The cemetery as if visualizes the history of Russian Orthodoxy, recalls the schism in the church and such a unique group of Christians as the Old Believers.
Early story
The Rogozhsky cemetery was founded in the eighteenth century behind the Pokrovskaya outpost, on lands formerly owned by Andronova Sloboda. During the raging epidemic of plague in Moscow , burial in the city was prohibited. In this regard, new cemeteries were established. Including preserved Rogozhskoe, Vagankovskoe, Kalitnikovskoe.
At that time, the cemetery, the photo of which became a sensation among art critics, was outside the city limits and was located in Andronova Sloboda. Count Orlov ordered on behalf of the empress to bury the deceased outside the city in order to avoid the further spread of the plague.
At first, mass graves of Old Believers appeared there. Catherine II allowed the representatives of their community to even arrange nearby shelter and a place for the poor. Old Believers built chapels. They served those who were called "runaway priests." Only in 1822 it was forbidden to hire them.
Near the chapels, the first settlements of the community began to appear. And at the end of the eighteenth century, they were even able to build the Cathedral of the Intercession. He became the most important center of all the Old Believers in the Russian Empire. There were pilgrimages of parishioners for many years.
During the French attempts to take Moscow, the minister of the church hid all the cathedral’s property in earthen pits.
He returned gold and silver to the place only at the moment when the French left.
Since 1853, the Rogozhsky cemetery became the official center of the archbishopric of the Old Believers in Russia.
Church problems
After the death of Yastrebov’s spiritual mentor, the church split. Some Old Believers switched to single-believers with Vladimir Sapelkin. Then their parish was founded in one of the two chapels. The main reason for the separation was that some Old Believers wanted to become merchants, but since 1855 this has been strictly forbidden to them.
In 1856, authorities began to show active attention to the Rogozhsky cemetery. At the insistence of the Moscow Filaret, both chapels were sealed.
Weakening attacks on Old Believers
Only in 1905, already under Emperor Nicholas II, in honor of the great feast of Easter, shrines were opened again and began to operate. The lord of the Russian Empire did this as a sign that the country was adopting a law on religious tolerance towards other religions.
Over time, merchants began to build houses near the church. Some of them buried Rogozhskoe cemetery. How to get to it is described below.
At the church valuable documents were discovered. Of greatest importance for the history of Russia is the Rogozh Chronicler — an inventory of the fifteenth century.
Tombstones in the cemetery in many places are masterpieces created by eminent sculptors. For example, the architect Shekhtel made a chapel in honor of Morozov and his family.
With the beginning of the coming to power of the Soviets, the cemetery (whose photo can be viewed later) ceased to be colorful and Old Believers.
And in a later period, interwar, they secretly buried those who were accused of disagreeing with the Soviet regime. After being shot in the KGB, the bodies were transported and buried under cover of night. So the Rogozhskoye cemetery of Stern, Loktionov, Smushkevich and others took shelter forever. They were military leaders who were suspected of a threat to the authorities.
In addition to the mass grave of the Old Believers, two more were arranged there - those who died during the Patriotic War and in the hospitals of the capital.
On the territory of this cemetery are:
Cathedral of the Intercession, retaining the Old Believer diocese.
The bell tower of the Resurrection.
Temple in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Closed idle house of worship, as well as the Orthodox Cathedral in honor of the Virgin.
Who is buried in the land of the unique cemetery of Moscow. List
You can walk around this place, like a museum. Since the eighteenth century, he was constantly watched, looked after the graves. Old Believers valued him as the center of their religious culture.
Famous personalities hosted by the Rogozhsky cemetery:
Soldatenkov, better known as a generous philanthropist, publisher of books, founder of the art gallery.
The Morozov family, including Timothy Savvich, and his son, and their descendant, academician Mikhail Akimovich.
Owners of the Ryabushinsky textile factory.
Archpriest from the Cathedral of the Intercession - Korolev.
Merchants and patrons of the Shelaputins.
The owner of the porcelain factory Kuznetsov Matvey.
Gita Balter - vocal teacher, musicologist.
Rogozhskoe cemetery: how to get there
Getting there is very simple. There are two ways to get to Rogozhsky cemetery:
Go to the Rogozh outpost. After that, go not so long along Vladimirsky highway, and then turn onto Starobryadcheskaya street. Only now they changed the name. Now this is the highway of Enthusiasts, the street named after Voitovich. She moves a little to the right of the road. In this case, visitors come simply from the most central gate.
Take public transport to the Pokrovskaya outpost. From it to the cemetery will have to go a little longer along the settlement. After that, the railway bridge from the Nizhny Novgorod road will begin. Very close to it will be visible the gates of the cemetery.
It is preferable to go the first way, because it has less dirt and dust. But the second road is much quieter and calmer.
Basic rules for visiting
The churches in the cemetery of Moscow, whose photos are available in the article, belong to two different faiths. Those who are not dressed according to the rules will not be allowed into the Old Believer shrines. Women's hair cannot be pulled out from under a scarf, the sleeves should be much lower than the elbow, and wearing trousers is prohibited. Bags cannot be worn on the shoulder.
Depending on whether some ceremony will take place in the building, those who belong to another faith may not be allowed to go there.
Temples
The first temple, which stands near the gate, is a bell tower created in pre-revolutionary times. Rogozhsky cemetery in Moscow is famous for this shrine, which was built in honor of the removal of seals from the altars. It is pillar-shaped. On the facade are images from ancient legends - birds Gamayun, Sirin, Alkonost. Inside is a typical old Russian style. The chapel houses icons of the fifteenth century.
Behind the bell tower are two more churches. One of them, on the left hand, is Pokrovsky. Outside, it is designed in a simple, inconspicuous classic style. It is of great interest to any researcher of antiquity.
On the right hand is a temple on the Rogozhsky cemetery in honor of the Nativity of Christ. It is built in a luxurious baroque style.
Icons
Each of them can literally be called a museum on the history of icon painting in Russia. They store those icons that brought them faithful parishioners - Old Believers. There are even masterpieces from the fourteenth century.
The restoration of icons, if carried out, is only according to the Old Believer laws, without the introduction of innovations of the era.
The Church of the Intercession has preserved more church images for different historical periods.
They are opened early in the morning, and they work until 11.50 or 12.00, when the last service occurs.
On holidays, as well as on Sundays there are no memorial services. In this regard, churches close earlier than usual, about eleven.
The Old Believer service itself is very interesting for its ancient chants, prayers.
If a large group of tourists comes to the Rogozhskoye cemetery in Moscow, they can be allowed into the temple and told in detail about its history, as well as about all the most interesting icons.
In the Cathedral of the Intercession are donations Soldatenkova, who was a noble collector of antiquities.
After visiting the shrines, you can head to the Rogozhsky cemetery. How to get to it is already known. An Old Believer archbishop lives between the churches and him. And all the church ministers of this community gather for important events there.
Behind the house was built a temple in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Co-religionists serve and live in it. After passing three shrines, you can get to the graves in the cemetery.