AGM 2022: Guided walk at the Zemun Cemetery

One of the activities that is going to take place during the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2022 is a guided walk around the Zemun Cemetery and the city of Zemun.

About the Zemun Cemetery

At the right bank of the Danube River, high on the Grados Hill, safely tucked behind the defense walls with the bastions and loopholes formerly belonged to the Zemun City rampart, lies the oldest and still operating cemetery in Belgrade, established during the first decades of 18th Century – Zemun Cemetery.

Zemun on the Danube, once an independent city, became a part of Belgrade only in 1934 and is now one of its municipalities. Zemun has a long history and rich cultural heritage, dating form prehistoric times. The city itself welcomed all those who were brought to this diverse environment by historic winds and the Danube River waives.

The Gardos Hill where the cemetery is located, is the oldest part of the settlement, now a core of the Zemun’s old town. For centuries, this cemetery was the final resting place for locals and newcomers alike, wherever they came from. Thy lived and worked together, fought wars, loved and shared passions, whereas many of them gained respect, fortune and even glory.

Over time the three confessions, initially each keeping to its own side of the burial ground blended together: Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish, but also the atheists and those undecided. People of all classes, origin, social status, positions, rich and poor, worriers and victims, they all found their piece together. The Cemetery harbors the catholic chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, orthodox St Demetrious Chapel, Statue of the Christ Crucifix, in addition to one of the oldest Jewish Cemeteries in Serbia and WWII partisan cemetery. They all came together as equals in eternity: winners and losers of the Great War, worriers and victims of the WWII, each claiming their well-deserved place: aristocratic mausoleums next to ossuaries, grandiose headstones of the rich merchants alongside the modest graves of unknown ordinary citizens, last resting places of clergy and distinguished persons beside the graves of the individuals with “checkered past”.

Shouldering the burden of the city’s history, Zemun Cemetery itself participated in its creation. Once located outside the city walls, the cemetery is now surrounded by residential areas, separated by the gates and the terrain configuration, with the astonishing view to the famous Tower of John Hunyadi, also known as Gardos or Millennium Tower.

AGM 2022 sign up

This year's AGM and Conference will take place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of September 2022 in the Belgrade City Assembly – Old Court Palace, Dragoslava Jovanovića 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

You can sign up for participation here.

"Eternitatea" Cemetery of Galati (Galati, Romania)

Through the monuments, inscriptions, architecture and landscape, the "Eternitatea" [„Eternity”] Cemetery of Galati is a reminder of past historical events and a representative of Romanian culture.

About the cemetery

The “Eternitatea” cemetery was established by the City Hall of Galati following the implementation of the Law for burials, which was issued in 1865 by the Government led by Mihail Kogalniceanu; it claimed that no cemetery should be built next to churches and monasteries, but at least 200 meters from the outskirts of cities.

Construction began in 1865. There are two buildings, with one of the rooms being intended to serve as an Orthodox chapel. The cemetery systemization plan included from the very beginning a particular place for the construction of a church. In May 1866, the building where the temporary chapel was set to function was already raised with the roof having been installed, but it still needed the flooring installed and the walls plastered.

The cemetery - with a total area of 22 hectares - was divided into 9 plots proportional to the following religious denominations: Orthodox, Catholic, Calvinist, Protestant, Armenian, Lipovan, Muslim and Jewish. The ninth plot was intended to be used for suicides.

The consecration of the graveyard church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was celebrated in February 1913. Near the Church, there are graves belonging to notable personalities, which stand out for both their artistic and historical-monumental value.

The "Eternitatea" Cemetery is also the place where monuments were built in memory of Romanian and foreign heroes who fell on the battlefield in World War I and World War II, but also during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. The most imposing monument is the Heroes Mausoleum, followed by the Romainian Heroes Memorial, French Heroes Memorial, German Heroes Memorial, Soviet Heroes Memorial.

Important graves and monuments

Heroes Mausoleum
The Heroes Mausoleumwas built in honor of the Romanian heroes who fell on the battlefield in the Romanian War of Independence (1877-1878) and in the First and Second World War. The mausoleum was built between 1925-1927, according to the plans of Mihail Popescu, chief architect of Galati City Hall at the time.

