Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe: Holocaust Cemetery

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Commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery

Tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery 2025

On November 8th, 2025, the Kalavryta Cemetery will host a tree-planting event in remembrance of the victims of World War II and as a symbol of commitment to peace and justice.

About the event

The General Secretary of the Kalavryta Holocaust Victims Association, with the support of the Municipality of Kalavryta, invites you to participate in a commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery in Greece, which will take place on November 8th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

This event is organised as part of the ASCE Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe initiative, under the 2025 theme Gardens of 80, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and aligning with Goal 16 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Program

The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service for the fallen and widows of Kalavryta at the Chapel of All Saints, followed by tree planting at 10:30 a.m.

During the event, 80 new cypress trees will be planted to replace the old ones, reinforcing the cemetery as a natural place of remembrance and awareness. The Kalavryta Cemetery is deeply connected to the events of World War II, hosting the graves of 677 men executed during the German occupation on December 13, 1943, as well as the women who later contributed to rebuilding the community.

Through this event, descendants of the martyrs and the wider community will honor the past, celebrate resilience, and strengthen intergenerational commitment to peace and justice.

Event video

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.