Rasos Cemetery

Rasos Cemetery
	Entrance to the cemetery.
Details
Established	1769
Location	Vilnius
Country	Lithuania
Type	Public ; (closed to new burials)
Size	10.8 hectares (27 acres)

General view

Tomb of Antoni Wiwulski (Antanas Vivulskis) in Rasos Cemetery

Tomb of Jonas Basanavičius

Grave of Jozef Piłsudski's mother. The huge black tombstone is inscribed: "Matka i serce syna"
("A mother and the heart of her son") and bears evocative lines from a poem by Słowacki.

Rasos Cemetery (Lithuanian: Rasų kapinės, Polish: cmentarz Na Rossie, Belarusian: Могілкі Росы) is the oldest and most famous cemetery in the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is named after the Rasos district where it is located. It is separated into two parts, the old and the new cemeteries, by a narrow Sukilėliai Street. The total area is 10.8 ha. Since 1990 new burials are allowed only to family graves.

History[]

The year 1769 is cited in many sources as the date when the cemetery was founded. However, some historians believe it is a typo and the real date should be 1796.^[2] On April 24, 1801 the new cemetery was consecrated. Two days later Jan Müller, the mayor of Vilnius, became the first person to be buried there. A formal document was signed in July 1801. It specified that the cemetery received 3.51 ha of land and that the cemetery will be free of charge to all city residents. It was the first cemetery in Vilnius not located next to a church.

In 1802-1807 two columbariums were built. They reached up to five stories in height and were joined at a right angle. At the end of the 19th century the columbariums began deteriorating. In between the columbariums, a neo-gothic red brick chapel was built in 1844–50. In 1888 a matching belltower was added to the chapel. At first the cemetery was surrounded by a wooden fence, but it burned down in 1812. A brick fence was rebuilt in 1820 and portions of it survive to this day.

In 1814 the cemetery was expanded as authorities bought additional land from a city resident. The addition is now known as the Hill of the Literaries (Lithuanian: Literatų kalnelis). In 1847, members of the Eastern Orthodox church opened their own cemetery next to Rasos. It was used to bury soldiers from a nearby monastery hospital and poor city residents. Therefore, it became known as the Cemetery of Orphans (Lithuanian: Našlaičių kapinės).

After World War II, the Soviet authorities demolished the right columbarium and in the 1970s razed the left columbarium. The whole necropolis was to be destroyed in the 1980s as the Soviet authorities planned a major motorway to be built directly through the cemetery. Due to a press campaign led by the Polish-language Czerwony Sztandar (Red Banner) newspaper and economic difficulties, the destruction was halted. After Lithuanian independence (1990) and the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), Lithuanian and Polish authorities collaborated in a restoration of the cemetery.

Polish war cemetery[]

In 1920 a war cemetery was built near the entrance for 164 Polish soldiers who fell in the city during the Polish–Soviet War and Polish–Lithuanian War.^[3] It was rebuilt in 1935–1936 by Wojciech Jastrzębowski, who also designed the tombstone where the heart of Józef Piłsudski is enshrined.

Until September 18, 1939, when the Red Army entered the city, an honorary guard of three soldiers stood there at all times. Three unknown soldiers who refused to give up their arms to the Soviets in 1939 were shot on the spot and are now buried next to Marshal Piłsudski's heart. Part of the cemetery contains graves of Polish Home Army soldiers, who fell during the Wilno Uprising. Their graves, demolished after World War II, were rebuilt by the funds of the Republic of Poland in 1993.

Tomb of Joachim Lelewel

Notable interments[]

Rasos Cemetery

Tomb of Józef Montwiłł

Tombstone of Balys Sruoga

Tombstone of Petras Cvirka

There are many famous Lithuanians, Poles, and Belarusians buried there, including over fifty Vilnius University professors. Those interred there include:

