The Vagankovskoe cemetery is one of the largest and most famous necropolises in Moscow. This memorial complex occupies an area of ​​50 hectares of land. Its location is the northwestern part of the capital.

The Vagankovskoe cemetery in Moscow has become one of the monuments of history and culture.

Necropolis - last refuge

In the capital of our country there are three cemeteries where it is customary to bury national idols: Novodevichye, Vagankovskoe, and Kuntsevo cemetery.

The first is the most prestigious; people who officially made history are buried here. The Vagankovskoye cemetery is a kind of alternative; those who “didn’t make it to Novodevichy for some reason” are buried here, mostly public figures surrounded by people’s love, rumor and fame. Surprisingly, the word “vagant” is translated as “wandering artists,” so the necropolis seems to tell in advance about the type of activity of those who found their last refuge here.

History of origin

The Vagankovskoe cemetery was founded in 1771 by order of Count Grigory Orlov. Catherine II personally sent him to Moscow to prevent the consequences of the plague epidemic.

The formation of a new burial place was a necessary measure due to the many who died from the terrible disease. There was a catastrophic shortage of land in old cemeteries.

Over the following years (until the mid-19th century), this place was the last refuge of peasants, minor officials, and ordinary residents of Moscow.

The Vagankovskoe cemetery in Moscow gained its popularity after the burial of the fallen soldiers of the Russian army in 1812 in the Battle of Borodino. After that, the graves of people who wrote their names in history began to appear here: politicians, writers, poets, scientists, military personnel, actors and others.

By the end of the 20th century, Vagankovsky graveyards had become famous and prestigious burial places.

Today there are no places for new graves in the necropolis, but related burials and burials of urns are allowed (in closed, open columbariums and in the ground).

They spend here once a week sightseeing tours. People visiting the Vagankovskoe cemetery take photos here quite often, photographing the graves of their idols.

Temple

At the entrance to the territory of the necropolis there is a complex of buildings: on one side there is a church, on the other there are administrative premises.

In 1772, a small wooden church named after John the Merciful was erected. Instead, in 1824, the stone Church of the Resurrection of the Word was built, its architect was A. Grigoriev. Funds for construction were provided by Moscow merchants. The historical bells have been preserved in the Temple to this day.

In memory of the old church, a rotunda chapel was built, which is still there today.

The doors of the Temple were always open, even in Soviet times.

Mass graves at the Vagankovskoe cemetery

The tragic moments of our history can be traced through local burials.

Here are the mass graves of soldiers of the Battle of Borodino, the burials of those who died during the stampede on the Khodynka field.

On the territory of the famous necropolis there are:

  • a memorial dedicated to the victims of repressions of Stalin's times;
  • mass grave of the defenders of Moscow who died in 1941-1942;
  • monuments to those killed during the 1991 coup, defenders of the White House and child actors who were victims of a terrorist attack in 2002 during the musical “Nord-Ost”.

Vagankovskoye Cemetery: graves of celebrities (photos)

Not all people come to the Moscow necropolis to visit the burials of their deceased relatives. Most visitors are looking for burial sites famous people, for whom the Vagankovskoe cemetery became their last refuge.

Photos of celebrities, forever immortalized in stone, have always attracted attention. For some, this is comparable to going to a history museum. On the territory of the Moscow necropolis there is a map that will help you navigate the area.

One of the most popular burials is the grave of Archpriest Valentin Amfitheatrov. It is considered miraculous; many pilgrims come here every day and pray at the cross on the grave. In the 20th century, they tried to destroy it twice; the first time they could not find it, and the second time no remains were found.

Thus, the Vagankovskoe cemetery preserves its “quiet tenants”. Not everyone dares to take a photo of this grave, for fear of disturbing the peace of the archpriest.

The starting point for visiting the most famous burials is the columbarium. Right from the entrance, along the alley, there are chains of burials of athletes, actors, musicians, and poets.

Following the directions on the map, you can easily find the most visited graves - the poet Sergei Yesenin, the poet and actor Vladimir Vysotsky. The Vagankovskoe cemetery keeps many legends about them.

At the burial site of Yesenin, according to rumors, the ghost of a girl is seen. A year after his death, G. Benislavskaya committed suicide at the poet’s grave. In total, 12 people said goodbye to their lives here.

Vladimir Vysotsky rests in someone else's grave. Contrary to the order of the authorities to bury the poet and actor in the far corner, the director of the Vagankovsky cemetery gave other instructions, allocating a place at the entrance. Previously, relatives of one of the deceased removed the remains from the artist’s burial place for reburial, after which the grave was vacated. There is an opinion that those who visit his monument receive inspiration in creativity.

