Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe: The Kalavryta Cemetery (Kalavryta, Greece)

The Kalavryta Cemetery, also known as the Holocaust Cemetery, is a historic site of remembrance that bears witness to the 1943 massacre and stands as a lasting symbol of the town’s resilience and collective memory.

About the cemetery

The cemetery of Kalavryta, also known as the Holocaust Cemetery, was established in early 1845 on a plot of land granted by Royal Decree, following a request by the Municipality of Kalavryta. The decree was issued by the Ministries of the Interior and Finance of the newly founded Greek State. The land, previously owned by Ottoman landowners Bousgkalis and Giakoubagas Tsilardiotis, was classified as Ethniki Gi (National Land). At that time, the area lay just below the town's central square and was largely undeveloped following the Greek War of Independence (1821).

Among the first structures to be built were the Church of All Saints (Agioi Pantes), the stone paving around it, and the cemetery’s enclosing wall. The church, constructed before 1900, later served as a vital spiritual refuge for the surviving residents of Kalavryta after the town’s destruction during World War II.

A site of remembrance

The cemetery holds a special place in the modern history of the town. Located at the northeastern edge of Kalavryta, near the hill known today as the Execution Site, it is the final resting place of those executed by German occupying forces during the massacre of December 13, 1943. It was here that widows and orphaned children dragged the bodies of their loved ones and buried them with their own hands.

Since then, the cemetery has become a sacred place of remembrance, prayer, reflection, and spiritual elevation. Every year, on the eve of December 13th, residents gather at the cemetery to clean the graves and light vigil lamps. In silence and togetherness, they honor those lost and reaffirm the invisible bonds forged through tragedy.

Part of local life and identity

More than a burial ground, Kalavryta Cemetery is an essential part of local life and identity. It functions as a space for gathering, memory, and solidarity, playing a significant role in how the community continues to process collective trauma. Visitors are often seen tending to graves—not only of their relatives, but also of neighbors and friends—passing on these traditions of remembrance to younger generations. A notable example of the cemetery’s centrality in community life is the construction of the town’s secondary schools (Gymnasium and Lyceum) directly adjacent to it, further binding memory and everyday life.