(1909–1965), Lithuanian cultural historian, poet, journalist, translator
(1802–1881), one of the pioneers of Polish veterinary, president of the
Francišak Alachnovič (1883–1944), Belarusian writer, journalist
(1856–1916), Lithuanian cultural figure, organizer of secret plays of then banned , Lithuanian book smuggler and distributor
Juozapas Ambraziejus–Ambrozevičius (1855–1915), Lithuanian composer, poet, establisher of Lithuanian orchestra in Šnipiškės Saint Raphael church in 1897, member of the secret Lithuanian patriotic organization of Vilnius "Dvylika Vilniaus apaštalų" ("Twelve Apostles of Vilnius") (1895–1904)
(1906–1941), Lithuanian linguist, scholar, Lithuanian cultural activist of Lithuania Minor
(1867–1915), Polish sculptor, professor at the Vilnius University
Jonas Basanavičius (1851–1927), Lithuanian physician, scientist, patriot, activist, editor of Lithuanian newspaper Aušra, signer of the Act of Independence of Lithuania
(1771–1824), physician, stepfather Juliusz Słowacki
Cenotaph to Kazys Bizauskas, (1893-1941) Lithuanian statesman, diplomat, author, one of the twenty signatories of the Act of Independence of Lithuania
Kazys Boruta (1905–1965), Lithuanian writer and poet
(1883–1924), Polish journalist, teacher
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911), Lithuanian painter, photographer and composer
Petras Cvirka (1909–1947), Lithuanian writer
(1888–1942), Lithuanian priest, cultural figure, political activist, active member of Lithuanian cultural and educational organization Lietuvių švietimo draugija "Rytas"
(1827–1862), Polish political activist, founder of ""
(1895–1944), Lithuanian cultural activist
(1944–1990), famous Lithuanian sculptor; committed suicide by self-immolation protesting Soviet regime in Lithuania
(1885–1949), Lithuanian playwright, actor
Mečislovas Davainis–Silvestraitis (1849–1919), Lithuanian journalist, poet, specialist in Lithuanian folklore, book smuggler, Lithuanian cultural activist
Cenotaph to Pranas Dovydaitis (1886–1942), Lithuanian politician, teacher, encyclopedist, editor, professor, Signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, Prime Minister of Lithuania
(1882–1938), Polish physician, professor at Vilnius University
(1824–1840), Polish actress
Liudas Gira (1884–1946), Lithuanian poet, writer, and literary critic
(1818–1865), Polish writer
(1904–1989), Lithuanian painter
Laurynas Gucevičius (1753–1798), Lithuanian architect^[4]
, Polish philosopher, professor at Vilnius University
(1857–1929), Polish poet
(1878–1921), Polish cultural historian, professor
(1893–1961), Lithuanian painter and sculptor
(1892–1950), Lithuanian American poet, writer, cultural figure
(1881–1936), Polish pediatrician, professor at the University of Vilnius
(1849–1906), Lithuanian cultural figure, founder of Lithuanian charity organization "" in Saint Petersburg, member of the secret Lithuanian patriotic organization of Vilnius "Dvylika Vilniaus apaštalų"
(1791–1860), Polish librarian, founder of the first public library in Vilnius
(1859–1915), Lithuanian photographer, one of the first Lithuanian filmmakers, founder of his own photographic studio ("Jurašaičio ateljė") on Gediminas Avenue of Vilnius (1902-1922), Lithuanian cultural activist
Konstanty Kalinowski (1823–1864), Belarusian military commander of insurgents during the January Uprising
(1892–1968), Lithuanian children's literature writer
(1934–1988), Lithuanian painter, graphic artist, scenographer. One of initiators of ex-librīs movement, one of the first Lithuanian artists, who popularized Collage, Assemblage, Photomontage techniques
(1827–1889), Polish educational activist
(1881–1933), Polish architect, author of the guidebook to Vilnius
(1831–1887), Polish priest, educational activist
(1870–1949), famous Lithuanian wood sculptor, author of wooden altars, restorer, establisher of his own workshop in Vilnius (1890)
(1908–1975), Lithuanian linguist, scholar
(1909–1989), Lithuanian graphic artist, book illustrator, professor
Gabrielius Landsbergis–Žemkalnis (1852–1916), Lithuanian playwright, publicist, book distributor, administrator of Vilniaus žinios
(1925–1998), Lithuanian architect and theorist, architectural restorer, who contributed greatly to conservation and restoration of Vilnius castles, Trakai castles, Medininkai Castle
aka Jadvihin Š. (1869–1922), Belarusian playwright, opinion journalist, specialist in literature, translator and poet
Joachim Lelewel (1786–1861), Polish historian, professor at Vilnius University
Cenotaph to Anton Luckievich (1884–1942), Belarusian politician, historian, cultural figure, head of Belarusian museum in Vilnius
Ivan Luckievič (1881–1919), Belarusian cultural figure, bibliophile, collectionner, historian, archaeologist, whose collection was a base for Belarusian museum in Vilnius (established in 1921)
Józef Łukaszewicz (1863–1928), Polish professor at Stefan Batory University and revolutionist
(1854–1929), Polish publisher
(Lithuanian: Mykolas Malinauskas) (1799–1865), Polish-Lithuanian historian, archaeologist
(1900–1953), Lithuanian writer, journalist
(1909–1983), Lithuanian composer, musical conductor, choirmaster of in Cleveland
(1905–2008), cultural figure of Lithuanian Americans, conductor of kanklės ensembles
Cenotaph to Vladas Mironas (1880–1953), Lithuanian priest, cultural figure, politician, member of the Council of Lithuania, Signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, Prime Minister of Lithuania.
Józef Montwiłł (1850–1911), Polish humanist and sponsor of hospitals, orphanages and museums, sponsor of separate suburbs of houses in Vilnius (so-called colonies, most notable Lukiškės/Montvila colony near Lukiškės Square)
(1902–1955), Lithuanian historian, professor of Vilnius University
(1844–1914), Lithuanian doctor, cultural figure, chairman (1909-1914) of Lithuanian cultural Rūta Society of Vilnius
Vincas Mykolaitis–Putinas (1893–1967), Lithuanian writer
(1760–1802), physician, professor at Vilnius University