The Vagankovskoe cemetery preserves the graves of celebrities and famous artists, such as A.K. Savrasov, V.A. Tropinin, V.I. Surikov.

Tombstones of folk idols of the late 20th and early 21st centuries

Many monuments amaze with their architectural design. You can see the majestic statues of the deceased themselves in full height, such as Leonid Filatov.

Others have tombstones made in the Slavic style, for example, Igor Talkov’s - a large cross was built in memory of him, and at the head under a wooden visor there is his photo. This is one of the few graves where all year round Natural flowers.

The guides say that one girl wanted to bury herself alive next to famous singer, but she was not completely covered with earth, and the young woman was saved.

The Vagankovskoe cemetery keeps many similar stories. The graves of celebrities, photos of which are presented in this article, attract living people to themselves like magnets.

You can always meet someone at the graves of Andrei Mironov and Vlad Listyev. The first has a monument in the form of scenes, and the famous journalist and a bronze angel-girl with one broken wing is crying over the grave.

The unusual tombstone of actor Mikhail Pugovkin is like a film strip containing footage from the films in which he played.

Alexander Abdulov, who died of a serious illness in 2008, has a white monument erected in the spirit of constructivism, in the form of a rock with a large cross, a photograph of the actor and three-dimensional letters with his name.

Many athletes are also buried here: the Znamensky brothers, Inga Artamonova, Lyudmila Pakhomova, Lev Yashin, Stanislav Zhuk and others.

Monuments of “ordinary” people

“Vagankovskoye Cemetery” means “celebrity graves”; for some, these phrases have long become synonymous. However, when you walk along the narrow alleys of the necropolis, the tombstones of “mere mortals” catch your eye, whose loved ones tried to decorate the burial place in an unusual way.

It is impossible to pass by some of the tombstones, they are so striking in their architecture. Thus, a golden angel was erected on the grave of the artist A. Shilov’s daughter.

Here you can see family crypts, moments from life literally carved from stone, and sculptural sketches. There are also graves with simple crosses or monuments erected almost 200 years ago.

Vandals and other horror stories

Unfortunately, not all people treat cemeteries with respect; vandals often appear here. Most often they steal precious metals. Thus, an easel disappeared from the grave of the artist N. Romadin, copper strings were stolen from the harpist M. Gorelova, and a fence disappeared from A. Mironov. However, most often photos of idols disappear.

Not far from the entrance to the Vagankovskoye cemetery there is a statue of a headless woman - this is a monument erected to Sonya the Golden Hand. Its pedestal contains many handwritten inscriptions. She lost her head by accident - drunken vandals tried to kiss the monument and accidentally broke it.

There is an opinion that it is impossible to bury on the territory of the Moscow necropolis, since here the holy cemetery land was desecrated with the blood of suicides, and murders took place here. There are also many crime bosses buried here.

At A. Abdulov’s grave they often see a glow and feel the warmth coming from somewhere below. Against this background, the actor’s photo seems alive.

There is another strange burial - A. Tenkova. Those who linger near it may fall into a trance, after which they suddenly find themselves near another grave.

The Vagankovskoe cemetery is one of the three most famous necropolises in Moscow. More than 500,000 people, residents of the capital, found their final refuge on its territory. The Vagankovskoe cemetery is especially famous for the graves of celebrities. Famous artists, theater and film actors, athletes and other famous residents of the Moscow metropolis rest on it.

History of creation

The Moscow necropolis, whose celebrity graves are visited by more than 1,000 people every day, has a history of more than 250 years. Officially, the first records about the cemetery near the village of Vagankovo ​​appeared back in 1771: it was here, by order of Count Orlov, that residents of the capital and surrounding area who died of the plague began to be buried. However, on its territory there are burials dating back to 1696.

Currently, the Vagankovskoye cemetery or Vaganka occupies an area of ​​50 hectares and is located in the north-west of Moscow. It belongs to the Presnensky district of the capital. Despite the fact that there are burial places of more than 500,000 Muscovites, today only 1/5 of the total territory is in good condition.

The necropolis of our time is divided into 60 parts by paths, and each section has its own name. For example, the following are very popular:

  • Central;
  • Linden;
  • Yeseninskaya;
  • Writer's, etc.

The Vagankovsky necropolis is not only the burial place of famous people. On its territory there are more than 259 architectural objects cultural heritage countries.

