At Novodevichy Cemetery, the Ordinary Trumps the Grand

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2976611990033992640rAiXjD

Raisa Gorbachov Monument at Novodevichy Cemetery with Columbarium niches in background

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/russia/moscow-novodevichy-convent.htm

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Cemetery (Новодевичье кла́дбище) is Moscow's third most popular tourist site. It has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. The cemetery was built next to the Novodevichy Convent immediately upon the convent's completion.
The cemetery was first used primarily as a burial place for Moscow's feudal rulers and church officials. Later it came to be used for Russia's intellectuals and merchants, while in the 20th century, it was the burial place for many of the Soviet Union's most well-known citizens. Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists. More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy. -from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/russia/moscow-novodevichy-convent.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Grave_N._S._Krushchev.jpg
The Grave of Nikita Kruschev "We will Bury You!"

While the monuments of the famous and powerful provide a wonderful history and art lesson, these photos of the niches of lesser known Russians, taken by Dedushka Nomto at Novodevichy Columbarium, are quite striking as well. The changes brought about by time and the elements give these portraits the haunting quality of distant memories. Perhaps this documentation of ordinary life can teach us more important lessons than the broad sweep of history.

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

For more photos by Dedushka Nomto, visit http://community.livejournal.com/urban_decay/2109922.html

New Life Breathed into Graveyard in Scotland

http://www.henniker.org.uk/images/places/scotland/mid-west/ladiesrock02.jpg

Ladies Rock, Stirling Cemetery, Scotland

Cemeteries are treasures and need to be preserved. They are museums, parks, and as is pointed out in the following article from BBC News, 'pleasure gardens'. When people say that cemeteries are wasted space, I wonder what could possibly be a better use of space than a peaceful historic park filled with memories.

http://flickr.com/photos/scallopboy/2175956434/
Tomb in Stirling Cemetery

New life breathed into graveyard
Work to restore the unique character of Stirling's ancient Old Town cemeteries is set to begin in August. It is hoped the individual character of burial grounds, which date from the 16th Century, can be reinstated. The £1.7m project, being steered by Stirling Council, is expected to be completed by July next year.
The work will include the restoration of the cemeteries' original "gardenesque" style as well as restoring stone and iron work. Records show that the area, which sits in the shadow of Stirling Castle, was used for many of the town's social gatherings in the 17th century.
The entrance to the site is also marked by the Church of the Holy Rude where James VI was crowned.
Pleasure garden
Local councillor Jim Thomson said it was vital the cemeteries were restored sympathetically.
He said: "The site bridges both the pre and post reformation periods in Scotland and, interestingly, the gardens were not laid out solely as a burial ground but also as a pleasure garden for local people." The project will form part of a vision to make Stirling's Old Town one of the most attractive urban heritage sites in Europe.

From BBC News. For the full article, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/7510139.stm