(1905–1972), Polish historian, social activist
Elena Žalinkevičaitė-Petrauskienė (1900–1986), famous Lithuanian actor, poet, playwright
Kipras Petrauskas (1885–1968), famous Lithuanian tenor, founder of Lithuanian opera
(1873–1937), Lithuanian composer, musical conductor, cultural figure, author of the first Lithuanian opera "Birutė" (staged in the building of the then City Hall, that is currently Lithuanian National Philharmonic in 1906)
The heart of Józef Piłsudski (1867–1935), Polish statesman. Also his mother, two brothers, and first wife are buried at Rasos cemetery
Onufry Pietraszkiewicz (1793–1863), Polish poet
Maria Piłsudska (née Koplewska; 1865–1921), first wife of Józef Piłsudski
Adam Piłsudski (1869–1935), Polish politician, Vice-President of Vilna, brother of Józef Piłsudski
(1925–1992), Lithuanian art historian
Karol Podczaszyński (Lithuanian: Karolis Podčašinskis) (1790–1860), Polish-Lithuanian architect, professor at Vilnius University
(1860–1929) Polish psychiatrist, social activist, professor at the University of Stefan Batory, co-founder of the Society for Social Medicine, co-founder of the Polish Psychiatric Association (1920)
(1886–1944), Lithuanian economist, publicist, journalist, politician, Finance minister (1926) of Interwar Lithuania, Kaunas and Vilnius university professor
(1863–1938), Lithuanian book distributor, poet, writer, contributor to Lithuanian newspaper Aušra, organizer of Lithuanian choruses and secret plays, chairman of Lithuanian culture society of Warsaw (1923–1934), cultural figure
Zygmunt Sierakowski (1826–1863), a commander of the January Uprising^[5]
(1882–1936), Polish engineer, architect, professor at the University of Stefan Batory
(1818–1883), famous Polish, Ukrainian and Russian guitarist, composer, inventor of his own type of Harp guitar, generally known as "The king of guitarists", was awarded the diploma of "The first guitarist of Europe" in 1858 in Carltheater, Vienna, the first professional guitarist of Lithuania
(1772–1814), Polish theorist and literary historian, father of Juliusz Słowacki
Franciszek Smuglewicz (Lithuanian: Pranciškus Smuglevičius) (1745–1807), Polish-Lithuanian painter, professor at Vilnius University
Balys Sruoga (1896–1947), Lithuanian writer and concentration camp survivor
(1889–1969), Lithuanian botanist, florist, professor of Vilnius University, author of books on Lithuanian flora
Jędrzej Śniadecki (1768–1838), Polish physician, chemist, biologist, writer
(1866–1932), Polish mathematician, professor and rector of the Stefan Batory University in the years 1921-1922
(1894–1934), Belarusian writer, composer, musicologist, cultural figure
(Kazimir Svajak) (1890-1926), Belarusian priest, poet, musician, cultural activist
(1843–1919), Lithuanian priest, cultural activist
Władysław Syrokomla (Lithuanian: Vladislovas Sirokomlė) (1823–1862), Polish-Lithuanian writer
(1838/40–1889), pianist, composer
(1874–1970), Lithuanian mathematician, poet, writer, translator, playwright, participant in the banned press, author of the first legal Lithuanian theater performance "Pilėnų kunigaikštis" ("The Duke of Pilėnai") in the Town Hall of Vilnius (1906)
(1876–1941), Lithuanian linguist, translator, founder of the first Lithuanian bookstore in Vilnius, cultural and political figure
(1880–1977), cultural figure, actor, active member of Lithuanian "" society, cultural Rūta Society, founder of the first bookstore ("Marijos ir Jurgio Šlapelių lietuvių knygynas"), dedicated to Lithuanian language and literature in Vilnius (1906-1949)
(1889–1949), Lithuanian composer
(1934–1969), Lithuanian graphic artist
(1902–1961), Lithuanian poet, translator, journalist, publisher
(1914–1984), Lithuanian American cultural figure
Count Eustachy Tyszkiewicz (1814–1873), Polish-Lithuanian historian, archaeologist
(1909–1996), Lithuanian journalist, publicist, who wrote mostly about the region of Vilnius
(1937–2001), Lithuanian film director
(1881–1955), Lithuanian psychologist, professor at Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University, initiator of experimental psychology in Lithuania
(1890–1959), Lithuanian poet, translator, playwright
(1884–1946), Lithuanian book smuggler and distributor, secret teacher (), during Lithuanian press ban, writer, poet, cultural figure
(1877–1935), Lithuanian mountain engineer, Lithuanian cultural activist, sponsor of Lithuanian charity organizations, school and policlinic in Vilnius
Antanas Vileišis (1856–1919), Lithuanian physician, humanist and sponsor of cultural and charity organizations, Lithuanian schools, newspapers, Lithuanian political activist
Jonas Vileišis (1872–1942), Lithuanian politician, mayor of Kaunas, signer of the Act of Independence of Lithuania
Petras Vileišis (1851–1926), engineer, humanist and sponsor of cultural and charity organizations, Lithuanian schools, Vilniaus Žinios and other newspapers, in his Vileišis palace
(1877–1940), Lithuanian priest, writer, cultural figure, founder of Lithuanian cultural organization "Švento Kazimiero draugija" and "" ("Lithuanian art and literature organization of Vilnius")
Povilas Višinskis (1875–1906), book smuggler, writer
Jan Kazimierz Wilczyński (1806–1885), Polish-Lithuanian physician, collector and publisher
Antoni Wiwulski (1877–1919), Polish-Lithuanian architect and sculptor
(1878–1936), Polish neurologist and psychiatrist, professor at the Institute Psychoneurological in St. Petersburg and the Stefan Batory University
Tadeusz Wróblewski, (1858–1925) Polish lawyer, bibliophile
(1888–1941), Polish lawyer
(1879–1944), Polish Catholic priest, professor at the University of Stefan Batory, member of the Sejm
(1884–1969), Lithuanian mathematician, board member (1909-1915) of Lithuanian Scientific Society, chairman of Higher Courses of Study (Aukštieji kursai) in Kaunas (University of Lithuania from 1922), aviation enthusiast, prominent cultural figure
Marcelė Kubiliūtė, the only Lithuanian woman awarded all major Lithuanian orders