World War II Heroes Memorial (1941-1945)
By the eastern end of the cemetery, we encounter the Heroes Memorial, which was designed by sculptor Gheorghe Terescenco. It has the shape of an approximately 6 meters tall rectangular column, built using reinforced concrete and covered in marble. At the top of the column there stands a 2 meters cast stone eagle with its wings spread holding a cross in its beak. The monument was inaugurated on October 25, 1997.

The 1989 Romanian Revolution Heroes Memorial
In front of the mausoleum, next to the French heroes’ graveyard, we encounter the Graveyard of the Heroes of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. The memorial, in the shape of a white marble obelisk was designed by architect Aurel Pop and built in 1990. The inscription reads ”Honor to our heroes”.

The French Heroes Graveyard
The graveyard of French heroes is located to the west of the Heroes Mausoleum. Here lie the remains of 61 French soldiers and 9 Algerian soldiers who were part of the Berthelot mission. The graves of French heroes are guarded by swords in the shape of a cross, while those of Algerian heroes are adorned with monuments displaying Arabic inscriptions.

The German Heroes Memorial
In the eastern part of the cemetery we discover both the Memorial and the graves of German War heroes, with an imposing granite cross in its central part. Some interesting words can be read here by passers-by: "Remember them and the victims of all wars, their fate compels us to understanding".

The Soviet Heroes Memorial
In the central part of the cemetery we encounter the Memorial and graveyard of the World War II Soviet Heroes. Built in the shape of an obelisk, the monument displays an inscription which reads: "Eternal glory to the soldiers of the Soviet army who gave their lives in the fight for the liberation of humanity from fascist slavery", written in both Russian and Romanian.

Public figures burried in ”Eternitatea” Cemetery

• Charles Cunningham (1801-1860): the former vice-consul and later consul of the British Kingdom in Galati and Braila.
• Vincenzzo Fanciotti (1824-1886): the owner of a commercial house that exported grain and contributor to the construction of the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Commercial School.
• Gheorghe Fulger (1832-1899): a large rural landowner and merchant, president of the interim commission and mayor of Galati from March 1883 to April 1884, member of the county committee, elected to the Fourth College in February 1880 and candidate for the Romanian Senate in 1888.
• Aristide Papadopol (1838-1917): a rich merchant who remained in the history of Galati not through his pecuniary wealth but through his love of art.
• Ioan D. Prodrom (1867-1952): a philanthropist and politician from Galati.
• Nicolae Mantu (1871-1957): one of the most appreciated Romanian painters

You can find more about the important graves, monuments and public figures burried in ”Eternitatea” Cemetery HERE.

Cemetery location

221 George Cosbuc Street,
800552, Galati,
Romania

Cemetery contacts

Ionuț Pucheanu
e-mail: ionuț.pucheanu@primariagalati.ro
phone: +40 0236307700

Vergiliu Vals
e-mail: vergiliu.vals@primariagalati.ro

Cristi Ochiu
e-mail: cristi.ochiu@primariagalati.ro

Cristina Zanfir
e-mail: cristina.zanfir@primariagalati.ro

Basic cemetery data

Managing organization: City Hall of Galati
Ownership: City Council of Galati

Number of graves: 26.684
Cemetery size in m2: 213.996 m2
Cemetery type: religious, military

Photos from the WDEC 2022 in Krakow

A short summary and photos from the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2022 in the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow (Poland).

Guided walk at the New Cemetery of Podgorze

Almost two hours, six guides and 14 amazing stories about people buried at the cemetery - that is the summary of the guided walk at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.

Among others, visitors had the opportunity to discover the graves of well know writers, actors, priests, presidents, football players... People who shaped the city.

You can read more about the event HERE.

Monumental cemetery in Turin - Upcoming events "Fragments on the web"

 

Vacancy for Director of the The Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome

The Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome is seeking a director. Applications deadline is July 11, 2022.

