Petrašiūnai Cemetery

Petrašiūnai Cemetery

A traditional cross at Petrašiūnai Cemetery (Grave of Bernardas Brazdžionis)
Address	M. Gimbutienės g. 28 (street)
Location	Kaunas, Lithuania
Coordinates	54°53′16″N 24°00′31″E / 54.88778°N 24.00861°ECoordinates: 54°53′16″N 24°00′31″E / 54.88778°N 24.00861°E
Type	National cemetery
Construction
Built	1939–1940
Opened	1941
Renovated	2010
Expanded	1955–1961

Petrašiūnai Cemetery (Lithuanian: Petrašiūnų kapinės) is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science.

Location

Petrašiūnai Cemetery is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of the center of Kaunas, Lithuania. It covers over 22 acres (8.9 ha) in a quiet area of a peninsula formed by the Neman River where its bend was widened by Kaunas Reservoir. Its name, Lithuanian: Petrašiūnų ("of Petrašiūnai"), is based on Petrašiūnai, the borough of the City of Kaunas where it is placed.

History

The construction of the cemetery began by the end of 1939, burials started in 1941, it was periodically expanded in the late 1950s and needed substantial restoration after the gale of 6 August 2010.^[1] The options for a burial at the cemetery have been formally restricted since 1972,^[2] the authorities designated it as the location where prominent people of Lithuania are buried, the last resting place of accomplished scientists, writers, artists, and politicians.

Notable graves

Saliamonas Banaitis, printer, educator, and banker; a signer of the Act of Independence of Lithuania Bernardas Brazdžionis, poet Kazys Binkis, poet Leonas Bistras, Lithuanian Prime Minister, translator, philosopher, professor Kazimieras Būga, philologist Vladimiras Dubeneckis, architect, painter Paulius Galaunė, art historian, museum curator, and graphic artist Marija Gimbutas, archeologist Algirdas Julius Greimas, philosopher, semiotician[3] Juozas Gruodis, composer Juozas Grušas, Lithuanian playwright, writer, editor, and dramatist Jonas Jablonskis, philologist Kazimieras Jaunius, linguist Steponas Kairys, politician, engineer Petras Kalpokas, painter Petras Klimas, diplomat, historian, a signer of the Act of Independence of Lithuania Sofija Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė, writer, literary critic Marija Lastauskienė, writer Kazys Lozoraitis, diplomat

Stasys Lozoraitis, diplomat, Foreign Minister of Lithuania from 1934 until 1938. Stasys Lozoraitis Jr., diplomat Algimantas Masiulis, actor Antanas Merkys (symbolic tombstone), Prime Minister Ričardas Mikutavičius, priest, theologian, poet Salomėja Nėris, poet Stasys Raštikis, General of the Lithuanian Army Petras Rimša, Lithuanian sculptor and medalist Mykolas Riomeris, lawyer, professor Česlovas Sasnauskas, composer, organist Kazys Šimonis, painter Kazys Škirpa, Lithuanian military officer and diplomat Mykolas Sleževičius, Lithuanian Prime Minister, lawyer Algirdas Šocikas, Lithuanian boxer Aleksandras Štromas, lawyer Ričardas Tamulis, boxer Juozas Urbšys, diplomat Juozas Zikaras, sculptor Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, painter

References

1. Masiokaitė, Austėja (2010-08-10). "Prezidentės sulaukusiame Kaune vis dar aidi pjūklų garsai, o žmonės dalijasi patirtais išgyvenimais (nuotraukos)". Lietuvos rytas (in Lithuanian). ISSN 1392-2351.
2. Giniuvienė, Dalia; et al. (2007). "Pirmosios Lietuvos Respublikos laikotarpis (1918–1940 m.)". Kaunas: datos ir faktai (in Lithuanian). Kauno apskrities viešoji biblioteka.
3. Grabauskas-Karoblis, Giedrius (2009-10-28). "Garsinęs Lietuvą pasaulyje". XXI Amžius. 9 (76). ISSN 2029-1299.