It is known that tombstones for the burial places of celebrities were made famous sculptors, architects and others creative personalities. Since the cemetery is located on a vast territory and it is easy to get lost in it, there is a map of Vaganka.

Burials of dead people

The necropolis and columbarium are now a privileged resting place. Only those residents of the capital who made a significant contribution to the development of the city and the country as a whole are buried here. It is known that the following were previously buried on the territory of Vaganka:

Popular places among visitors

In peacetime, celebrities from various fields of activity are buried on Vaganka. Reliable information about the Vagankovskoe cemetery, a list of burials, and a full range of helpful attractions can be found on the official website of the necropolis.

Among the gravestones famous personalities The most visited graves are:

  • Sergei Yesenin;
  • Igor Talkov;
  • Vladimir Vysotsky;
  • Vitaly Solomina;
  • Georgy Vitsin;
  • Andrey Mironov;
  • Alexandra Abdulova;
  • Vlada Listyeva;
  • Sonya "Golden Hand";
  • Jap.

Tours often visit the grave famous poet Russia Sergei Yesenin. Bright representative Silver Age lived interesting life, on his grave there is an interesting composition made of stone, in the center of which the great poet is carved to the waist. There are always people and a lot of flowers at the burial site. Yeseninskaya Alley leads to the poet’s grave, a sign for which can be found near the church.

Rested at the Vagankovo ​​necropolis since 1991 famous performer own songs, bard Igor Talkov. It was the bard and no other way that the idol of millions called himself in his own work “Monologue”. On the grave of Igor Talkov there is a large dark cross, surrounded by armfuls of fresh flowers. His burial is located next to the grave of the famous Dynamo goalkeeper Lev Yashin.

The place where Vysotsky is buried, located after the entrance to the necropolis on the right. The grave of the famous artist Vladimir Vysotsky is impossible not to notice. He has been resting at the Vagankovskoye cemetery since 1980, and 5 years later a bronze monument appeared there. The songwriter bard is depicted in full height, and the composition itself is made of gilded bronze by the hand of sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov.

The famous Soviet actor Vitaly Solomin also rests in the north-west of Moscow. The year of burial of the great performer of the role of Doctor Watson is 2002. The funeral ensemble consists of a black cross in the form of Mount Golgotha ​​and Orthodox cross. At the base there is a portrait of the actor himself and the years of his life are indicated.

Found his final refuge at the Vagankovsky necropolis in 2001 and was a member of the immortal trinity of anti-heroes Coward, Georgy Vitsin. A modest white stele is installed on the grave, on which the name and years of the actor’s life are written. He was a modest man during his lifetime, and, as many have noted, the burial place fully suits him. One of the main characters of Leonid Gaidai’s film stories can be visited at site No. 25. In order to find the right burial, there is a local guide.

Conqueror of women's hearts artist Soviet theater and cinema Andrei Mironov is buried on Vaganka. The bright favorite of many has been resting on the territory of the necropolis since 1987. Previously, there was a modest plaque and a photograph of the actor at his grave, but now there is a complex monument made of black marble. You can pay tribute to your favorite artist at site No. 40.

The actor passed away ten years ago Alexander Abdulov. His grave is also located at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. Initially, a cross was installed at the burial site, but a year later it was replaced with a full-fledged monument made of white-gray granite. It contains a photo of the public's favorite, where he is depicted playing the role of Lancelot from the movie “Kill the Dragon.” Sculptor Vladimir Matyukhin, who worked on the project, put his soul into the monument.

The famous journalist and fighter for truth on post-Soviet screens, Vlad Listyev, also found peace at the Vagankovsky necropolis. He passed away in 1995. At station No. 1, a bronze angel mourns over the untimely death of the first director of ORT.

Unusual personalities

The graves of those people who lived on the other side of the law are also located in the famous Moscow cemetery.

A striking example of this is Sonya's grave of the Golden Hand. You can get to the burial place of the legendary thief and fraudster by walking along the Shchurovskaya path literally five steps. It is impossible to pass by her grave, as it immediately catches your eye unusual monument; woman made of marble without arms and head.

It is known that the burial place of Sonya the Golden Hand (in the world of Sofia Ivanovna Blyuvshtein) is empty, but this does not stop many people who want to get rich from coming to it. The grave of the fraudster, as many claim, has magical powers, and dishonest people often come to her for help early in the morning or late in the evening.

The famous crime boss Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed Yaponchik, also found his peace in the necropolis. The leader and “godfather” of the Moscow crime clan died in 2009. At his grave stands an impressive monument made of black marble. In the center of the composition you can see Jap himself, sitting on a stool; to his right is a lattice, and to his left is a cross.