The Non-Catholic Cemetery for Foreigners in Rome is seeking a DIRECTOR

The Director of the Non-Catholic Cemetery for Foreigners in Rome will be responsible for managing the funerary activity of an active burial-ground which is also widely recognised as a historic site of great cultural significance.

Main functions

The main functions are: organisation of funerals, burials and commemorations, and planning and implementation of a long-term strategy; administration, human resource management, site maintenance and protection, visitor management and external relations. The Director reports to the President of the Assembly of Ambassadors which is responsible for the Cemetery, and to the Advisory Committee.

Conditions

The following are required: experience of financial management in a cultural organisation, excellent knowledge of written and spoken Italian and English, strong skills in interpersonal relationships, good computer skills, ability to work independently and to delegate and coordinate with consultants as required, and above all integrity, enthusiasm and empathy.

The terms and conditions of employment will be reviewed with successful applicants.

Application procedure

Further details for submitting applications should be requested from vacancy@cemeteryrome.it
Deadline for submitting applications is midnight 11 July 2022.

Job starting date: 1 January 2023.

Il Cimitero Acattolico per Stranieri di Roma cerca DIRETTORE

Al Direttore del Cimitero Acattolico per Stranieri di Roma spetta la gestione dell'attività funeraria di un attivo cimitero, ampiamente riconosciuto anche come luogo storico di grande rilevanza culturale.

Funzioni principali

Le funzioni principali sono: organizzazione di funerali, sepolture e commemorazioni e pianificazione e attuazione di una strategia a lungo termine; amministrazione, gestione delle risorse umane, manutenzione e protezione del sito, gestione dei visitatori e relazioni esterne. Il Direttore riporta al Presidente dell'Assemblea degli Ambasciatori che è responsabile del Cimitero, e al Comitato Consultivo.

Condizioni

Sono richiesti: esperienza di gestione finanziaria in un'organizzazione culturale, ottima conoscenza della lingua italiana e inglese scritta e parlata, spiccate capacità nelle relazioni interpersonali, buone competenze informatiche, capacità di lavorare in autonomia e di delegare e coordinarsi con consulenti secondo necessità, e soprattutto tutta integrità, entusiasmo ed empatia.

I termini e le condizioni di lavoro saranno esaminati con i candidati prescelti.

Procedura di domanda

Maggiori dettagli per la presentazione delle domande devono essere richiesti a vacancy@cemeteryrome.it
Il termine per la presentazione delle domande è la mezzanotte dell'11 luglio 2022.

Data di inizio del lavoro: 1 gennaio 2023.

WDEC 2022: Students visited the Catholic Cemetery Dubovac

Photos of Dubovac Elementary School students visiting the Catholic Cemetery Dubovac during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.

On the first day of June, on the occasion of the "Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2022", a free tour of the Catholic Cemetery Dubovac in Karlovac, organized by the company Zelenilo, was held under the expert guidance of tourist guide Ivančica Šebalj.

This year's tour of the Dubovac cemetery, which has been a member of the ASCE since 2014, was joined by students from the Dubovac Elementary School, who listened with interest to the appealing and instructive stories of Ivančica Šebalj.

The establishment of ASCE and its significance

ASCE was the first European organisation that dealt with cemeteries as a cultural asset rather than as burial grounds.

The idea of starting something new

At the end of 1999, my mixed fortunes as a civil service manager in the cultural sector who always tried to do his job with pride and competence, landed me with a job move to the Certosa di Bologna, the cemetery of my city. It was meant as a punishment but it later proved to be an extraordinary opportunity. 

When confronted with a new challenge, I would usually consider the best European examples in the field to copy them or, better, adapt them to the situation in Italy. But this time I drew a blank. I found that, sadly and inexplicably, there was no European organisation that dealt with cemeteries as a cultural asset rather than as burial grounds. I therefore resolved to set one up. 

