Novodevichy Cemetery

Novodevichy Cemetery is one of the most significant memorial complexes in Russia, where outstanding figures of culture, science, politics, and art have found their eternal rest. This necropolis is a unique open-air sculpture museum and is included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage sites.

History of the creation of the Moscow necropolis

The origins of the cemetery are linked to the founding of the Novodevichy Convent in the early 16th century. Grand Prince Vasily III ordered the construction of the monastery seven kilometers from the Kremlin, on the territory of Devichye Field. Initially, the churchyard was intended exclusively for the burial of nuns and novices of the convent.

Expansion of those buried

Over time, representatives of various social classes gained the right to be buried near the center of the capital. The necropolis began to feature graves of merchant families, boyar clans, military leaders, and members of the royal family. The cost of a burial plot reached thousands of rubles, making it accessible only to wealthy Muscovites.

Soviet period of development

After the revolutionary events of 1917, the character of the cemetery changed dramatically. The Bolshevik leadership decided to use the territory for burying important state figures and active participants in the revolutionary movement. Being buried in the famous Moscow necropolis became an exceptional honor and recognition of services to the new state.

Architectural division of the territory

The modern complex occupies approximately eight hectares and is divided into three historical zones that were formed as the plots filled up.

Old part of the necropolis

The oldest section opened in 1904, although the first burials appeared much earlier. The territory includes four main plots with the number of rows ranging from forty-one to sixty-one. The so-called “Cherry Orchard” gained particular fame — a section with the graves of Anton Chekhov and Konstantin Stanislavsky, surrounded by cherry trees.

New territory from the mid-20th century

In the 1950s, the cemetery area doubled due to the annexation of land on the southern side. Landscaping continued for six years, during which the following were built:

• Brick fencing around the perimeter
• Ceremonial entrance gates
• Columbarium for urns with ashes
• Service and administrative buildings

The new section also consists of four zones with a varying number of rows — from forty to forty-six.

Newest section

In the 1970s of the last century, another expansion became necessary. This time the territory grew westward. The former stone-cutting workshop and an abandoned pond were transformed into new plots for the burial of distinguished individuals.

Famous burials in the necropolis

Theater and film figures

The necropolis became the final resting place for the greatest masters of stage and screen. Among them:

• Yuri Nikulin — legendary actor and circus director
• Lyudmila Gurchenko — star of Soviet cinema
• Oleg Yefremov — founder of the Sovremennik Theater
• Yevgeny Leonov — People’s Artist of the USSR
• Lyubov Orlova — the first star of Soviet cinema
• Arkady Raikin — master of stage satire
• Eldar Ryazanov — director of cult comedies

The monument to Yuri Nikulin is a sculptural composition depicting the artist sitting on a curb in circus attire. Next to him is a figure of his beloved dog Fyodor, which gives the monument a special warmth and humanity.

Writers and poets

Many classics of Russian literature found their rest in this cemetery:

• Nikolai Gogol — founder of critical realism
• Mikhail Bulgakov — author of the novel “The Master and Margarita”
• Anton Chekhov — great playwright and prose writer
• Vladimir Mayakovsky — futurist poet
• Samuil Marshak — children’s poet and translator
• Bella Akhmadulina — representative of the Thaw-era poetry

Of particular interest is the grave of Mikhail Bulgakov. A massive stone — the very “Golgotha” that previously crowned Nikolai Gogol’s grave — is installed over his burial. Yelena Bulgakova, the writer’s widow, purchased this monument, considering it symbolic to place it on the grave of her husband, who idolized Gogol’s work.

Musicians and singers

The country’s musical elite is also well represented:

• Dmitri Shostakovich — composer of world renown
• Sergei Prokofiev — author of ballets and symphonies
• Fyodor Chaliapin — great Russian bass
• Lyudmila Zykina — performer of Russian folk songs
• Dmitri Hvorostovsky — famous contemporary baritone

The monument on Lyudmila Zykina’s grave depicts the singer full-length in a stage costume. Behind her figure is a huge bouquet of roses symbolizing the public’s recognition and love. The pedestal is designed as a stage to which the artist devoted her entire life.

Political figures

Among the country’s state leaders buried here are:

• Boris Yeltsin — the first President of the Russian Federation
• Nikita Khrushchev — leader of the USSR during the Thaw period
• Raisa and Mikhail Gorbachev — the last General Secretary and his wife

Boris Yeltsin’s burial is designed in the form of a massive tricolor made of different materials: white marble, blue Byzantine mosaic, and red granite symbolize the Russian flag.

Unique monuments and memorials

In addition to individual tombstones, the territory contains large-scale memorial complexes dedicated to tragic events:

1. Monument to the crew of the USSR-V6 “Osoaviakhim” airship, who perished in 1938
2. Monument to the crew members of the ANT-20 “Maxim Gorky” aircraft, which crashed in 1935
3. Memorial to the crew of the supersonic Tu-144 that crashed in 1973 in France

These compositions are of considerable artistic and historical value, reminding us of the dramatic pages of Russian aviation history.

Visiting rules and location

Opening hours

The necropolis is open to visitors according to the following schedule:

• Summer season (from May 1 to September 30) — from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The rest of the year — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How to get to the cemetery

Address: Moscow, Luzhnetsky Proyezd, 2. By metro: the nearest station is “Sportivnaya”. After exiting, head toward Luzhniki Stadium and walk about 500 meters along Khamovnichesky Val. By surface transport: buses No. s216, 220, s755, m6 go to the “Novodevichy Convent” stop. Route s755 goes directly to the main entrance. By private car: from the center of Moscow, drive along Novodevichy Embankment, then via Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment to the turn toward the convent.

Contemporary significance of the necropolis

Today the cemetery contains more than twenty-six thousand burials. New burials are strictly limited and are possible only in exceptional cases:

• For individuals with special merits to the state
• For close relatives of people already buried here
• For placement of urns in the columbarium

An alternative is the Kuncevskoe Cemetery, which is a branch of the Novodevichy necropolis.

Cultural value

Novodevichy Cemetery is rightly considered a museum of memorial sculpture. The authors of the monuments include outstanding masters of different eras: Fyodor Shekhtel, Ernst Neizvestny, Nikolai Tomsky, Salavat Shcherbakov, and many other talented sculptors and architects. Here one can observe the evolution of artistic styles — from classical compositions with religious symbolism to modernist solutions of the Soviet period. The monuments are full-length bronze and marble figures, relief images on steles, busts on columns, and laconic granite monuments.

Conclusion

Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow is not merely a burial place — it is the living history of Russia captured in stone and bronze. Every monument tells the story of a person who contributed to the development of Russian culture, science, or statehood. Visiting the necropolis allows one to touch history, pay tribute to great people, and appreciate outstanding works of memorial art. For those interested in Russian history and the fates of outstanding personalities, a visit to Novodevichy Cemetery will be an unforgettable cultural experience. A special atmosphere of reverence and grandeur reigns here, reminding us of the transience of life and the eternity of creative heritage.