Cast in granite: the most famous mistakes on Russian military monuments. When are wreaths removed from a grave after a funeral according to church canons? When to erect a monument after a funeral

Records found: 65

Hello, someone leaves handfuls of coins or several at my father’s grave pectoral crosses, on the monument, on the table, on the floor. Not for the first time. What could this mean and what to do? Thank you.

Tatiana

Tatiana. I don’t know who is doing this and why, but I am sure that you do not need to fear anything. Take the crosses to church, and distribute the change to those in need.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! Please tell me what to put on the grave of a relative and what not? Is a cross enough, are photos and other information about the deceased needed? They say that we need something like a monument with photos and data. Tell me what is really needed?

Yuri

Hello, Yuri! First of all, there should be a cross on an Orthodox grave. For the memory of the living, you can hang a sign with the data of the deceased, a photograph. If you eventually want to erect a monument, then the cross should still be present on it.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Good health. I wanted to order a new cross from the cemetery, because the old one fell, and they offered me to put up a used cross, but I also have to buy it, only it’s cheaper. These, they say, are the crosses that are removed to erect a monument. Is it even possible to put up such a cross?

Catherine

Ekaterina, of course you can. If it is expensive to put a new cross on a grave, put the one that is offered to you. An Orthodox grave should not have a monument, but an Orthodox cross.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, is a photograph required on the monument of the deceased?

Tatiana

Tatyana, there must be an Orthodox cross on an Orthodox grave; everything else (monuments, photos, etc.) is not at all necessary.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Good afternoon, father! In the Kharkov region, a mother and her three children - 6 months, 6 years and 7 years old - burned to death during a fire. They were buried in two coffins: a mother with a 6-month-old child in one coffin, and children 6 and 7 years old in another coffin. And in the cemetery, instead of four graves, there are only two. How does the church treat such cases and is this even acceptable? God bless you for your answer. Sorry to bother you.

Natalia

Natalya, yes, it’s possible, there’s nothing reprehensible here: remember, for example, soldiers’ mass graves, where many people are buried, and over the grave - one big monument or cross. Moreover, this was also the case with the early Christian martyrs - each of them was not always buried separately. Very often, the bones of martyrs, burned in ovens or torn to pieces by wild animals, were buried by the pagans in the same grave.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello, please tell me, is it true that soil from one grave cannot be poured onto another? The fact is that when installing monuments to my parents, the soil from the graves was mixed. If this is a violation, how can it be corrected?

Lydia

Lydia, there are no rules in the church that would indicate that you cannot take soil from one grave to another. I think this is not significant. We all live on the same earth, under the same sun, and we all breathe the same air. Don't worry, there's nothing wrong. The main thing is to pray for your departed, and visit church more often, confess and receive communion.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, father! Doesn’t it contradict the Orthodox canons that at the grave of an Orthodox man, when installing a monument and a fence, workers pulled out an oak cross, put it on the grave, filled it with concrete and laid paving slabs on top? (In the upper corner established monument there is a small Orthodox cross).

Gennady

Gennady, we Orthodox Christians must live and die in an Orthodox manner, and we must be buried strictly in a Christian manner. The most important thing on an Orthodox grave is, of course, the CROSS. The cross should not be drawn, but stand at its full height. Tell me, why does the deceased need a monument at all if it is erected instead of a cross? It is not right. The cross should not have been removed from the grave. The cross is our hope, our hope. And what is a monument? It’s a soulless block of marble, which, unfortunately, many now put in place of the Cross. Cross on the grave Orthodox Christian It must be mandatory, and not lie down, but stand!

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! Please answer two questions on Genesis. 1. Why does the Bible tell us twice about the origin of man - once every sixth time [Gen. 1:23-29], and the second time the seventh day of creation [Gen. 2:2-8] and [Gen. 2:15-24]? 2. Why is the creation/creation of man different on the sixth and seventh days of creation? Thank you!

Vladimir

Vladimir, there is no contradiction here, it’s just a style of storytelling characteristic of this ancient monument like the Bible. First, it talks about the creation of the world, including man, and then in more detail about the origin of all things.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Please answer my question. My grandmother died and the exact date We don’t know the death, because we found her on the morning of January 12, and this date was written everywhere, in documents and on the monument. But having compared some facts, we doubtfully came to the conclusion that she died on the afternoon of January 11th. What should we do now and when to do it? memorial days, a particularly important fortieth day? This is a very painful question for me. After all, we may be late (so to speak) with the memorial day. Please help and thanks in advance.