There is also a mass grave of Poles kidnapped in 1919 from Vilnius by the Bolsheviks and shot at Daugavpils. In the middle of the cemetery, on the so-called Hill of Angels (Angelų kalnelis) there is also cenotaph of an angel, dedicated to unborn babies.

References[]

In-line

^ Juliusz Kłos, Wilno: przewodnik krajoznawczy, Wilno 1937, s. 229.
^ Girininkienė, Vida; Algirdas Paulauskas (1980). "Vilniaus nekropolis ir panteonas". Mokslas Ir Gyvenimas (in Lithuanian) (11). ISSN 0134-3084.
^ Deptuła, Katarzyna (2001-04-19). "Cmentarz na Rossie". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Warsaw. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
^ (in Lithuanian) Juozas Lebionka. Laurynas Gucevičius palaidotas Rasos (Laurynas Gucevičius is buried in Rasos). Voruta, No. 20 (542), 23 October 2003^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "January Uprising Commanders, insurgents' ceremonial burial in Vilnius".

General

Kviklys, Bronius (1985). Lietuvos bažnyčios. V tomas: Vilniaus arkiviskupija, I dalis (in Lithuanian). Chicago, Illinois: Lithuanian Library Press. pp. 407–413. ISBN 0-932042-54-6.

External links[]

Coordinates: 54°40′06″N 25°18′16″E / 54.66833°N 25.30444°E / 54.66833; 25.30444

[1] Juliusz Kłos, Wilno: przewodnik krajoznawczy, Wilno 1937, s. 229.

[2] Girininkienė, Vida; Algirdas Paulauskas (1980). "Vilniaus nekropolis ir panteonas". Mokslas Ir Gyvenimas (in Lithuanian) (11). ISSN 0134-3084.

[3] Deptuła, Katarzyna (2001-04-19). "Cmentarz na Rossie". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Warsaw. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2010-10-24.

[Lebionka-4] (in Lithuanian) Juozas Lebionka. Laurynas Gucevičius palaidotas Rasos (Laurynas Gucevičius is buried in Rasos). Voruta, No. 20 (542), 23 October 2003^{[permanent dead link]}

[5] "January Uprising Commanders, insurgents' ceremonial burial in Vilnius".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Rasos Cemetery

Contents

History[]

Polish war cemetery[]

Notable interments[]

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

Details
Entrance to the cemetery.
Established	1769^[1]
Location	Vilnius
Country	Lithuania
Type	Public (closed to new burials)
Size	10.8 hectares (27 acres)