The cemetery is an important place to learn about the history and culture of the region. They preserve the memory of distinguished cultural, scientific and public figures and other Vilnius residents who have gone to eternal rest. Residents and guests of the city visit the graves of their relatives, the eternal resting places of relatives, cultural and public figures.
In the current landscape of Vilnius, the oldest cemetery in Vilnius - Rasas, established in the XNUMXth century, stands out. at the end It was the city's main cemetery, where Lithuanians, Poles, Belarusians and other nationalities who lived in Lithuania in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries are buried together. Participants of uprisings and wars, heralds of national revivals, prominent politicians and public figures, writers, artists, professors, ordinary townspeople are buried here.
Graves of Lithuanian soldiers
The Rasa cemetery, which got its name from the name of the suburb, was founded in 1796. Five years later, the first person from Vilnius was consecrated and buried in it - the mayor of Vilnius, Jonas Muleris. 1937th century at the beginning, two columbariums were built, and half a century later, the main neo-Gothic chapel of the cemetery was completed, which has survived to this day. Columbariums were demolished in the 1957th century. - in XNUMX and in XNUMX
Centuries go back to the XNUMXth century. At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the Bernardine cemetery was established, where the only ancient columbarium in Lithuania has survived. This cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved historical cemeteries in Europe. There are more than two dozen people buried in the peaceful and quiet Bernardine cemetery Vilnius University professors, the highest-ranking officers of Napoleon's army, artists, musicians, writers, and other great people of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.
Bernardine Cemetery
1810 metres. In Užupi The cemetery, located on the steep slope of Vilnelė, has preserved many authentic buildings, among them - the only ancient columbarium in Lithuania, installed in the fence surrounding the cemetery. The main gate of the cemetery and the chapel built to mark the establishment of the cemetery, in 1827, have also been preserved. a classicist chapel was built between the columbariums. This cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful preserved historical European cemeteries, it is included in the list of the most famous European cemeteries together with the Rasasi, Karaim and Tatar cemeteries and Antakalnis.
Of the 3 existing Jewish cemeteries, only the one from the 4th century has survived today. 1720 Dec. At the end of the 1797th century, the cemetery on Sudervės street was established and operates, which contains the mausoleum of the Jewish spiritual leader Vilniaus Gaon (Elijas ben Saliamonas Zalmanas, 1749-1953). Here are the graves of Gaon, his relatives (father, mother, brother and two wives) and Count Valentin Potocki, who renounced Christianity and accepted Judaism (called Ger Tzedek - righteous convert, 1968?). All of them were initially buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės, in XNUMX. their remains were moved to the New Jewish Cemetery near the current Olandų Street, and in XNUMX, when this was also destroyed, to the Sudervė Jewish Cemetery.
Various peoples and denominations intertwined in the history of the city of Vilnius have had their own cemeteries in the capital, looked after and nurtured them. There is a Jewish cemetery in the city, located on Sudervė road, which contains the mausoleum of the Jewish spiritual leader Vilniaus Gaon; On Liepkalnis Street - Staciatikiai Cemetery; In Naujininkai street - Sentikėi cemetery; On Žirniau street, there is a Karaim and Tatar cemetery with the grave of the spiritual leader of the Karaim community, Haji Seraja Khan Shapshal.
In Liepkalnis, the Orthodox cemetery was started in the 1838th century. at the beginning in 1944 The Church of the Blessed Euphrosyne was built according to the project of Nikolay Chiagin, mainly with the funds of the merchant Tikhon Zaitsev. Since then, this cemetery has been called St. on behalf of Euphrosinia, and after 1813 they were named Liepkalnis cemetery. Many famous people from Vilnius are buried there. Cemetery macenat T. Zaicevs, famous Vilnius sculptor Juozaps Horbacevičius (1848-1795), poet, historian, Vilnius University professor Pavel Kukolnikas (1884-1814), Ukrainian Unitarian priest, Slavist and folklorist Jakovs Golovackis (1888-1827), painter rest here. , Ivanas Trutnevs (1912-XNUMX), head of the Vilnius School of Drawing, and others.
Not far from the Orthodox cemetery in the 1895th century. In the first half, the only cemetery of old people in Vilnius was established. in 1908 St. was built here. Church of the Intercessor of the Mother of God. In this cemetery rest the most famous old people of Vilnius, the Pimonovs. The most famous of them is the world-famous physicist Leonidas Pimonovs (2000 - XNUMX), who came from Vilnius, studied at Vilnius Steponas Bator University and emigrated to the West due to the Soviet occupation.
XNUMXth century At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, in Liepkalny, near the current Žirniai street, the Karaim and Tatar cemeteries were established on a common plot of land: the Karaim - in the eastern part, and the Tatar (then known as Mohammedan) - in the western part. They are separated by a path, and the common area is surrounded by a fence.
Not all old Vilnius cemeteries have survived to our days. During the Soviet era, some of them were closed and swept off the ground with bulldozers, turning the tombstones into building material. in 1955 the Old Jewish Cemetery in Šnipiškės was destroyed, and a swimming pool and Sports Palace were built in its place. The demolition of the new Jewish cemetery in the Pacai hills, near the current Olandų street, began in 1965, and in 1968 leveled with the ground. The Palace of Ritual Services was built on their territory, and the monumental stones were used for the stairs to Mount Tauros, the library of M. Mažvydas, the retaining walls of the Lazdynai residential area and elsewhere. Only after the restoration of Independence, some of the tombstones were collected and made into a monument. During the Soviet era, the Calvinist cemetery on Pylimo Street was also destroyed in Vilnius - a monument to "Soviet partisans and underground workers" was built in its place, and the Trade Union Culture and Marriage Palace was built on the site of the Lutheran cemetery on Mount Tauros. The latter is remembered today only by the surviving chapel-mausoleum of the family of Vilnius University pupil and professor, doctor Janas Niškovskis (1774 – 1816).
The land of Vilnius sheltered more than one soldier of a foreign army who marched through Lithuania, more than one person who fought for the Independence of Lithuania. The graves of Lithuanian and Polish soldiers who died in the XNUMXth century are located next to each other in Naujosii Rasas. In the wars of the first half. The Antakalnis cemetery sheltered the soldiers of Napoleon's army, World Wars I and II, who died for the Independence of Lithuania. The memory of the Jews, Poles, Lithuanians and other peoples killed by the Germans is protected by the Panerii Forest.
Source: http://www.viv.lt