What is unusual about the monument is that in the left hand of the “godfather” of the capital there is a glass of alcohol, and under the shoe of his left foot there is a counterfeit banknote worth 500 rubles.

There are also several churches and chapels located on the territory of the cemetery. Many people also come to the Church of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Church of the Resurrection, both pilgrims visiting holy places and ordinary travelers from various countries.

Opening hours and guide

Tourists can get to the Moscow necropolis in several ways:

  • metro;
  • public ground transport;
  • private ground transport.

Since the necropolis is located in the north-west of the capital, the question of where the Vagankovskoe cemetery is and how to get there by metro is very common. It is known that in the Moscow metropolis the fastest and most convenient transport is the metro, and for those who can navigate its maps relatively quickly, it will be very easy to figure it out. To do this, it is recommended to take the train going to the “Ulitsa 1905 God” station and, getting off there, go towards the center. Coming out of the subway, it’s worth looking for Dekabrskaya Street, which will lead to the famous cemetery.

For those travelers who, for some reason, prefer public ground transport, it is worth paying attention to buses No. 6, 69 and 152, which will definitely take the tourist to their nearest destination. Trolleybuses No. 5k, which means “ring”, and No. 35 also go to the necropolis on Dekabrskaya Street.

Those traveling in their own vehicles can enter the coordinates of the “Vagankovskoye Cemetery” into the navigation system, the address of how to get there - everything will be displayed on their screen. For those who do not have a modern satellite system, there is an address where the necropolis is located: Sergei Makeev Street, 15. The ability to use a paper map-plan and the desire to visit a local attraction will definitely help you achieve your goal.

The opening hours of the resting place of the stars, the time and hours of visiting depend on the season of the year.. From May 1 to September 30, the necropolis welcomes travelers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the cold season from October 1 to April 30, the Vaganka gates are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On weekdays, the cemetery experiences a large influx of tourists, so on these days there is no selection of burial places, except in emergency cases. A site in a prestigious necropolis is very expensive, not counting the installation of a monument or the construction of a crypt. Only famous residents of Moscow and their relatives (if this is a subburial) have the honor of being buried in the cemetery, and people will rest under one tombstone.

There is a group of volunteers in the capital that searches for forgotten graves of celebrities and, at their own expense, restores them and puts them in order. Activists maintain a blog called “Celebrity Graves in Russian Cemeteries,” photos from which can be found there. There are also indications of which famous person’s grave was discovered and restored by them and when.




The Vagankovskoe cemetery is probably the most famous necropolis of our time. The history of this place began almost three hundred years ago and continues to this day. It is unlikely that it will ever be possible to establish an accurate list of everyone who was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery at least in the last hundred years, not to mention its entire long history. The list of the deceased who found their final refuge here, according to the most conservative estimates, should have numbered about half a million names. However, many burials remain unnamed.

and the foundation of the cemetery

One of the last outbreaks of the plague in Russia in 1770-1772 was marked not only by mass death of the population, but also by significant popular unrest in Moscow and its surroundings. The unrest was suppressed, however, by decree of Empress Catherine II, dead citizens were prohibited from being buried within the city.

The preventive sanitary measure had an effect, the disease receded, and a necropolis grew up near Moscow in the village of Novoye Vagankovo, where ordinary Muscovites were buried.

Who is buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery? Of course, no one kept a list of burials in those distant times. In the 18th and 19th centuries, those who died from epidemics, soldiers who fell in the Battle of Borodino, those who died on the Khodynka Field and many other victims of wars and historical tragedies found their final refuge there.

The Great Patriotic War added mass graves and monuments to the defenders of the city to the Vagankovsky cemetery.

Do they remember everyone? Who is buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery among celebrities

Today, the biggest thing we associate with the graves of everyone’s favorite actors, cultural and artistic figures, politicians - our contemporaries. Meanwhile, many people forget that, in fact, this place became a necropolis of celebrities more than a hundred years ago. If at the very beginning of its history the Vagankovskoe cemetery could only “boast” of nameless mass graves and modest graves of ordinary people, then half a century later it turned into a resting place greatest people of his era.

Among those buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery are the most famous names of the 19th century. These are politicians, military men, cultural figures, writers and artists. Next to the magnificent graves of famous historical figures side by side are modest burial places of now almost forgotten people, whose names are known only to specialists.

