There, where the Literary Necropolis in Voronezh is located, you will definitely be given sightseeing bus excursions and walking routes in this city. The necropolis is located in one of the large parks of the capital of Chernozemye, especially beloved by residents and guests, in the Leninsky district of the city.
This place keeps the memory of those glorious Voronezh residents whose fates are a vivid example of sincere and deepest love for the Motherland.
At the beginning there was a city cemetery
The history of the Literary Necropolis is not easy. Now it occupies the territory of the cemetery, called the "New Mitrofanovskoe", which stood on the Near Chizhovka (a settlement outside the Voronezh). Thanks to the construction of the All Saints Church here in 1836, the cemetery received citywide status.
The resting place of A. V. Koltsov
Another six years passed and in Voronezh, Alexei Koltsov, a poet of amazing fate, died. Although he did not even graduate from a district school, forced to help his father early in affairs, now there are streets in our country named after him, he is a hero of films and performances, immortalized by huge circulations of poetry collections, monuments and plaques. Among the composers, on whose music the verses of Koltsov, M. A. Balakirev, A. S. Dargomyzhsky, M. P. Mussorgsky, N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov are based. His first poetic work, Three Visions, dates from 1825
Voronezh residents chose the Mitrofanovskoe cemetery as the resting place of the talented fellow countryman. A quarter of a century later, the poet’s sister replaced the monument with a new one. The tombstone informs: “Here lies the remains of Aleksei Vasilievich Koltsov ...”, and then you can read the following: “... who died on October 19, 1842, 34 years old from birth”.
If you look at the Literary Necropolis with a guide, he will tell you that there is an error in this inscription. In fact, the poet died ten days later than the deadline. But the true date was long incorrectly called even by biographers. The correct number was established with the help of church books, and the known date of Koltsov’s funeral is November 1. However, they did not bother to fix the tombstone.
On each of the three other sides of the current tombstone, quotes from the last work, “Calculation of Life,” were carved. It was sent in a letter with dedication to V. G. Belinsky.
Nearby are buried: father, livestock trader Vasily Petrovich, illiterate mother Praskovya Ivanovna and sister. At the graves of parents - massive cast-iron tombstones.
Monument to the poet’s sister
The sister tried to perpetuate the memory of her brother, erected a new monument on his grave and monitored his condition. And after her death, she remains next to her famous relative. The tombstone in the girlhood of Koltsova, and after her marriage received the name of Semenov, indicates that she did not live long - just a little over twenty-six years. Anisya was born on 25.12.1820, and left this world on 04.17.1847. You can also find out that she lies here with her son Vladimir, who died in infancy.
Land storing the ashes of I. S. Nikitin
Subsequently, new burials of famous figures of the pen continued the history of the Literary Necropolis. In Voronezh, he lived and worked another famous favorite of muses - Ivan Nikitin. He was a descendant of well-to-do merchants who learned to read and write early. He successfully graduated from a religious school, but not a seminary (his father, who was always drunk and eventually ruined, prevented him). Young Ivan, the breadwinner of the family, received his livelihood from the candle factory, and later from the inn. There he recognized the life of the poor. The famous piite not only splendidly described his native nature, but also talentedly protested against the exorbitant labor of Russian peasants and the heavy hopelessness of the poor existence, and exposed the unjust way of life.
I. S. Nikitin is buried next to A. V. Koltsov. The city community raised funds for the monument in 1863.
The tombstone is a vertically placed slab, the top of which is decorated with an ornament of laurel leaves. On white Carrara marble, the St. Petersburg craftsmen, the Bott brothers, placed a bas-relief of the poet in an oval. He is surrounded by a snake biting itself by its tail - a well-known symbol of infinity. The monument was designed by architect M.F. Peterson.
You can also see the number MDCCCLXII and two inscriptions: the top - "Nikitin" and the bottom - "Talent admirers and friends."
Another mistake in the inscriptions
By the sad irony inherent in this literary necropolis, a mistake was also made here. In the inscription, which says that Nikitin “Ivan Savich” was born on September 21 in 1824, and died in 1861, October 16, one letter “in” is missing in the middle name. The correct spelling is Savich. The rest of the tombstone is decorated with excerpts from Nikitin's works: “Dug by a spade ...” (one of the most popular poems, repeatedly put on music and translated into different languages) and “Fist” (the poem is considered the largest in the legacy of this author and largely autobiographical).
Grave of E. M. Militsyna
The literary necropolis of Voronezh became the last refuge for Elizabeth Militsyna, the Voronezh writer. She was buried here in 1930. A quarter of a century later, a monument was erected on which is written “The writer Elizaveta Mitrofanovna Militsyna.” The years of her life are indicated: from 1869 to 1930. A quote from letters from the “petrel of the revolution” by Alexei Maximovich Gorky, addressed to Militsyna. He calls the writer “an intelligent and staunch fighter for the revival of our country.” V. P. Chernetsovsky, a famous master masons, made a monument.
New History of the Literary Necropolis
- 1934. The newly-built Mitrofanovsky cemetery was closed by the Voronezh City Council.
- 1935 The year of the last burial. Almost all gravestones were taken away from the graveyard, with the exception of those belonging to A. V. Koltsov and his family members, I. S. Nikitin and E. M. Militsyna.
- 1940. Where a cemetery used to be, it was decided to set up a park. The people immediately dubbed it with the well-known name "Park of the living and the dead." Lawns and flowerbeds were laid out here, a cafe, a reading room, a dance floor, a summer cinema and a stage were built. Two shooting galleries, a tennis court and a sports town were located here, the rules for the TRP badge surrendered in an obstacle course. After gambling, a shower was available on the volleyball and basketball courts. Nearby they put swing-boats, giant steps and other attractions. The center of the main alley was, of course, occupied by the sculptural figure of the father of peoples.
- 1972 Park Aircraft Plant-16 was renamed the Park named after Durov, because it built a large circus.
- 1996 - the dance floor was demolished, and in its place the church of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Solonsky was built.
- 2009 This year was declared the Year of Koltsov. The Literary Necropolis made a major overhaul. Monuments restored.
- 2013 - those who came to bow to Nikitin and Koltsov in the Literary Necropolis of Voronezh found obscene inscriptions on their graves. Prior to this, the churchyard had never been attacked by vandals.
- 2018. As part of the International Day of Monuments, Voronezh residents held an annual campaign: they cleaned and washed city monuments, including the Literary Necropolis.
Address of the last shelter of Voronezh writers
Great writers come to bow constantly, and the folk trail here is not forgotten.
The memorial lives its own life. Poets and writers, great patriots found eternal peace right in the bustling center of the city of Voronezh at the address of the literary necropolis: the intersection of Moiseev street with the street of the Twentieth October Revolution.