Natalia

Natalia, if the most likely date of death is January 11, then remember in accordance with this date, and without embarrassment.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! Please tell me what would be right: to put it on the grave Orthodox monument with an image of a cross and a photograph of the deceased, or just a cross? If you just put up a cross, is it possible to place an image of the deceased on the cross, or is only a sign with the full name allowed? and date of birth and death?

Oleg

Oleg, a Christian should always have the Cross, both during life and after death. The cross on the grave should stand independently of the monument. You can erect a monument, as convenient, but the cross is separate. It is better to put only the date and full name on the cross, and a photo separately. But you can make a tombstone with an inscription and a photo, and put the cross separately, it will be inexpensive.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello. Help, tell me what to do. Neighbors bring grave crosses from the cemetery and place them in front of my windows. They also erected a monument depicting the deceased. Previously, my child suffered from the actions of these people - he spent more than a month in the hospital, and when he was discharged, crosses appeared under the window. I can't remove them. I live alone and have two small children.

Irina

However, what “hardworking” neighbors you have found, Irina! If only their energy could go in a peaceful direction!
Don't be afraid of anything, this whole circus won't harm you. As for yourself, stand stronger in your faith, live together with the Church, and begin to work more often Church Sacraments, grace will protect you, but the Lord will not abandon His own! The Apostle said: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. Ch. 8, v. 31). And besides, you can turn to utility services and the help of the law, because It is unlikely that the law allows cemetery crosses taken from unknown sources to be installed on residential or public property.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello. Thanks for all your answers. I have another question: they ordered a monument for my late mother, but my grandmother wanted (good thing they talked me out of it) to first make a monument for herself with a portrait and date of birth. Isn’t it a sin to order a monument for yourself in advance? And another question: they say that young people cannot bring fresh flowers to the cemetery, but only artificial ones - otherwise young people will supposedly die. This is just superstition, isn't it? And where do people get this nonsense from? Thanks in advance for your answers!

Hello Julia! In Orthodoxy there is a tradition of preparing a coffin and a cross for yourself during your lifetime. Many saints did this, and there is nothing wrong with it. This is a remembrance of death that every Christian, especially the elderly, should have. If the grandmother wants to order a monument, let her order it if the relatives do not mind. Regarding flowers, this is definitely a superstition. Fresh flowers in a cemetery are a symbol eternal life deceased. And superstitions are born from ignorance and unwillingness to study one’s faith.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

In 2007 I installed a tombstone deceased wife. The red granite tombstone depicts an Orthodox cross, a portrait of Tanyusha, a favorite flower - clematis, and a stylized (unrecognizable) sculptural image of a little girl. The intended meaning is that my Tanya will be like a guardian angel to her granddaughter Alexandra, whom she loved very much. Now eldest daughter Anastasia insists on remaking the monument. Advise, father, what to do.

Kozlovsky Vladimir Leonidovich

Of course, your daughter is driven by superstitious fear. There is no need to redo the monument; the plot can be reinterpreted. Look at the icon of the Assumption Mother of God, there the soul of the Mother of God is depicted in the hands of the Savior in the form of a little girl, so this figure on the tombstone can be interpreted as a symbolic image of the soul of the deceased.

Deacon Ilia Kokin

Hello, my name is Natalya, I am from Kazakhstan. I have one question, but first a little background: my mother, to my great regret, has been gone for almost 5 years, she sang in the church choir and I grew up in the church (so to speak) and now, I remember that my mother always She said that she did not want a monument to be erected for her after her death, and she only allowed us to erect a wooden cross. She explained this, but I don’t remember exactly how she explained it, word for word. She said something about how on Judgment Day the cross would have to be carried, but the monument would be impossible to raise... And my question is: is this described somewhere in the Bible? Where did mom get this decision?

