this not entirely understandable structure? Surely it causes disappointment among visitors to the cemetery. This monument was restored after the destruction. But the monument, installed on the grave of N. A. Nekrasov, has survived to the present day as it was created by the sculptor. M.A. Chizhov in 1881. For many famous people, the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg) was the last refuge. The graves of celebrities, the photos of which are presented in this article, attract visitors, as well as burials with a special history. For example, a monument to the Savior at the resting place of the wife of General A. A. Vershinin by P.I. Küfferle, installed in 1915, according to legend, fulfills wishes. Therefore, people come to him and bring notes with their requests.
Many familiar names
It is impossible to list all those who were buried in the Novodevichy cemetery within the framework of one article. Let us dwell on several interesting surnames. On December 12, 1889, the well-known general practitioner S.P. Botkin died. He was an outstanding medical figure and at the age of 29 he received the title of professor. During his lifetime, the Alexander Hospital was built, nowadays named after him. His monument is a bust, standing on a high narrow granite pedestal.
In 1873, the famous poet F.I. Tyutchev died in Tsarskoye Selo. The Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg), a photo of which can be seen in this article, became a haven for his soul. Just like at the nearby burials of his relatives, a black marble tombstone lies on his grave, and a cross made of the same material, only white, decorated with carvings, is installed at the head of the tomb. This family place has been restored to the bicentennial of the poet.
The founder of Russian mushroom science M.S. Voronin is also buried here. He left a rich legacy to the current scientist, including descriptions and drawings of lower organisms, made with great accuracy. These materials are in demand to this day, although the scientist died in 1871. On his grave there is a simple cross, standing on a pedestal of granite carved in the shape of an ordinary stone.
A simple rectangle of white marble and a flower girl of the same material are installed at the burial place of literary critic Gosenpud Abram Akimovich. He lived a long life and during the time allotted to him on this earth, managed to write many research papers, articles and books. He devoted most of them to his favorite topic - musical theater. Thanks to his works, we are closely aware of the work and life of artists and musicians: Chaliapin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Ershov and others. He also studied drama, was engaged in translations, and himself wrote the libretto of Shabalin's opera The Taming of the Shrew. Died at the age of 96.
What are they
It is very important that on some tombstones, as if making sure that the descendants knew who lies beneath them, they indicate the kind of life activity of the deceased, as, for example, on the monument to Efremov P. A. Wife, setting it on the grave of her dear husband, she wished to indicate not only the dates of his life and death, but also that he was a famous bibliographer and bibliophile. And this is true. Peter Alexandrovich studied the history of Russian literature, searched for and printed works of famous poets: Lermontov, Batyushkov, Pushkin, Ryleyev, Zhukovsky and others. Unfortunately, after his death, his rich collection of books, portraits, drawings was sold out.
An unusual monument was erected on the grave of a scientist, rector of the Polytechnic Institute. It is a large stone pyramid mounted on four small with truncated peaks. Schukin N. L. did projects on which steam locomotives 1-3-0 and 0-4-0 of type were built. A 4th-class passenger carriage, a freight carriage, and the Baku-Batumi oil pipeline were also built under his leadership.
Lieutenant General Suslov N.A. is also buried here. He taught at the Nikolaev Naval Military School, served in the Baltic, participated in hydrographic work. A mountain, a cape and a peninsula are named after him.
Road to the necropolis
We called several famous people buried here, although in fact there are many more on this graveyard. Having learned about this, some of the readers will probably want to visit the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg). How to get there Arrive in St. Petersburg, take the subway and drive to Moskovskyi Vorota, and then walk along Moskovsky Prospekt. You can also take minibuses No. K36, K 350, K213, trolleybuses No. 15, 17, as well as buses No. 2МА, 2М to the stop “Tram park No. 1”. For those who travel by car to see the Novodevichy cemetery (St. Petersburg), the address is: Moscow Avenue, 100.
