Rasos Cemetery - Misplaced Pages

(Redirected from Rasu Cemetery) Cemetery in Vilnius, Lithuania

Rasos Cemetery
Entrance to the cemetery.

Details
Established	1769
Location	Vilnius
Country	Lithuania
Coordinates	54°40′06″N 25°18′16″E / 54.66833°N 25.30444°E / 54.66833; 25.30444
Type	Public (closed to new burials)
Size	10.8 hectares (27 acres)
Find a Grave	Rasos Cemetery

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. 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 hectares (8.7 acres) 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 Literati (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 [pl] (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.

General view

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. 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.

Notable interments

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

Vladas Abramavičius (1909–1965), Lithuanian cultural historian, poet, journalist, translator
Adam Ferdynand Adamowicz (1802–1881), one of the pioneers of Polish veterinary, president of the Medical Society of Vilna
Francišak Alachnovič (1883–1944), Belarusian writer, journalist
Jonas Ambrozaitis (1856–1916), Lithuanian cultural figure, organizer of secret plays of then banned Lithuanian theater, Lithuanian book smuggler and distributor
Juozapas Ambraziejus–Ambrozevičius (1855–1915), Lithuanian composer, poet, founder of Lithuanian orchestra in Šnipiškės Saint Raphael church in 1897, member of the secret society Twelve Apostles of Vilnius (1895–1904)
Andrius Ašmantas (1906–1941), Lithuanian linguist, scholar, Lithuanian cultural activist of Lithuania Minor
Bolesław Bałzukiewicz (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
August Bécu (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
Janina Burchardówna (1883–1924), Polish journalist, teacher
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911), Lithuanian painter, photographer and composer
Petras Cvirka (1909–1947), Lithuanian writer
Kristupas Čibiras (1888–1942), Lithuanian priest, cultural figure, political activist, active member of Lithuanian cultural and educational organization Lietuvių švietimo draugija "Rytas"
Aleksander Dalewski (1827–1862), Polish political activist, founder of "Związek Bratni"
Viktoras Dasys (1895–1944), Lithuanian cultural activist
Rimantas Daugintis (1944–1990), famous Lithuanian sculptor; committed suicide by self-immolation protesting Soviet regime in Lithuania
Borisas Dauguvietis (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
Wacław Dziewulski (1882–1938), Polish physician, professor at Vilnius University
Antonina Fiszer (1824–1840), Polish actress
Liudas Gira (1884–1946), Lithuanian poet, writer, and literary critic
Antoni Józef Gliński (1818–1865), Polish writer
Antanas Gudaitis (1904–1989), Lithuanian painter
Władysław Horodyjski, Polish philosopher, professor at Vilnius University
Czesław Jankowski (1857–1929), Polish poet
Ludwik Janowski (1878–1921), Polish cultural historian, professor
Rapolas Jakimavičius (1893–1961), Lithuanian painter and sculptor
Stasys Jasilionis (1892–1950), Lithuanian American poet, writer, cultural figure
Wacław Jasiński (1881–1936), Polish pediatrician, professor at the University of Vilnius
Jonas Jašmantas (1849–1906), Lithuanian cultural figure, founder of the Lithuanian and Samogitian Charitable Society in Saint Petersburg, member of the secret society Twelve Apostles of Vilnius
Adam Jocher (1791–1860), Polish librarian, founder of the first public library in Vilnius
Aleksandras Jurašaitis (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
Aldona Didžiulytė–Kazanavičienė (1892–1968), Lithuanian children's literature writer
Vincas Kisarauskas (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
Franciszka Kleczkowska (1827–1889), Polish educational activist
Juliusz Kłos (1881–1933), Polish architect, author of the guidebook to Vilnius
Felicjan Kochanowski (1831–1887), Polish priest, educational activist
Kazys Kriščiukaitis (1870–1949), famous Lithuanian wood sculptor, author of wooden altars, restorer, establisher of his own workshop in Vilnius (1890)
Kazimiera Kymantaitė (1909–1999), Lithuanian film and actress and stage director
Jonas Kruopas (1908–1975), Lithuanian linguist, scholar
Marcelė Kubiliūtė, the only Lithuanian woman awarded all major Lithuanian orders
Antanas Kučas (1909–1989), Lithuanian graphic artist, book illustrator, professor
Gabrielius Landsbergis–Žemkalnis (1852–1916), Lithuanian playwright, publicist, book distributor, administrator of Vilniaus žinios
Sigitas Benjaminas Lasavickas (1925–1998), Lithuanian architect and theorist, architectural restorer, who contributed greatly to conservation and restoration of Vilnius castles, Trakai castles, Medininkai Castle
Anton Lavicki 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
Wacław Leon Makowski (1854–1929), Polish publisher
Mikołaj Malinowski (Lithuanian: Mykolas Malinauskas) (1799–1865), Polish-Lithuanian historian, archaeologist
Jonas Marcinkevičius (1900–1953), Lithuanian writer, journalist
Alfonsas Mikulskis (1909–1983), Lithuanian composer, musical conductor, choirmaster of Lithuanian National Art Ensemble "Čiurlionis" in Cleveland
