Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery

Welcome to the Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery, a place where the stone monuments and sprawling greenery tell the silent history of Saint Petersburg. This is one of the oldest necropolises in the city, with its origins tracing back…

Your entrance into this sacred space is marked by the Holy Gates, an elegant architectural ensemble built between 1807 and 1809. Designed by the architect Luigi Rusca, these gates are a fine example of the neoclassical style that…

Perhaps the most spiritually significant spot in all of Saint Petersburg is this small, turquoise-domed chapel dedicated to Saint Xenia. Xenia, a beloved 'fool-for-Christ' who lived in the 18th century, spent forty years…

Standing prominently near the center of the cemetery is the Church of the Smolenskaya Icon of the Mother of God. This blue-and-white church is an architectural anchor for the site, its elegant spire reaching toward the sky. …

The Smolenskoye Cemetery is the final home for many of Russia's most influential figures in science, art, and culture. One of the most touching memorials is dedicated to Arina Rodionovna, the nanny of the legendary poet Alexander…

Near the Smolenskaya Church, you will find a large granite boulder that marks a significant site in Ukrainian and Russian history. This was the original burial place of the great Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko. …

As you move toward the newer sections of the cemetery, you will encounter a modern and deeply moving memorial. It is dedicated to the victims of the Flight 612 crash in 2006, a disaster that claimed the lives of an entire family…

As you make your way back toward the Holy Gates, the sounds of the modern city will slowly begin to replace the rustle of the leaves and the quiet murmurs of the pilgrims. The Smolenskoye Orthodox Cemetery is more than just a…