Memory of the Decembrist uprising

The list of those buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery can begin with the names of the Decembrists. Currently, only seven of their graves have survived. In one fence are the tombstones of Alexander Filippovich Frolov and Pavel Sergeevich Bobrishchev-Pushkin, next to them is a pink marble stele of Ivan Nikolaevich Khotyaintsev.

On the main alley is the grave of Mikhail Alexandrovich Bestuzhev. His daughters and sister Elena are also buried here. A great woman whose name is undeservedly forgotten by her descendants. It was she who preserved for history the most valuable archival artifact - the famous Bestuzhev gallery of portraits of the Decembrists, taking it out of Siberia after the death of her brother.

A monument made of black granite crowns the grave of the Decembrist Alexander Petrovich Belyaev, and the grave of Nikolai Alexandrovich Zagoretsky is nearby.

Friends of A. S. Pushkin

Few people remember where the burial place of the great poet himself is. No, of course, he does not rest in the Vagankovskoye cemetery. The grave of the classic of Russian literature is located in the Svyatogorsk Monastery, in the Pskov region. Nevertheless, of those of his contemporaries who are buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery, many were closely connected with A.S. Pushkin and his family.

Thus, near the church ensemble there are the graves of the poet’s close friends: Count Fyodor Ivanovich Tolstoy and the famous theatrical figure and composer Alexei Nikolaevich Verestovsky.

Masters of the Brush

Famous people buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery did not always, after ending their lives, come to this place in glory and honor. Especially if we were talking about creative people who devoted all their strength to art and thought little about worldly affairs.

The host of outstanding artists, painters and graphic artists who are buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery is impressive. Vasily Andreevich Tropinin, the great painter of the Romantic era and the founder of realistic portraiture in Russian painting, is buried in a modest grave. He left more than three thousand portraits of his contemporaries and it was his talent and brushwork that Russian art owes to the development of realism and the emergence of the type portrait.

V. A. Tropinin was the first famous artist, buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. Following him, this Moscow necropolis became the last refuge for such masters of the brush as Vasily Ivanovich Surikov, Vasily Vladimirovich Pukirev, Nikolai Alexandrovich Klodt, Aristarkh Vasilyevich Lentulov and many others. The Peredvizhniki and avant-garde artists, illustrators, decorators, graphic artists and painters who worked in the 19th and 20th centuries are buried here.

People who were buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery and left an indelible mark on history are today mostly forgotten by their contemporaries. Many graves are dilapidated, some do not even have memorial plaques. Nevertheless, their names are gradually being returned.

The grave of the author of “The Rooks...”

At the Vagankovskoe cemetery there is the grave of the creator of the cult, or, as they say, “archetypal” work of Russian painting. Everyone still knows the famous work “The Rooks Have Arrived” from school. However, few people know tragic fate its creator.

Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov is one of the founders of the Association of Traveling Exhibitions, a brilliant painter and teacher. Alas, last years he spent his life in poverty. Personal tragedies that the artist could not cope with, alcoholism and constant need led to the fact that he found himself completely alone, forgotten and sick. He died in a Moscow hospital for the poor.

Initially, his grave was crowned with the cheapest wooden cross and a modest inscription on it read: “Academician Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov. Born May 12, 1830, died September 26, 1897.” The boards on the cross rotted and collapsed, eventually it disappeared, and the burial place of the great painter was abandoned and forgotten for many years.

However, the words of Isaac Levitan about Savrasov turned out to be prophetic: “One of the most profound Russian artists has passed away... From Savrasov appeared lyricism in landscape painting and boundless love for his native land... and this undoubted merit of his in the field of Russian art will never be forgotten.”

Today, his grave at the Vagankovskoye cemetery is decorated with a granite obelisk with a laconic inscription: “Outstanding Russian artist Alexey Kondratyevich Savrasov, 1830-1897.”

The last journey of Melpomene's servants

The list of celebrities buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery is impressive. Paradoxically, the necropolis, which appeared as a result of the greatest tragedies in the history of the state, became a favorite burial place for theater and film actors, directors, musicians and composers.

According to legend, the tradition of burying people of the acting profession here came from one of the Moscow mayors, by whose decree it was instructed to bury acting people at Vagankovsky. Perhaps because this cemetery was the largest and it was quick and convenient to get to, which reduced the cost of funerals, which were often carried out at public expense. However, there is another mystical coincidence: it was on the site of the future necropolis that jesters and buffoons settled in the 17th century.

