Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg, probably, can be called the oldest in the whole city. It appeared approximately simultaneously with the city itself. Moreover, this place attracts with its mystery, mysticism and many legends.
Why is Smolensk
It is believed that during the construction of St. Petersburg, workers from Smolensk came to Vasilyevsky Island . Due to hard work and poor living conditions, they died early. And they were buried on the southern shore of the island along the Black River. Since then, the field along it began to be called Smolensky.
However, most likely, this version is just someone else's speculation. The names of the river and the cemetery appeared after the construction of a church in this place dedicated to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The author of this icon was St. Luke. And Vladimir Monomakh transferred her to Smolensk. Hence the corresponding name.
In 1792, the church was rebuilt and was re-lit by the name of the Archangel Michael. However, to this day the temple has not been preserved, as it was dismantled in the 19th century.
"Double" Smolensk cemetery
St. Petersburg and the famous cemetery have a common history and almost simultaneous beginning. So, after the Poltava victory, thanks to which the northern capital exists, there was not a single officially approved cemetery in the city. Where it was - there they buried. On Vasilyevsky Island, they buried along the left bank of the Smolenka River (formerly the Black River). In 1710, a military office was built here, and the cemetery became the place for the burial of prisoners who died in the St. Petersburg prison. Rumor has it that dead criminals are directly in the shackles and buried.
The name "Smolensk cemetery" refers to two independent cemeteries located nearby - Orthodox and Lutheran (German). The oldest is considered Orthodox.
This cemetery became the official burial place in 1738 by decree of the Synod. The German cemetery was opened later - in 1747.
The cemetery was put in order and improved. Since there was no own chapel, in 1755 a church was erected in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Since then, parishioners, city residents, and cadets have been buried here. In 1807, the remains of the Maltese knights were buried. In 1831, a place was buried here for the burial of people who died from cholera.
By the middle of the 19th century, the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg was considered the largest in the city. By 1860, the number of those buried was 350 thousand. Today, the territory of the graveyard is about 50 hectares.
Flood
At the end of 1824, a flood hit the Smolenskoye cemetery. All the fences were demolished, the crosses were washed away, the burial places themselves were covered with earth so that it was almost impossible to find them. After the flood, many could not find the graves of loved ones. The flood destroyed the entire archive in the church, only parish books that the priests kept in their homes were preserved. The Church of the Archangel Michael was almost destroyed. As a result, it had to be demolished, since the building was no longer subject to restoration. During the flood, even three old women drowned, unable to escape.
In a word, the whole cemetery was completely disordered and suffered huge losses. It took a lot of time and effort to remove and restore everything. However, many burial sites were never found. For example, the burial of the Maltese knights.
The legend of the forty priests
Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg, as a rule, is crowded. Not only relatives come here to honor the memory of the deceased, but also just those who want to take a walk and look at the graves of famous people, as well as those who want to plunge into the atmosphere of secrets and mysticism. In the old historical part of the cemetery, which is heavily neglected, according to legend, you can meet ghosts. Many legends are associated with this place. And the legend of 40 martyrs in the name of faith is considered the most terrible and sinister. Many scholars and historians believe that this is not just a legend, but an event that actually took place.
In the 20s of the last century, authorities arrested forty priests in the Leningrad diocese. The arrested were brought to the Smolensk cemetery. They were lined up along the excavated grave and given a choice: either life in exchange for renouncing God, or death. None of the priests denied God. Then they were all buried alive. According to eyewitnesses, for three days from the ground came the groans of martyrs, and then the grave was illuminated by the Divine ray, and it became quiet.
Despite the fact that almost a century has passed since the tragedy, people come to the grave to honor the memory of forty martyrs. Candles always burn on the grave and flowers lie.
Blessed Ksenia of Petersburg
Smolensk cemetery is also famous for the chapel of Ksenia the Blessed, the patroness and guardian of St. Petersburg, famous throughout the city. And many legends are also associated with the name of this patroness.
So, according to one of them, the young girl Ksenia, having buried her husband, distributed to the poor everything that she had, put on the deceased’s coat and became insane. And in the heat and cold, she wandered through the city streets and told passers-by all sorts of crazy stuff. But it soon became clear that everything said by Xenia had a deep meaning. She possessed the gift of clairvoyance.
After Ksenia died, people began to come to the insane grave in the Smolensk cemetery. And soon they built a chapel in her honor. This church did not close even during the Soviet era. People believe that if you walk around the church three times, while thinking about your innermost, Ksenia the Blessed will fulfill her desire. This is probably why it is often possible to meet suffering lovers there.
Not just legends
Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg is famous not only for its secrets. Many famous Petersburgers rest in the cemetery.
The luminaries of science, such as Zablotsky, Viskovatov, Beketov, writers Sollogub, Charskaya, Emin, artists Makovsky, Shebuev, Jordan and Schukin.
On the central avenue of the cemetery you can see the graves of Mozhaysky - the man who designed the world's first plane, the creator of the battleships - Popov, the famous traveler Semenov-Tien Shan, the navigator Valkitsky, the commander of the submarine Panther Bakhtin, as well as his brother and nephews Dostoevsky.
Not far from the grave of forty priests is the Blokovsky path. At this place in 1921, Alexander Blok was buried. The poet’s grave has long been moved to the Volkovsky cemetery, but the “original” place was not forgotten. There is a memorial stone, and flowers from fans lie.
In addition to the graves of famous figures, the Smolensk cemetery has beautiful and unusual monuments. For example, a monument dedicated to the ranks of the Russian police, which has been preserved since pre-revolutionary times. This monument is constantly patronized by traffic police.
Cemetery today
In the post-revolutionary years, the cemetery was closed due to lack of space. And part of the land with the graves was given for the construction of ... a kindergarten.
In order to preserve at least the monuments and tombstones of famous figures, they were moved to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Today, the Orthodox part of the cemetery has been restored: tombstones, a chapel have been restored, paths have been ennobled, a special archive of all burials is being maintained. The cemetery is no longer buried (except in special cases).
The German part is in great desolation, and there are even rumors of an impending demolition. However, there are no changes so far, and people still come here to look at the preserved monuments of the 18th century.
So, if you decide to visit the Smolensk cemetery, how to get there? The nearest metro station is Vasileostrovskaya. There is a stop near the exit from the metro. Take the minibus number K-249 and drive fifteen minutes to Kamskaya street. Along it, without turning anywhere, go straight ahead and Smolenskoye cemetery is ahead. Address: Kamskaya street, 3.