AGM 2019: Save the date

We are getting ready for Ghent.

Athens: lecture by Dr. Julie Rugg about Cemeteries in Western culture

ASCE is helping grow the international scientific cooperation in Europe.

Photoceramics: An Unsuspected European Cultural Heritage

Piazzale Cimitero Monumentale, Milano, MI, Italia  24/11/2018, Milan

Participation at the Adriatic Cemetery Days 2018

Conference in Zadar, Croatia
On Monday and Tuesday, 19 and 20 November 2018, the third conference Adriatic Cemetery Days took place in Zadar, Croatia.

WWI Armistice Centenary Walks through the New Cemetery in Belgrade (Serbia)

In a view of the WWI Armistice Centenary, two more guided strolls devoted to this important historical event were organized at the New Cemetery of Belgrade on November 4 and November 18, 2018.






Legendary WWI Military Commanders and Heroes Buried at the New Cemetery 
This guided stroll through the New Cemetery was devoted to immense courage, sacrifice and patriotism of the Great War participants. In the course of this inspiring stroll, our guide revived the memories of Legendary Serbian WWI Military Commanders, famous filed marshals, generals and majors, but also all those known and unknown man and women who significantly contributed to the Serbian WWI effort. One of the focuses of this stroll was the Memorial Ossuary of Belgrade Defenders (1914-1918), where the visitors were able to enter the crypt beneath the monument. This informative tour revealed many aspects of the Great War: locations, strategies, battles, and events, in addition to many intimate stories of hopes, fears, anger, pain, suffering, patriotism and love. 

Serbian She-Soldiers and Volunteer Nurses in the Great War 

Our visitors who showed up in significant number, disregarding the cold weather and the first snow, were able to hear emotional stories on the women in Great War.  The stories were related to the courageous she-soldiers who defended their country and were widely admired by the international community and press, but also the women who interrupted their successful careers or studies abroad to act as volunteer nurses or humanitarian workers, tending to the wounded at the battle fields or tirelessly travelling through the world, gathering aid in order to help their compatriots in these times of temptation.
We would like to share a story about a local lady, almost forgotten today, who played a significant role during the first days of the Great War in Belgrade. In spite of being a middle-class home maker, Vuka Popadic was considered one of the bravest citizens of Belgrade at the time. Upon first siege of Belgrade in the Great War, she started to gather around the hungry and frightened citizens of Belgrade. At her flat in down-town Belgrade, which was the center of military action, she organized an improvised field hospital, providing the first aid to the wounded soldiers and civilians and helping them to survive to the nearest hospitals. She even managed to capture a group of fifteen Austro-Hungarian soldiers, whom she later surrendered to the Serbian Army, but only after sheltered them in the safety of her home and treating them with fruit preserve (loc.: “slatko”) and fresh water in accordance with the local customs. 

Exposition "Memorabilijar" on the city cemetery “Pri Sv. Duhu” in Koprivnica


Municipal Utility Company Komunalac LLC Koprivnica, as a member of the ASCE Association, regarding All Saints' Day, on 1st November, opened an exposition "Memorabilijar" by Gordana Špoljar Andrašić on October 26 in the area of an old morgue.

Remembrance Day – WWI Armistice Centenary (New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia)


Since the New Cemetery of Belgrade is one of the rare, urban civillian cemeteries comprising five WWI Military Cemeteries, each November is marked with the series of commemorations devoted to all victims of the Great War.






On the occasion of the Italian Armed Forces Day and WWI Armistice Centenary, on November 2, 2018, the commemoration was held at the Italian Military Cemetery within the New Cemetery of Belgrade, for the purpose of remembering the Italian soldiers killed in the Great War, as well as all the casualties of the Great War, other armed conflicts and peace-keeping missions.
Another   commemoration devoted to the victims of the Great War was held on November 10, 2018, at the Austro-Hungarian Military Cemetery. The ceremony of laying wreaths and paying respects was attended by high ranking state and church officials from Austria, Hungary and Serbia, representatives of the embassies and defense attaché offices accredited in Belgrade. 

