Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow is known no less than the Kremlin, this is the burial place of the dead. The land area of seven and a half hectares is the whole history of the Russian people.
History of occurrence
The Novodevichy Cemetery appeared next to the monastery of the same name in 1898, which is located on the peninsula in Luzhniki. The monastery was founded by Prince Vasily III and dedicated to the liberation of Smolensk from the Lithuanian invasion.
There are several versions of the origin of the name of the monastery. According to one of them, it came from the field on which it is located. Once upon a time, the Tatars selected Russian girls for themselves on the Maiden Field. Another version connects the name of the monastery with its first nun, Elena Devochkina.
One way or another, this place has a rich history: the monastery burned down more than once, wandered from hand to hand, was used as a laundry, a gym, a kindergarten.
A cemetery for the repose of nuns was founded near the monastery. One of the first to be buried here was the author of the Novodevichy Convent, N. E. Efimov.
For a long period there were few burials in this place. However, over time, Novodevichy Cemetery became one of the most expensive and elite burial places. The graves of celebrities of national and cultural-historical levels are located there at every turn.
Who was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery?
People from the highest circles found their last refuge under the Novodevichy Convent. These were statesmen - military leaders and ministers, painters and sculptors, poets and writers, academicians and scientists. The personalities buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery are known to many. These are B. Akhmadulina (poetess), V. Bryusov (playwright), A. Chekhov and N. Chukovsky (writers), artists and sculptors A. Bubnov, N. Zhukov, V. Svarog, V. Shestakov. There are many relatives of famous politicians here - the wives of Stalin, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, Dzerzhinsky.
There were no cheap, let alone free, places at the Novodevichy Cemetery. It was and remains one of the richest and most comfortable burial places. In this regard, the graves were repeatedly abused and vandalized. After the revolution, in 1917-1920, most of the tombstones, crosses, sculptures and fences were destroyed or taken away.
Russian history in graves
After the October Revolution, it was decided to make the Novodevichy Cemetery a burial place for "persons with a social position." In 1930, the graves of N. V. Gogol, D. V. Venevitinov, S. T. Aksakov, I. I. Levitan, M. N. Ermolova and other public figures were transferred to the Novodevichy Cemetery. gravescelebrities take center stage here.
Geographically, the churchyard consists of three parts: the old cemetery (sections 1–4), the new cemetery (sections 5–8), and the newest cemetery (sections 9–11). It has expanded three times in its history. About 26,000 people rest in the necropolis.
Many historical figures are buried in the old site. Among them are M. Bulgakov and his wife, A. N. Tolstoy, V. V. Mayakovsky, I. A. Ilf, S. Ya. Marshak, V. M. Shukshin, V. I. Vernadsky, P. P. Kashchenko, A. I. Abrikosov, I. M. Sechenov, L. M. Kaganovich, V. M. Molotov, V. S. Chernomyrdin, N. S. Alliluyeva (Stalin’s second wife) and many others.
The "new" territory of the cemetery is a columbarium for urns with ashes, which has about 7,000 urns. There is the ashes of the writers A. Tvardovsky and S. Mikhalkov, the aircraft designer A. N. Tupolev, the grave of the great actor of all times and peoples - Yuri Nikulin. Politicians B. Yeltsin and N. Khrushchev rest in these places.
The "newest" site is the burials of Russian cultural figures, among them - E. Leonov, V. Tikhonov, L. Gurchenko, I. Ilyinsky, M. Ulyanov, N. Kryuchkov, S. Bondarchuk, A. Schnittke and hundreds of others.
Novodevichy Cemetery - tourism destination
Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow is one of the ten most beautiful and unique burial places in the world. It is a cultural and memorial property of Russia, and is also included in the UNESCO heritage list.
No wonder this burial place is on the list of many travel companies in Moscow. After all, except for the graves of celebrities,The Novodevichy Cemetery is filled with the works of famous sculptors and architects. The tombstones of the Novodevichy cemetery were made by such creators as M. Anikushin, E. Vuchetich, S. Konenkov, V. Mukhina, N. Tomsky, G. Schultz. The works are made in the new Russian style, neoclassicism and modernism were also used.
Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow: secrets and mysticism
The land of the Novodevichy cemetery has absorbed a lot of human tears and grief throughout its history. And let it sound paradoxical, but for many women the churchyard gave healing and hope. Perhaps this is because its fate, like the fate of the monastery, was largely determined by the feminine principle. Many female individuals are buried here, who during their lifetime were deeply unhappy. They loved and suffered, believed and hoped, but did not find happiness. Now the "sufferers" are in a better world, and their energy is able to heal and heal. She helps to find female happiness - meet your destiny, get married, give birth to a long-awaited child …
More than one eyewitness claims that strange silhouettes and shadows were seen while walking around the burial sites. Perhaps this is Abbot Devochkin, who has been guarding these lands for centuries. Maybe it's Stalin mourning at his wife's grave. Or maybe Gogol is looking for those who desecrated his grave? Rumor has it that when the writer was reburied, his body lay on its side and without a head. According to one version, the head was stolen by an unknown collector.
The most visited monument at the Novodevichy Cemetery
Many famous peoplerests at the Novodevichy cemetery. However, not all tourists are attracted by such gloomy places. This graveyard is an exception. There are hundreds of people wishing to visit the burial places of great cultural and political figures.
Some of the most visited places are Gogol's mystical grave, monuments to Chekhov, Bulgakov, Alliluyev Alley, Khrushchev's churchyard.
Gathers people and the largest monument of the cemetery - the clown Durov.
For a long time, after numerous attempts at vandalism, the entrance to the Novodevichy cemetery was closed. Now everyone can visit it.
Excursions to the Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is a cultural and historical heritage of Russia. It is one of the 100 most visited memorials by tourists. The churchyard is located next to the Novodevichy Convent on the street. Khamovnichesky Val, 50 (Luzhitsky proezd, 2), Sportivnaya metro station. Entrance to the necropolis is free. Visits are allowed from 9 am to 5 pm.
You can walk around the burial places both on your own and with a guide. Interesting walks around the cemetery are conducted by the writer, historian and journalist Igor Obolensky. You can sign up for a tour with him by phone - (495) 788–88–69.
A tour of the monastery with a visit to the cemetery is also conducted by the organization SUE "Ritual". In addition, the stories are conducted in different languages, especially for foreign tourists.
A tourist who visits the Novodevichy Cemetery with an experienced guide will learn a lot of interesting and informative from the history of Russia. Photos of walks takenas a souvenir, you can bring as a souvenir to your friends and relatives. After all, what could be better than a piece of history captured in a photograph?
It is better to organize walks at the Novodevichy Cemetery in spring or autumn, when it is not so hot.
Cemetery of the same name in St. Petersburg
There is a similar monastery with an adjacent cemetery in St. Petersburg. The Novodevichy Convent was erected here by the decree of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna in 1746 - in her old age she wanted to be tonsured. However, she soon changed her mind, and the monastery was closed after the death of its last nun. It was resumed only under Nicholas I.
Next to the monastery, a place was also allocated for a cemetery, the territory of which reached ten hectares. It has been buried since 1849. Novodevichy Cemetery in St. Petersburg was considered one of the richest burial places at that time.
The churchyard became the last refuge for such great people as F. Tyutchev, N. Nekrasov, I. Sadovsky, N. Schukin, V. Zhukovsky, M. Vrubel, K. Sluchevsky, S. Botkin, E. Eichwald. Many celebrities were sheltered by the Novodevichy Cemetery. How to get to the memorial - not everyone will say. And all because not everyone knows about the eponymous Novodevichy cemetery in St. Petersburg.
The churchyard is located at the address - Moskovsky proezd, 100, building 2. You can get to it using the metro - the stop "Moscow Gate" or "Frunzenskaya". The cemetery is open to visitors from 9 am to 6 pm.
Note for tourists
For mostcemetery is a place of grief and tears. However, there are also burials that can tell a lot about the history and culture of the people. Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow is one of them. It is included in the list of sights of Moscow. If possible, it is worth seeing for every tourist.
