Once called a settlement, the Kalitniki area has a story etched in stone and sorrow. This is the Kalitnikovskoye cemetery. It is one of Moscow’s most well-known burial grounds.
The Kalitniki cemetery’s history began in 1771. A plague epidemic swept through Moscow. This terrible disease claimed many lives. To cope with the crisis, the authorities established several new cemeteries. Rogozhskoe, Vagankovskoye, Danilovskoe, and Vvedenskoye cemeteries were also founded at this time. The Kalitniki cemetery got its name from the nearby settlement of Kalitniki. At that time, the area was not officially part of Moscow.
Over time, the Kalitniki cemetery evolved. Initially, it was a resting place for peasants from nearby villages. Merchants and entrepreneurs of peasant origin were also buried here. After the 1917 revolution, the cemetery became a popular burial site for Moscow’s intelligentsia. Scientists, artists, painters, and other intellectuals found their final resting place here.
A wooden church once stood on the grounds of the Kalitniki cemetery. Sadly, a fire completely destroyed it. In 1838, a new stone church was built. This church still stands today. It is dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. Architect NI Kozlovsky designed the church. In the late 19th century, IT Baryutin rebuilt the church. The interior decoration was modified. The sacristy and iconostasis were altered.
Many Orthodox priests and monks are buried in the Kalitniki cemetery. One notable grave is that of Metropolitan Alexander Vvedensky. He was a prominent figure in the Orthodox Church of the Revival. Vvedensky died in 1946 from paralysis. He was buried near his mother, Zinaida Savvichny. Later, his wife Olga Fedorovna Vvedenskaya and two sons were also buried there.
The grave of Nun Olga is also venerated. Believers call her Blessed Old Olga. During her life, she was a schema-nun with a unique way of life. Her admirers gather at the Kalitniki cemetery. They honor her memory and offer prayers. Nun Olga lived to the age of 103.
Today, the Kalitniki cemetery covers 19 hectares. A ravine divides the area into two parts. Both halves are divided into thirty sections. Some sections are still used for burials. Family burial plots are located to the left of the main entrance. An open columbarium allows for the burial of ashes in urns. If desired, urns can also be buried in the ground.
A memorial dedicated to soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War stands within the Kalitniki cemetery. Visitors can rent tools to care for graves. This service eliminates the need to transport bulky equipment. The Kalitniki cemetery is easily accessible by metro. Volgogradsky Prospekt, Krestyanskaya Zastava, and Proletarskaya stations are nearby. The cemetery is open daily from 9:00 am. Closing times vary by season. It closes at 5:00 pm from October to April and at 7:00 pm from May to September. Burials take place daily until 5:00 pm. Take a moment to reflect on the lives and stories held within these grounds.