This series of commemorations was finalized by the Central State Ceremony, at the very day of the WWI Armistice Centenary, November 11, 2018 at 10:00 hrs. The Central Ceremony commenced at the Commonwealth War Cemetery, followed by the central event in front of the Memorial Ossuary of Belgrade Defenders. The ceremony continued by laying wreaths at the WWI Russian Ossuary, whereas the finale was marked by commemoration at the WWI French Military Cemetery. 


The Remembrance Day is commemorated each year on November 11, as a token of remembrance of the WWI armistice signed in the railway wagon in Compiegne (France) and the hostilities formally ended on November 11, 1918 - "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, each country was obligated to maintain the war cemeteries at their territories, disregarding the fate or nationality. Based on the decision of the SHS Kingdom from 1919, the Municipality of Belgrade secured the area for French, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian military cemeteries. The cemeteries were constructed by their respective countries in the period between 1928 and 1934. From their establishing until this day, the foreign military cemeteries are treated as separate, ex-territorial units, within the New Cemetery of Belgrade.


Like the Remembrance Poppy – in Serbia the same symbolism is assigned to the Natealie’s Ramonda (lat. “Ramonda nathaliae”) – an endemic flower species, growing in Eastern parts of Serbia and Macedonia. The flower is considered a symbol of the Serbian Army's struggle during WWI, due to its sturdiness (i.e. it can survive temperatures well below zero degrees Celsius) and potential to recuperate after the most severe weather conditions. The plant was first described in 1884 by the local scientists and named after the Queen Natalija Obrenović of Serbia. 


Remembrance Day at Commonwealth War Cemetery




Impressions and Emotions - Belgrade High School Students Visiting the New Cemetery (Belgrade, Serbia)


On October 24 and 25, 2018, two groups of  of high school students visited the New Cemetery of Belgrade.



On October 24 and 25, 2018, we were privileged to receive the visit from two groups of high school students: students from „Tehno-Art“ High School for Technologies and Crafts and students from High School Student Dorms Association of Belgrade. Exploring the history of the New Cemetery in Belgrade, since its beginnings to the present day, the students were introduced to the burial culture and by extension the importance of establishing the first architecturally planned cemetery in Serbia.


Strolling through the cemetery Allies, the students got acquainted with the architecture of the New Cemetery in Belgrade, including headstones they viewed as the works of art, in addition to the sculptural works that attracted their attention. In a view of the upcoming commemoration of the WWI Armistice Centenary and their history curriculum, the students visited the WWI Serbian Ossuary. The idea of visiting the crypt, which commenced with some degree of fear, ended in exuberance and the wish to find out more and extend the walk. 

The students transformed their impressions into the inspiring texts and drawings you may see within our post.

 

Impressions: New Cemetery in Belgrade – Open Air Museum 

When we heard that we are going to visit the New Cemetery, we were really surprised, since we are used to go to the cemetery on different occasions. First, we were extremely surprised by sheer size of the cemetery.... The Alley of the Greats is the last resting place of the most prominent WWI Serbian Field Marshal Živojin Mišić ... At his grave there is an impressive sculpture of a beautiful lady with a palm branch... We also visited WWI Serbian Ossuary, where the remains more than 4000 identified and unidentified soldiers, who died during the Great War were buried... Through intriguing stories of our guide, we traveled to a different era, when the history of our Country and our Capital was  being made...by Vida Gojković – Medical High School and Aleksandra Ranković – High School of Economy 


Guided Strolls through the New Cemetery of Belgrade Continued...

Portraits of Serbian Politicians and Diplomats and Tales of Old Belgrade and its Citizens – featured at the New Cemetery of Belgrade, Serbia
To our great satisfaction and much to visitor’s delight, the New Cemetery in Belgrade continued honoring 2018 European Heritage Days in a form of two additional them guided strolls held on September 30 and October 21, 2018.