Natalia

Hello, Natalia.
Placing a wooden cross on a grave is a pious act. Russian tradition. The simplicity of the material speaks of the non-covetousness of the deceased.
Many bequeath a portion of their funds and property to donate to those in need, and to place a simple wooden cross on the grave.
On the other hand, in this way Christians confess their readiness to follow Christ and hope for the salvation of their souls. After all, the instrument of our salvation, the Cross of Christ, was made of wood.
Perhaps my mother’s desire to carry a wooden cross on Judgment Day should not be taken literally, but she certainly wanted to have evidence that she had carried her Cross through all the trials of earthly life.
God bless.

Priest Sergius Osipov

Father, bless! At my father's grave, curb stones were used for landscaping. I want to put a monument on the grave and remove the curb stones. Can they be used on summer cottage? Save me, God.

Oleg

Hello, Oleg! These stones are your property, you can do with them as you wish. But I personally wouldn’t take stones home from the cemetery.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

An Orthodox cross was installed at my mother’s burial place 57 years ago. Now I want to erect a monument. Is it possible to replace or remove an old cross that has become unusable?

Alexander

Hello, Alexander! You can erect a monument with the image of a cross, and the old cross, so as not to be desecrated, can be burned or sawn into pieces and burned again.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello! I really want to embroider my husband and I’s wedding portrait. Everything is ready for this. Mom, having learned about my desire, said a couple of days later that this should not be done, that this was something like a monument during my lifetime. I was very upset, so I want to know if this is so, and is it possible to embroider a wedding portrait? Maybe you need to go to church and ask for blessings before starting work. Please tell me what is the right thing to do?

Updating the inscription on a marble monument is a fairly popular question, since the strength of marble is much less compared to, for example, granite. However, there are also cases when marble statues of ancient times were able to survive to this day. This fact indicates careful attitude to material and sculpture.

If you need to erect a marble monument, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the intricacies of this material, since he is considered quite capricious. It requires special care and periodic restoration.

However, restoring the monument with the help of organizations that specialize in this will cost a lot of money, which is why knowing various little things will help you keep the monument and your wallet in decent shape, since you can restore the monument with high quality yourself.

Marble definitely needs to be handled with care as it is a very fragile material, but it is worth it. With the beauty of marble monuments, steles, etc. Nothing else can compare! And the variety of colors and shining textures makes each monument unique.

Inscriptions

As is customary, on tombstones there are inscriptions: full name the deceased, dates of birth and death, sometimes some drawings, ornaments or words of grief. Also often a portrait of the deceased is applied to the stone.

There are two generally accepted techniques for applying images and inscriptions to a monument: application using a special apparatus and acid. The first method is much more common because it is simpler.

Using it, the necessary inscriptions are engraved on the material, and then painted with a special paint. The second technology is a little more complicated - this method is called etching.

Acid is applied to the stone in the right places, leaving behind colored marks.

How to restore the inscription on a monument yourself?

Even very well made tombstones lose their beautiful appearance over time due to some external factors, so people often ask the question: “How to repair a monument so that its appearance does not deteriorate over several years?”

On the Internet you can find a bunch of sites and forums that advise how to deal with this problem. Sometimes people who are ignorant of this write and advise things that make your hair stand on end. In fact, everything is much simpler; restoring a monument on your own will not take much time, effort and, most importantly, money.

List of required materials:

• solvent;
• cloth (soft);
• special pigment or paint for working with stone (sold in any hardware store, like other materials);
• brush;
• special fixer for the final layer.

So, first, with a damp soft cloth you need to wipe the places where there are inscriptions from dust and dirt. Then wait until the marble surface is completely dry and wipe it with a solvent to remove excess grease from the monument. Since the solvent dries instantly, you can get to work right away. You need to pay attention to the fact that special paint for stone differs from regular paint– dries very quickly, so you need to act just as quickly and confidently.

Select the brush number according to the size of the lettering you want to update; It will certainly be more convenient to use a fairly thin brush. After all the inscriptions have been restored and the paint has completely dried, you can use a sealer as the final layer. This is not necessary, but it will help maintain the brightness of the inscription for a long time. The entire monument can be coated with a fixing composition to protect it from external factors, including natural ones.

