Today is Halloween, and if you’re ready for a scary tour to find out a few mysteries from beyond the grave, welcome to the historic Vvedenskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
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Ricardo Marquina
Today is Halloween, and if you're ready for a scary tour to find out a few mysteries from beyond the grave, welcome to the historic Vvedenskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
Ricardo Marquina
There's no escape, so prepare yourself for spooky stories that intertwine Russian literature, cemetery stories, and unsolved mysteries. The mysteries of those who remain in this cemetery forever...
Ricardo Marquina
Lucien Olivier was a French chef of Belgian origin and the creator of the salad that bears his name. His salad is still the main meal at any Russian celebration, but the recipe of the original salad was a secret that he took with him to his grave. He's buried here. They say that from time to time, Olivier's ghost wanders among the tombstones in search of his lost recipe.
Ricardo Marquina
Yakov Danilovich Rosenthal is also buried here. He was the director of the Herzen House restaurants and the prototype for Mikhail Bulgakov's character Archibald Archibaldovich in his novel Master and Margarita.
Ricardo Marquina
According to his contemporaries' memoirs, his appearance was perfectly suited for a Halloween party: "He was of a commanding height, an imposing appearance, and a thick black cone-shaped Assyrian beard down to his chest." His nickname was The Beard.
Ricardo Marquina
Bulgakov's novel is full of wickedness, mysticism, and characters from the world beyond the grave. Take, for example, Azazelo - an ancient Hebrew demon, seducer, and murderer whose appearance reflected his demonic roots: horns and hoofs.
Ricardo Marquina
Master and Margarita inspired the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, and lead guitarist, Keith Richards, to write the song "Sympathy for the Devil." Initially, the song was called "The Devil Is My Name", and was sung by Mick Jagger on behalf of Lucifer.
Ricardo Marquina
There are a couple of Moscow legends about the Vvedenskoye Cemetery itself. The companion Tamara, who stood near the church with an alms cup, visited here. She created a tent near the church like the cells of a hermit.
Ricardo Marquina
Night fell on the cemetery and Tamara was left completely alone in her tent surrounded by gloomy Gothic and under the unmoving stares of the sculptures that even in daylight leave an eerie impression, but come nightfall, would cast even the bravest into a stupor.
Ricardo Marquina
In the morning, the groundskeepers opened the cemetery's gates and were met by a living, smiling girl, as though nothing had happened. But once, Tamara vanished and was never seen at Vvedenskoye again.
Ricardo Marquina
As usually happens with such stories, she became a legendary figure. People say that they've seen her in Moscow near different churches: as if she still stands there with her cup, still collecting donations for good causes. / Part of the painting "Isle of the Dead" used on a tombstone.
Ricardo Marquina
Vvedenskoye Cemetery is a historical interfaith cemetery located in the Moscow district of Lefortovo. It was opened in the times of the black plague in the 18th century.
Ricardo Marquina
Initially, Lutherans and Catholics were buried at the cemetery which is why it was called "German" or "Heterodox."