Portraits of Serbian Diplomats and Statesmen



The significant number of visitors who attended the event, were able to hear the intriguing stories about people who chose politics and diplomacy as their careers, in addition to those who entered into this merciless arena from other professions. 



For the first time, the visitors heard the tales about diplomatic service of the significant authors and poets, representatives of so-called „Golden Age of Serbian Diplomacy" (between the two World Wars), including the tales on decisive moments in history, love and deception, intrigues and scandals.  



Tales of Old Belgrade and its Citizens 

This most intriguing of all the guided through the New Cemetery in Belgrade was highly anticipated by our visitors. Our inspiring colleague, who guided this themed stroll shared numerous interesting stories and led the visitors to an unforgettable journey through time. The visitors heard the stories on the eccentric Law professor who hated draught and was an accomplished card player, genius mathematician who was also the professional river fisherman, beautiful actresses who caused duels, industrialist with the soft spot for soccer and may others.


St. George’s Cemetery at Hermoupolis (Syros, Greece)

St. George’s Cemetery at Hermoupolis (Syros, Greece)
Syros is a rocky island located approximately in the center of the Cyclades group of islands in the Aegean Sea.

Founding of Hermoupolis

After the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Greeks from various parts of the country, that was under Turkish occupation, were to find refuge on this island, because of the security provided by Austria and France and the protection of the Roman Catholics ensured by a neutral Vatican.

Due to this privilege, many Greeks came here from other parts of the Ottoman Empire, where there were developed Greek communities such as Constantinople, Smyrna and Kydonies.

More specifically, after the destruction of the islands Chios and Psara and the coasts of Asia Minor (1822) many refugees settled on the Syros’ eastern coast; among them there were important merchants, who engaged in commerce with many European cities. The coastal settlement was thus slowly formed and the new town that came into being, in 1824, was named Hermoupolis.

The first cemetery of Hermoupolis

The first cemetery of Hermoupolis was located behind the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the old municipal hospital, in the center of the area inhabited by people from Psara island and was, necessarily, transferred to its current position, at the SW end of the town, in 1834. 

In 1839, when the mayor of Hermoupolis was Nicholas Prassakakis, the church of St. George was built in this place. The old cemetery is no longer preserved; Moraitin Square was created in its place. But the new cemetery was very soon located in the center of the Neapolis district, which was developing at the same time. Thus, since 1857, the actions of the cemetery’s re-transfer began, but these were never completed.

St. George’s Cemetery

Hermoupolis evolved into a major economic, commercial and industrial center during the 19th century. A strong evidence of Hermoupolis’s wealth and affluence is St. George’s churchyard. Most of the monuments belong to important families that played a crucial role both in the Independence Struggle and in the development of the New Hellenic State: such as Mavrogordatos family, Negropontis family, as well as Petrokokkinos, Lagonikos, Galatis, Benakis, Antoniadis, Foustanos, Kouloukountis, Vatis, Petritsis, Proimos, Rodokanakis families. Many facts about their occupation and their life, but also about their death, derive from the inscriptions written on tombstones on the monuments of these families.

The later economic decline of Hermoupolis also caused the interruption of the wealthy activity in the cemetery, resulting in a more modest form in the architecture of the monuments in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Today, St. George's Cemetery is organized in seven areas. In the separate area E, fifty six magnificent mausoleums, belonging to the most eminent families of Hermoupolis, were erected mainly during the 19th and early 20th century. The architectural styles and sculptural decoration of these monuments offer important elements in Art History.

Most of these mausoleums were constructed by Greek sculptors and bear the marks of classicism, which greatly influenced Greek art and architecture in the 19th century. Only ten of these monuments bear the signature of the sculptors, which are Taliadouros family, Vitalis family, George Fytalis, Nick Spanos, Marmarinos, Perakis, John Karpakis and Achille Canessa. According to the researchers of Hermoupolis, Travlos – Kokkou (1980:217-219) and Lydakis (1981:289) there are some more monuments, that seem to be crafted by the sculptors G. and I. Vitalis.