Today, the number of beloved actors, musicians and singers buried here is difficult to accurately determine. The actors buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery were the idols of their time, and the glory of many has not been forgotten to this day.

At the entrance stands a snow-white iceberg monument in the constructivist style on the grave of Alexander Abdulov. The original monument-memorial in the form of film frames reminds of everyone’s beloved Mikhail Pugovkin. Nearby is the grave of “the best Watson in the world,” Vitaly Solomin. Actors Andrei Mironov, Oleg Dal, Leonid Filatov, directors and playwright, playwright and satirist Grigory Gorin. It’s impossible to count all the celebrities who are buried at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery who enriched the Russian and world culture. Below is a list (far from complete, of course, of celebrities not mentioned in the text):

  • - writer.
  • Alov Alexander - director.
  • Bogatyrev Yuri - actor.
  • Braginsky Emil - playwright.
  • Burkov Georgy - actor.
  • Balter Alla - actress.
  • Vitsin Georgy - actor.
  • Voroshilov Vladimir - presenter.
  • Spiridonov Vadim - actor.
  • Garin Erast - actor.
  • Glebov Peter - actor.
  • Gluzsky Mikhail - actor.
  • Dvorzhetsky Evgeniy - actor.
  • Kaverin Veniamin - writer.
  • Kononov Mikhail - actor.
  • Levtova Marina - actress.
  • Liepa Maris - dancer.
  • Vlad Listyev is a journalist.
  • Migulya Vladimir - composer.
  • Rozov Victor - playwright.
  • Rostotsky Andrey - actor.
  • Sazonova Nina - actress.
  • Samoilov Vladimir - actor.
  • - actor.
  • Streltsov Eduard is an athlete.
  • Tanich Mikhail - poet.
  • Seraphim Tulikov - composer.
  • Fedorova Zoya - actress.
  • Leonid Kharitonov - actor.
  • Chekan Stanislav - actor.
  • Chukhrai Grigory is a film director.
  • Yumatov Georgy - actor.
  • Yashin Lev is an athlete.

Two graves of one genius

There is also a monument to Vsevolod Meyerhold. Tragic, like the life of the director himself, the fate of his grave. For a long time, the circumstances and place of Meyerhold’s death were kept secret. Only in 1987 did his real burial place in the cemetery near the Donskoy Monastery become known. A black stone stele with Meyerhold's name was installed on the grave of his tragically deceased wife Zinaida Reich 20 years before the discovery of the real burial place of the theater directing reformer.

"Faithful Galya"

The poet Sergei Yesenin is buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. The rebellious life and tragic death of the young genius of poetry attracted the attention of fans and admirers to his resting place. Alas, the grave of Sergei Yesenin is notorious. Neither a bust carved in a block of white marble, nor a granite plinth buried in flowers can erase the sad facts of the history of this burial. One of the cemetery legends says that at night the ghost of a young woman appears near the grave.

“I committed suicide here, although I know that after this even more dogs will be blamed on Yesenin. But he and I don’t care. Everything that is most precious to me is in this grave...”

Perhaps this legend was based on the sad fate of his friend and assistant. A year after the poet’s death, she shot herself at his grave, leaving the famous suicide note. She rests here, next to her idol. The first inscription on the modest grave: “Faithful Galya” very accurately reflected the essence of her feelings for Yesenin and their difficult, drama-filled relationship. However, now the snow-white slab is decorated with long lines from the poet’s letter to her: “Galya, dear! I repeat to you that you are very, very dear to me. And you yourself know that without your participation in my fate there would be a lot of deplorable things.”

The series of suicides that followed at the grave of the “Moscow reveler” shrouded the place in an ominous veil of fatalism and misfortune. In total, 12 people committed suicide here - all women.

Idols of millions

It is difficult to count which celebrities are buried at the Vagankovskoe cemetery and what stories and legends shroud their deaths and resting places. The grave of Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky was no exception. The slightly pretentious monument depicts everyone’s favorite singer and artist, as expressive and eager as he was during his lifetime. On one side there is a portrait, on the other there is an allegory monument, the leitmotif of which is the lines of the artist’s prophetic song “Fasicky Horses.” Pathetic, strange monument. Eyewitnesses to Vysotsky's funeral claimed that his widow Marina Vladi cried when she saw the tombstone and called it an ugly example of socialist realism.

Vysotsky should not have found his last refuge on the main alley. The authorities assigned him a place in the far corner. However, fate intervened in the person of the director of the Vagankovsky cemetery, a great admirer of the work of Vladimir Semyonovich. It was he who allocated an empty place for the funeral at the very entrance, where the singer rests to this day.