Ona Mikulskienė (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)
Povilas Pakarklis (1902–1955), Lithuanian historian, professor of Vilnius University
Augustinas Paškevičius (1844–1914), Lithuanian doctor, cultural figure, chairman (1909–14) of Lithuanian cultural Rūta Society of Vilnius
Vincas Mykolaitis–Putinas (1893–1967), Lithuanian writer
Jan O'Connor (1760–1802), physician, professor at Vilnius University
Jerzy Orda (1905–1972), Polish historian, social activist
Elena Žalinkevičaitė-Petrauskienė (1900–1986), famous Lithuanian actor, poet, playwright
Kipras Petrauskas (1885–1968), Lithuanian tenor, founder of Lithuanian opera
Mikas Petrauskas (1873–1937), Lithuanian composer, musical conductor, cultural figure, author of the first Lithuanian opera Birutė
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
Stasys Pinkus (1925–1992), Lithuanian art historian
Karol Podczaszyński (Lithuanian: Karolis Podčašinskis) (1790–1860), Polish-Lithuanian architect, professor at Vilnius University
Rafał Radziwiłłowicz (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)
Albinas Rimka (1886–1944), Lithuanian economist, publicist, journalist, politician, Finance minister (1926) of Interwar Lithuania, Kaunas and Vilnius university professor
Ksaveras Sakalauskas–Vanagėlis (1863–1938), Lithuanian book distributor, poet, writer, contributor to Lithuanian newspaper Aušra, organizer of Lithuanian choruses and secret Lithuanian theater plays, chairman of Lithuanian culture society of Warsaw (1923–1934), cultural figure
Zygmunt Sierakowski (1826–1863), a commander of the January Uprising
Ludwik Sokołowski (1882–1936), Polish engineer, architect, professor at the University of Stefan Batory
Marek Konrad Sokołowski (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
Euzebiusz Słowacki (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
Povilas Snarskis (1889–1969), Lithuanian botanist, florist, professor of Vilnius University, author of books on Lithuanian flora
Jędrzej Śniadecki (1768–1838), Polish physician, chemist, biologist, writer
Wiktor Staniewicz (1866–1932), Polish mathematician, professor and rector of the Stefan Batory University in the years 1921–22
Albin Stepovič (1894–1934), Belarusian writer, composer, musicologist, cultural figure
Kanstancin Stepovič (Kazimir Svajak) (1890–1926), Belarusian priest, poet, musician, cultural activist
Konstantinas Stašys (1843–1919), Lithuanian priest, cultural activist
Władysław Syrokomla (Lithuanian: Vladislovas Sirokomlė) (1823–1862), Polish-Lithuanian writer
Władysław Szachno (1838/40–1889), pianist, composer
Marcelinas Šikšnys (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)
Jurgis Šlapelis (1876–1941), Lithuanian linguist, translator, founder of the first Lithuanian bookstore in Vilnius, cultural and political figure
Marija Šlapelienė (1880–1977), cultural figure, actor, active member of Lithuanian "Vilniaus aušra" 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)
Juozas Tallat-Kelpša (1889–1949), Lithuanian composer
Arūnas Tarabilda (1934–1969), Lithuanian graphic artist
Juozas Tysliava (1902–1961), Lithuanian poet, translator, journalist, publisher
Valerija Vaivadaitė-Tysliavienė (1914–1984), Lithuanian American cultural figure
Count Eustachy Tyszkiewicz (1814–1873), Polish-Lithuanian historian, archaeologist
Kazimieras Umbražiūnas (1909–1996), Lithuanian journalist, publicist, who wrote mostly about the region of Vilnius
Raimondas Vabalas (1937–2001), Lithuanian film director
Jonas Vabalas–Gudaitis (1881–1955), Lithuanian psychologist, professor at Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University, initiator of experimental psychology in Lithuania
Petras Vaičiūnas (1890–1959), Lithuanian poet, translator, playwright
Stasė Paulauskaitė-Vaineikienė (1884–1946), Lithuanian book smuggler and distributor, secret teacher (daractor), during Lithuanian press ban, writer, poet, cultural figure
Jonas Vengris (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, host of the Lithuanian art exhibitions in his Vileišis Palace
Antanas Viskantas (1877–1940), Lithuanian priest, writer, cultural figure, founder of the Society of Saint Casimir and "Vilniaus lietuvių meno ir literatūros draugija" ("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
Stanisław Karol Władyczko (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
Bronisław Wróblewski (1888–1941), Polish lawyer
Bronisław Żongołłowicz (1879–1944), Polish Catholic priest, professor at the University of Stefan Batory, member of the Sejm
Zigmas Žemaitis (1884–1969), Lithuanian mathematician, board member (1909–15) of Lithuanian Scientific Society, chairman of Higher Courses of Study (Aukštieji kursai) in Kaunas (University of Lithuania from 1922), aviation enthusiast, prominent cultural figure

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

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

Bibliography

Kviklys, Bronius (1985). Lietuvos bažnyčios. V tomas: Vilniaus arkiviskupija, I dalis (in Lithuanian). Chicago, Illinois: Lithuanian Library Press. pp. 407–413. ISBN 0932042546.

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