On the monuments we can observe a lot of decorative features as well as inscriptions and epigrams, the main source of inspiration of which is provided by the daily activities of the deceased.

Book about St. George’s Cemetery

The funerary sculptures at St. George’s Cemetery are described in the book from 1994, by Pepy Gavala and Helen Garezou, entitled "The Funerary Sculptures of St. George’s Churchyard at Hermoupolis".

Address

Agiou Georgiou
Ermoupoli 841 00
Greece

Memorial evening at Westerveld, the Netherlands


Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Duin en Kruidbergerweg 2-6, Driehuis, the Netherlands) will organise a memorial evening on Friday, 2 November.

Friends of Museums’ Day 2018 at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan

Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy
On 7th October 2018, discover the Heroes of World War I on a guided walk at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan.

Torino Spirituality - "I prefer NO!" Go to the devil! Four steps between diabolical representations and words of sulfur


A walk through the historic tombs of the Monumental Cemetery: great artists, almost heretical characters, Luciferian quotations and the inevitable symbol of the symbolist "femme fatale" in the Turin fin de siècle. A trip to two voices between history and suggestioniletterarie together with the art historian Federica Tammarazio and the actor Lorenzo Beatrice.

The meeting is part of the cycle The spirit that always says "no"

(Already complete the reservations! - We'll try to organized more appointments)


here for more information
and here


Program of the next Open air museum event in Milan

Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy
On Sunday, 30th September 2018, enjoy a day of theatre, music, cinema and guided tours at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan.

AGM 2018 report

On September 20th, the Annual General Meeting took place at city hall Innsbruck.

2018 European Heritage Days at the New Cemetery in Belgrade, Serbia


Guided stroll through the New Cemetery -  2018 European Heritage Days.

AGM 2018 conference volume

Articles from AGM 2018 conference are available for download.

Epitaph association opens the doors of Atelier Salu

On Sunday, September 16th, 2018 the Heritage Days take place in Brussels.

Tour "Extraordinary Women" on New Cemetery in Belgrade

New Cemetery in Belgrade Hosted Participants of “Share Your Knowledge” and “Creative Mentorship” Programs

EYCH logo label for researh project in Milan.

Photoceramics: an unsuspected Cultural Heritage.

Open air museum at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy

Monumental Cemetery of Milan, Italy
On Sunday, 26th August 2018, enjoy a day of theatre, music, cinema and theme walks at the Monumental Cemetery of Milan.

ASCE at the Open Day in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany

ASCE
On the 25th of August there will be an "Open Day in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany" in Berlin.

Cemetery Monumentale: Open Air Museum

The Municipality of Milan, in order to enhance and promote the Monumental Cemetery, is this year organizing, together with the Fondazione Milano Scuole Civiche, the "Monumentale: Open Air Museum" exhibition that will take place every last Sunday of the month until October.   

Cemetery agli Allori (Florence, Italy)

Cemetery agli Allori (Florence, Italy)
The Cemetery agli Allori is located just outside Florence and is an extraordinary place where you have the opportunity to experience unique art and history.

About the cemetery

Opened in February 1860, the Cemetery agli Allori was established for non-Catholic communities, which until then had as their reference the English Cemetery in Piazzale Donatello, also in Florence, but since 1970, it was open to all religions and beliefs.

There are numerous important characters that rest in this monumental cemetery (which can be considered a real open-air museum) - from Frederick Stibbert, a well-known British art collector, to the Italian writer Oriana Fallaci. 

To enhance and protect this heritage, the Cemetery agli Allori became a member of ASCE, the European association that unites all the most important cemeteries in Europe.

Address

Cemetery agli Allori
Via Senese, 184,
50124 Firenze FI
Italy

Contacts

Phone: +39 055 232 0064
Email: contatti@fondazionepas.it

Website: www.cimiteroevangelicoallori.it