Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries) Reviews (St. Petersburg, Russia)

Alexandr Nevsky Monastery

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

August 31, 2010

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Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter in 1710 at the spot where, in his view, occurred in 1240, a battle between Russian and Swedish, for which Prince Alexander of Novgorod and was much later that the name of Nevsky. In fact, the battle ...Read more Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded by Peter in 1710 at the spot where, in his view, occurred in 1240, a battle between Russian and Swedish, for which Prince Alexander of Novgorod and was much later that the name of Nevsky. In fact, the battle occurred a few dozen miles south, at the confluence of the Neva and Izhora. Why Alexander Nevsky? Because Russia was at war with the Swedes. And, as the most important monastery, this almost immediately given the status of Lavra. It even moved the relics of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the Assumption of the city of Vladimir (in fact, a sly the Vladimir left a part of the hands of the prince).

Entrance to the abbey was free, but money is worth visiting two cemeteries on either side of the entrance, and the Church of the Annunciation (where several members of the Romanov family and Suvorov). Generally around the monastery five cemeteries: the above three still need to add the Communist platform and Nikolskoye cemetery, behind the cathedral (where all go to see the graves Sobchak and Starovoitova).

We buy at a kiosk at the entrance to the necropolis of two tickets and enter the first - Necropolis 18 th century. By the way, in the ticket price includes guide service - that is, you can easily join any group. At first we just walked through the cemetery the rain, and then sit down next to a group of 6 people with a guide.

It is believed that the cemetery - not a place for walking, especially clearly understand that, walking among the tombstones in the rain. Prior to Catherine the Great was buried at the cemetery only the nobles, but the queen, determined to replenish the treasury, allowed for a fee, and then bury a merchant guild, ie millionaires, their tombstones are particularly pomp and value. Worth to see the grave of Pushkin's wife - Natalia (second marriage Lanskoy), her second husband is buried there, his name was on the other hand tombstones, Lomonosov (Moscow State University), Euler, Krasheninnikov, Fonvizin, Witte, architects Rossi, Kvarnegi. To the right of the entrance - a small crypt, which is open only in summer - there Crypt Sheremetevs.

The second cemetery is much more spacious! Right at the entrance - the grave of Krylov on the right side on a small alley - the graves of friends of Pushkin's Lyceum (Delvig and others), close to the wall - the grave of Dostoevsky - it is moving purposefully to her a few Japanese tourists. Interestingly, this is the grave - the only burial, which was implemented on the money to the church, all the other graves are made on the money relatives, or admirers of talent. From Dostoevsky's usually go to a number of graves of famous composers: Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Musorskogo, and further to artists - Shishkin, Kramskoy.

After a stroll through the cemetery, we go to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Main sanctuary of the temple - the power of Alexander Nevsky. Adventures of most of the relics could be the basis for a detective novel! After the revolution, they have transferred to the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism, which is located in the Kazan Cathedral, but in 1941 they remembered about them - the enemy was already at the gates of Leningrad! Then we took the historic decision - that the defenders of the city brought their military oath, not only at the grave of Suvorov, and the relics of Nevsky (Kutuzov as they had not dragged there from the Kazan Cathedral, a). At that time it was created the Order of Alexander Nevsky as military award. Might have to search, and searched long and hard - apparently, those who were aware, were to the point shot or afraid. For a while they searched for even in Moscow - allegedly took place! Discovered them by accident - came upon a silver shrine with the relics in the basement of the Kazan Cathedral. The reliquary was brought after the war in the Hermitage, where our good-looking, but quite grasping the Patriarch sent for power back to the abbey in 1989. Cancer, however, did not return the Hermitage - a work of art that you want. Find the power of the prince inside the cathedral is simple - from the entrance way to the right, past the turn to kissing will not pass.
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From journal One of the most amazing cities

Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries

by sararevell

London, United Kingdom

August 6, 2007

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Best of IgoUgo On the Russian Orthodox Easter Sunday, the Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (or Lavra) was a busy place. We arrived toward the end of the day, as last minute visits were being paid by young families and elderly babushkas. We wandered into the one church ...Read more On the Russian Orthodox Easter Sunday, the Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (or Lavra) was a busy place. We arrived toward the end of the day, as last minute visits were being paid by young families and elderly babushkas. We wandered into the one church that was open, feeling somewhat intrusive as it was filled with Russians going in prayer. We did a very quick circuit and headed back out to the entrance of the Lavra, where we arrived just in time to gain access to the famed Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries, which close around 5.30pm.

The monastery was founded by Peter the Great in 1710 and on this particularly holy day I could sense an overwhelming sense of community and belonging from the tides of people flocking in to worship. Walking towards its location at the southern tip of Nevsky Prospekt we hadn’t seen much indication of the crowds until we came close to the monastery’s entrance. There’s no entrance fee for the grounds in general but there is a small ticket booth along the walled lane that permits access to the two cemeteries. The system (if there is one) is somewhat confusing as the booth looked deserted when we passed by so we took the liberty of entering the Lazarev cemetery without paying but were soon chased down by an unimpressed lady who shooed us back to the booth where an attendant had magically appeared to take our money after all. The fee was small, about $2.30 per person. This didn’t include a photo fee but we took a couple of surreptitious snaps of two star attractions, the tombstones of Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky, as we wandered around.

Temperamental clerks aside, the two cemeteries are actually very beautiful and soporific. With tall walls, dwarf pine trees and narrow paths winding through plots bordered by wrought iron fences, I felt as if I was walking through a secret garden rather than a graveyard. We had been given a small map which indicated who was lying in which area, but with the large number of people interred here, it was still hard to locate them. Even the most recognizable names don’t necessarily have the grandest tombs.

The two cemeteries are fairly modest in size. The Lazarev cemetery is visually more dramatic, as headstones are packed in tightly and overall seem more indicative of the site’s antiquity. On the opposite side, Tikhvin comes off as the more organized and presentable of the two cemeteries and also contains most of the famous graves. They both possess their own charm though and even at closing time on Easter Sunday, drew in a decent number of people.

The compound is located close to the Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskovo metro station and there was very little to see between there and the Moscow train station so I would definitely recommend catching the metro if you decide to make an independent trip out to the cemeteries. Close

From journal St. Petersburg in all its Faded Glory

Alexandr Nevsky Monastery

by Amanda

London, United Kingdom

September 14, 2000

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Best of IgoUgo One of the few active monastic communities in Russia, this place is wonderful. As the sightseeing is predominantly outdoors, summer is a good time to come! The things to see here are the graveyards, in which many important local and Russian ...Read more

From journal Looking to Europe

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by barbara

Atlanta, Georgia

June 6, 2000

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Best of IgoUgo I was told by the hotel staff that most Russians run either in the country or in various parks throughout the city. They do not normally run on the sidewalks by the streets. To get to the country or the parks was not an easy thing for me to do ...Read more

From journal Peter’s City

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Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries)

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Alexandr Nevsky Monastery

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Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries)

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Lazarev and Tikhvin Cemeteries

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