As already mentioned, marble is a rather capricious material, therefore, in addition to restoring the inscription, you need to know the features of caring for the stone:

1. Entire flower beds or trees should not be planted near the monument, as they attract a lot of moisture, which negatively affects the preservation of the marble. Also, the roots of large trees can grow under the monument and completely destroy it.
2. When caring for a monument, you cannot use ordinary household chemicals(cleaning products for mirrors, bathtubs, toilets, etc.). If you can't find special means, you can simply use a damp soft cloth.
3. Remember: hot objects can damage the surface of a marble slab, so under no circumstances place lighted candles or the like on the marble, otherwise you will no longer be able to do it without a specialist.
4. Since marble is strongly affected by various natural factors, in winter you can cover the monument with some kind of film or cover to protect it from severe frosts, winds and snowfalls.
5. If defects appear on the material (for example, cracks), do not rush to fix everything or panic. You can consult a specialist in the store or the manufacturer. They will help you choose the necessary substance or tool to correct minor damage.

A diagram of an assault rifle created by designer Hugo Schmeisser, who worked in Nazi Germany. Such mistakes by sculptors occur quite often; a review of them is in the RBC photo gallery.

Monument to Mikhail Kalashnikov, 2017

Monument to "Missing Soldiers without Graves", 1995

By May 9, 2015, the error in the inscription to the monument “Missing Soldiers without Graves” installed on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow 20 years earlier. Volunteers of the movement to combat errors on monuments and banners drew attention to the continuous spelling of “obscurity” back in February 2013. The monument, created by Ukrainian sculptor Valentin Znoba, was received as a gift for the 50th anniversary of the victory from the people of Ukraine.

Monument "Mourning Soldier", 2017

Photo: Yulia Nalbandyan’s personal page on VKontakte

In May 2017, in Rostov-on-Don, on the eve of Victory Day, the “Grieving Soldier” monument was erected. In the inscription “To the liberators of the city of Rostov-on-Don, who heroically fought against the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War 1941−1945,” the townspeople discovered a mistake: a letter was missing in the word “heroically.” The sculpture was installed on the initiative of veterans of the Great Patriotic War on the territory of the Kumzhenskaya Grove, where the ashes of more than 2 thousand soldiers rest. The error was later corrected.

Memorial to the soldiers of the 6th Heroic Komsomol battery, 1959

In May 2012, a half-century-old factual error in the Memorial to the Soldiers of the 6th Heroic Komsomol Battery, inaugurated in Murmansk back in 1959, was corrected. The number of the artillery regiment was incorrectly indicated on the plate: instead of 143 there was 14.

Monument to soldiers who died in local conflicts, 2014

In August 2014 in Belgorod at solemn ceremony opening of a monument to soldiers who died in local armed conflicts was discovered

Life and death are two inseparable components of earthly existence human soul. U different nations Certain burial rules have developed, carefully passed on from generation to generation. According to Christian customs, the deceased are buried; on the day of burial, a wooden eight-pointed cross is placed on the grave, and flowers are laid. When are wreaths removed from a grave after a funeral and is it necessary to do so? Let's try to answer these questions based on church canons and folk traditions.

The cross as a symbol of the incorruptibility of the soul

According to Christian customs, the cross should be placed at the feet of the deceased so that the face of the deceased is turned towards the crucifix. This rule is often neglected, placing a cross in our heads. Another church canon is often violated - screwing a photograph of a deceased relative to a cross. There is no need to do this, just hang up a sign with the name and dates of birth/death.

For the Orthodox, the cross is the traditional form of a tombstone; the top of the head, rising upward, points to heaven - the place of residence of the soul freed from the mortal body. According to established traditions, flowers are laid on the grave and a funeral wreaths in tribute to memory and respect for the deceased.

Which flowers are better, fresh or artificial?

Maintaining order in a cemetery is not so much a spiritual aspect as a social one. Agree that the deceased does not care at all what his grave looks like. The living need this - so that they have somewhere to come in moments of sorrow or joy, to ask for advice or receive a blessing. The question is: when are wreaths removed from a grave after a funeral? church canons, should not have existed in principle. In any case, until the middle of the last century such a problem did not arise.

The thing is that, according to Christian customs, graves were decorated with fresh flowers, the lifespan of which is short. So they were removed within the first few days. It is possible and necessary to clean the burial site of unnecessary parts and bring it into proper shape at any time. This is what most clergy think. Moreover, according to the canons of the church, artificial flowers, which have replaced real ones today, are a symbol of lies and hypocrisy.