The tombstone of another great bard is distinguished by its modesty and brevity. Bulat Okudzhava is also buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. The tombstone is in the form of a large boulder with an intricately executed inscription - the name of the singer and composer. This tombstone can rightfully be considered the most magnificent example of artistic minimalism.

One of the few graves still littered with flowers belongs to Igor Talkov. Another idol of millions, who died tragically at a young age. And his death is shrouded in secrets, rumors and legends, like many of his predecessors who were buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. A photo of the singer in a frame with a carved wooden pediment, reminiscent of a Russian hut, is almost always framed with garlands of carnations and roses. The tombstone itself is decorated in neo-pagan Slavic style. On a black pedestal stands a huge cross made of bronze, the surface of which is decorated with Cyrillic script, and at the base of the pedestal the famous lines “And defeated in battle, I will rise again and sing...” are inscribed in gold.

At the grave of Igor Talkov, as well as at the grave of Sergei Yesenin, there were suicide attempts. Fortunately, in this case, suicide was prevented and the restless fans were saved.

Who are the saints buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery?

There are special graves in this huge necropolis. There are always crowds of people around them; people come here from afar with prayers and requests for help. One of these graves belongs to Father Valentin. Although he was never officially canonized, people sincerely believe in his intercession and consider the grave miraculous.

During his lifetime, Father Valentin was known for his kind disposition and open, generous heart. The poor and orphans, widows and homeless people turned to him for help. The priest took a sincere part in the fate of everyone who sought his protection and support.

It is noteworthy that the exact burial place of Father Valentin is unknown. The priest died in 1908, and in the roaring 20s they wanted to destroy his grave in order to stop the pilgrimage. In 1941, after digging up the supposed burial site, no remains were found. It is believed that, fulfilling the will of Father Valentin, he was buried two meters deeper than it was customary to bury the dead.

Today, at the supposed resting place of the holy father, there are two crosses, literally a meter from each other. The white one, stone, was erected by the great-granddaughter of a clergyman, the second, wooden, was erected by pilgrims. From somewhere there came a belief that it was here, away from the official grave, that the ashes of Father Valentin rested. Both crosses have flowers, candles, and there is always a line of people begging for help and thanking them for their intercession.

Cemetery Vagankovsky. Grave of S. A. Yesenin. Moscow. Vagankovskoye Cemetery (Sergeya Makeev Street, 15), in the northwestern part of Moscow, in the area. Founded in 1771 during a plague epidemic nearby (hence the name). The current area is 50 hectares. Was… … Moscow (encyclopedia)

Cemetery Vagankovsky- Cemetery Vagankovsky … Russian spelling dictionary

This term has other meanings, see Cemetery (meanings). This article should be Wikified. Please format it according to the rules for formatting articles... Wikipedia

An area specially designated for the burial of the dead. The types of burials and the order of their maintenance are determined by burial rites (See Burial) adopted by certain peoples, religions, sects, social groups etc., as well as... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Cemetery Armenianskoe Vagankovskoe cemetery ... Wikipedia

55.732753, 37.68939155°43′57.91″ s. w. 37°41′21.8″ E. d. / 55.732753, 37.689391 ... Wikipedia

Main article: List of famous people buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery # A B C D E E F G H I K L M N O P R S ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Novodevichy Cemetery(meanings). Attraction... Wikipedia

Landmark Novodevichy Cemetery Novodevichy Cemetery in winter Country ... Wikipedia

Attraction... Wikipedia

Books

  • Deep, Alexander Molchanov. February 5, 1971. Moscow. Cemetery Vagankovsky. People in strict gray suits gather near one of the graves. They place six framed photographs next to the fence and lay them out in front of...

This famous cemetery owes its name to the village of Vagankovo, on the site of which it arose. From the XV to the XVI centuries. In the village there was an amusing courtyard, where folk festivities took place on a grand scale, until the founder of the Romanov family banned them. The wandering acting people gradually settled in Vagankovo, and after a short time a cemetery was organized in the surrounding area. Here they decided to rest in peace the singers and buffoons.

History of the cemetery

In the 70s of the 18th century, Moscow was shaken by a terrible disaster - the plague approached it. The city leadership decided to bury the dead outside the capital, and since there were already burials here, the dead began to be brought here. This is how the history of the famous cemetery unfolded.