Bringing together like-minded people

I would say that our "club", the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) is one of the first children of the internet. Indeed, I began browsing existing sites, collecting e-mail addresses, looking for a few names. Then I called a first meeting, sending invitations by e-mail. We met over dinner, on a balmy Italian evening in a beautiful street in the city centre that was closed to traffic, with a final downpour by way of blessing. It was an immediate success, so great was the need to meet among European researchers, scholars, and culturally aware officials who had realised the importance of cemeteries in the history of art and architecture, and in themselves as summaries, microcosms of the history of cities and countries. 

The following meeting, again in Bologna, saw the birth of ASCE, which succeeded in drawing together all those brilliant minds, and over these past twenty years has radically changed the public perception of burial grounds, bringing them fully into the cultural circuits, and rescuing them from the mixture of ignorance and superstition to which they had been relegated. From the outset, the contribution of Eastern European countries, at the time recently freed from Soviet rule, was extremely important.

Team effort that led to great successes

In addition to launching this association, I was its president for seven years. It was an intellectual, political and personal adventure, which to me is summed up by the friendly faces of Tamara, Ilme, Indre, Audrone, Martin, Gunnar, Anders, Maria Luisa, Giulio, Lidija and many others that I would like to meet again, under the expert guidance of Franco Sborgi, Ornella Selvafolta, Paride Caputi and Paolo Giordano.

I share with Anders the great satisfaction of receiving the Europa Nostra Award and with Maria Luisa Yzaguirre the recognition of cemeteries as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

Long live ASCE!

Mauro Felicori
founder of ASCE and its first president

*You can find the original article HERE.

Photos of the WDEC 2022 in Budapest

Events from the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2022 in Budapest, summarized in a short photo review.

This year, the National Heritage Institute (NHI) joined the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) with various colorful events, that took place from May 27 to June 1, 2022, at the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest (Hungary).

For those of you who could not attend the events, or just want to relive the memories, we collected some highlights of the events in the photos below.

Opening of the Sculpture Park at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Poetry theater with Miklós Turek at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

"In the footsteps of heroes" – Family Day at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Crossroads of diversity: photo exhibition

WDEC 2022: Funerary symbols and famous people of the Italian Risorgimento

An online conference about the project "Funerary symbols and famous people of the Italian Risorgimento" will be held on June 7, 2022.

About the conference

The online conference about the project "Funerary symbols and famous people of the Italian Risorgimento" will address the tours studied and identified in the Monumental Cemetery of Turin by the students of the Liceo Regina Margherita. 

The online conference will take place on June 7, 2022, at 17.30. 

Here is the LINK to join the conference.

WDEC 2022, Exhibition and educational walk on City cemetery in Koprivnica

A brief summary and photos from the events.

Municipal Utility Company Komunalac LLC Koprivnica, in cooperation with the Koprivnica City Museum, Historical Society of Koprivnica and Art school „Fortunat Pintarić“ Koprivnica, organized events aimed at enhancing the heritage existing on the City cemetery "Pri Sv. Duhu" in Koprivnica.

The aim of this event is to raise awareness of the importance of cemeteries, their architectural solutions, artistic monuments and historical facts related to the emergence and development of graves.

Exhibition of photographs, sketches and items

The program began on Wednesday, June 1, at 13.00, in front of the old morgue in the City Cemetery, with the opening of the exhibition of photographs, sketches and items named “Stories of life and death” in the space of an old morgue. The opening ceremony was enhanced by the musical accompaniment of Art School Fortunat Pintarić.

After the opening, the exhibition was visited by students of the high school „Fran Galović“ Koprivnica with their history teacher.

The other days were dedicated to individual visits and a visit to the cemetery where all citizens and tourists can view the exhibition of photographs.

Educational walk on the cemetery

On June 2, at 15.00 Historical Society of Koprivnica with the historian, prof.dr.sc. Hrvoje Petric, held an educational walk and a visit to the cemetery during which 13 graves were displayed, specific to their cultural or historical significance.

A brief lecture on the multicultural development of the City and the emergence of the city cemetery, Dr. Petrić held in the chapel “Pri Sv. Duhu” and then began an educational walk through the graveyard.

At the end of the educational walk through the city cemetery, visitors visited the photo exhibition “Stories of life and death” in the space of an old morgue.

Photos from the events