Link to the fortieth memorial day

IN Soviet time, when they were not particularly observed, a tradition arose of laying flowers made of light fabric or paper on the graves. Today, funeral wreaths are made of plastic, which significantly extends their service life. These funeral attributes may be under open air without harming your appearance several months and even years.

People who are deeply religious, when asked when they remove wreaths from a grave after a funeral according to church canons, usually answer: by the fortieth day after burial. In fact, strict church rules this has not been established.

The validity of this statement can be explained by the established custom in Orthodoxy, after 40 days after the funeral, to invite a priest to the grave of the deceased to perform a funeral service. It is highly desirable that the place be beautifully and cleanly tidied up before the priest arrives. But let us repeat: there are no prohibitions on restoring order in burial places before this date.

How to care for a grave

Caring for graves, according to the clergy, should be carried out regularly, as needed. Removing wilted flowers, replacing wreaths that have become unusable, correcting crumbled soil - this can be done at any time. In this way, the living pay tribute to the dead, show others and, first of all, themselves that the memory and love for the departed do not fade in their hearts.

When wreaths are removed from a grave after a funeral, if the soil settles, it is corrected with a shovel, giving the mound the correct shape. The surface can be covered with green turf and perennial flowers can be planted around. Chrysanthemums, zinnias, marigolds, daffodils, and lilies of the valley take root well and do not require constant care. In this case, there is no need to use artificial attributes.

What to do with wreaths that have become unusable

Each cemetery has specially designated areas for storing such items, which are ultimately household waste that must be disposed of. Many countries are gradually abandoning the use of artificial wreaths, since recycling plastic requires additional costs and is harmful to the environment.

Imagine a huge city ​​cemetery, where hundreds of burials are carried out every day. Naturally, when wreaths are removed from a grave after a funeral, whole piles of unnecessary funeral paraphernalia are formed, which are then taken to a landfill. IN rural areas Wreaths that have served their purpose are simply burned somewhere nearby. The acrid smell of plastic released in this process not only pollutes environment, but also violates the blissful atmosphere inside the village churchyard.

On what days should you not clean the cemetery?

According to church regulations, it is forbidden to clean, paint fences, plant flowers and trees on graves at all times. Sundays, and even more so in Orthodox holidays. Such actions are considered a sin and a sign of disrespect for the church.

In addition, there are certain periods when you should not go to the cemetery at all. These include:

• Holidays (from 7 to 20 January).
• Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
• Easter and the following Bright Week.
• Days of the twelve holidays.
• Any Sundays.

Visiting the deceased usually begins with Radonitsa ( parent's day), falling on Tuesday sixteen days after Easter.

Is a monument needed?

The Orthodox Church condemns any excesses in the arrangement of burial sites. But since many of us do not consider ourselves deeply religious, over the past few decades the custom has developed of installing monuments on graves. As a rule, such monuments are made of marble or granite, cast from various types metal You can often hear in response to the question of when to erect a monument after a funeral, the statement: no earlier than twelve months. Why is that?

Some explain this by the need to maintain a period of 1 year, after which any manipulations on the grave of the deceased will not be able to disturb him. According to folk beliefs, after 12 months the soul of the deceased finally leaves our world. It is quite possible that there is some rational grain in such reasoning. No one has ever been able to look beyond the edges of eternal darkness.

Interestingly, workshops that make heavy tombstones will tell you the same thing. Only the basis will be more mundane, without reference to afterlife mythology. So, when to erect a monument after a funeral? Only when the soil on the grave is completely compacted will it give final shrinkage. This process in most cases requires at least one year. Otherwise, the metal or stone structure may become uneven, warp, fall, or become deformed due to the movement of soil layers.

The cross is not a hindrance to the monument

Now we know where and when wreaths are removed from the grave after the funeral. But according to Orthodox customs, crosses installed during burial should be handled with care. Even if you decide to perpetuate the memory of a deceased relative in marble or bronze, the cross must be left in place. In this case, the monument is installed either next to the cross or on the opposite side from it.

In some cases, the cross can be placed next to the grave or, in agreement with the clergyman, burned in a church oven. It seems that in any case, external manifestations of respect for the deceased are not so important. The main thing is spiritual kinship and memory living in our heart.