During times of mass deaths, it was not customary to dig up individual graves, so there are many mass graves at Vagankovsky. Large holes dug hastily contain the remains of victims. Patriotic War 1812, the cholera outbreak of 1830, the Khodynka tragedy that occurred in May 1896, the uprising of the people in 1905 and the war of 1941-1945, after the battle for Moscow.

In the 20th century, talented and popular people began to be buried at Vagankovsky. The greatest Russian artists V.I. found their last refuge here. Surikov and A.K. Savrasov, scientist V.I. Dahl, actors G.M. Vitsin and A.A. Mironov, singers and poets V.S. Vysotsky, B.Sh. Okudzhava, I.V. Talkov, journalist V.N. Listyev, football players E.A. Streltsov and L.I. Yashin.

Mysticism Vagankovo

Like many famous cemeteries, Vagankovskoye also has a reputation as a mystical place where inexplicable, mind-boggling incidents happen. There are a lot of legends among people and scary stories dedicated to him. For example, among other burials there is the grave of Aglasia Tenkova. Those who happened to be close to her claimed that they were in an inexplicable state. On the tombstone with the dates of birth and death no longer distinguishable, there is a bas-relief carved in the form of a weeping angel, as if rendering hypnotic effect . If you look at it, you can lose track of time and wake up in a completely different place, at a considerable distance from the cemetery. It becomes impossible to return to this grave. It’s as if she completely disappears from the face of the earth. Collectors of mystical tales say that Aglasia died very young, and her grief-stricken father ordered a tombstone on which there is an image of an angel. This is all the information that our contemporaries have. And no one knows what happens to the grave, why it disappears and then appears again.

At the Vagankovskoye cemetery there is another wandering grave, which, according to legend, is visible only at night. Installed monument is unremarkable, and the inscription on the tombstone with a luminous cross is almost erased. The doors of the cast-iron fence are always open, as if someone had just visited a dear deceased. Not a single person has yet dared to go beyond the fence and read who is buried here.

What's a cemetery without ghosts? Mine ghost is here too. According to eyewitnesses, he appears near one of the mass graves and is dressed in a soldier's uniform of the French army. His face is distorted, he waves his arms and says something, but not a sound can be heard. It is assumed that in a foreign land the soldier is asked to help him return to his country or simply to find his family and tell him where he is. It’s a pity that no one can understand a Frenchman’s speech by the way his mouth opens without making a sound.

Popular Legends

There is a legend at the Vagankovsky cemetery, the popularity of which is off the charts. It concerns a watchman who had only one eye. The man worked in the cemetery all his life, initially as a gravedigger, then as an apprentice in a tombstone-making workshop. One unfortunate day, a flying piece of stone knocked out his eye. Due to constant headaches, he had to give up this craft. Not wanting to leave his usual places, he became a cemetery watchman, looked after the graves, helped lost visitors find the right grave or leave the cemetery. One day the watchman fell ill, fell ill and died. Another employee was hired to fill the vacant position. One day the new watchman went to make his rounds and saw a gloomy old man with a black patch over his eye, confidently walking among the graves like a businessman. From time to time he entered the enclosure, leaned over the graves and shook off the dust from the tombstones. After asking local old women, the new watchman found out who the old man he saw was. The new and old deceased watchman began to work together to maintain order and keep the cemetery tidy. To this day, people talk about a one-eyed old man who appears to those who are lost, helping them find a way out of the cemetery, and frightening vandals who desecrate graves.

Mysterious things happen all the time at the grave of one of the famous Russian actors. This person is an actor famous far beyond Russia - Alexander Abdulov . At night, a luminous cloud sways over his grave, making the artist’s photograph almost alive. This can be seen most clearly in infrared rays. Warmth emanates from the grave itself - so noticeable that stray dogs come and warm themselves here all winter in the cold. Different versions explain what is happening in different ways. Candles are burning on the grave. Skeptics claim that it is they who heat the air, which then rises above the grave. Some believe that it remains after his death and does not disappear anywhere. If a glow occurs over the grave, this, in their opinion, indicates that the person buried here had strong energy.

One of the most visited places here is the grave of the brilliant folk poet Sergei Yesenin. There were no memorable mystical incidents associated with it, but there is one story that, due to its special tragedy, deserves to be remembered. Sergei Yesenin took his own life in one of the hotel rooms. The poet was found hanged, after which he was interred on the last day of 1925. A year later, a woman came to this grave, whose name was Galina Benislavskaya. And Yesenin himself once admitted that she became a real guardian angel for him. She committed suicide right at his grave. The girl shot herself in the head with a pistol. In a farewell note, she wrote that the most precious thing in her life rested in this grave.