Novo-Diveevo Cemetery Restoration
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Continued Monument Restoration Work at The Russian Orthodox Cemetery at the Holy Dormition Monastery, Novo-Diveevo
Approximately one year ago a Monument Restoration Committee was created at Novo-Diveevo. Through the efforts of activists and volunteers, the Committee embarked on the project to restore several monuments at the cemetery.
This noble cause was warmly embraced by parishioners and Orthodox people who were concerned with the fate of the largest Orthodox cemetery in America, fondly known as an open-air historical museum of the Russian Diaspora.
Funds were collected to repair a number of time- and weather-worn monuments that made up the first iteration of the restoration project.
A report on the work that was conducted and the resulting progress appears on the monastery website at https://novo-diveevo.org/cemeteryrestoration
And so, a new season is upon us. The cemetery is huge and there is more work to be done. The Committee appeals to all concerned people to assist, be it through personal participation or by making a tax-deductible donation. This summer, renovation work will continue on the historical military part of the cemetery (“voyennoye kladbische”) and with God’s Grace work will move along further and gradually extend towards, move towards the Cadet monument at the end of the main road.
The Committee has identified several grave sites, where restoration work is planned for this season.
Why is this project necessary?
The Russian cemetery at the Novo-Diveevo Russian Orthodox Convent in Nanuet, New York, is the largest Russian necropolis in America, with over 8,000 graves. This cemetery can unquestionably be considered an “open-air museum” of Russian history and Russian emigration. Prominent historical figures, representatives of the most ancient noble families, poets, artists, and scientists are all buried here. Officers of the White Army, midshipmen, sailors, and Cossacks all found their last resting place here, far from their dearly beloved Motherland.
Close relatives of the last Russian reigning dynasty of the Romanovs, Princess Vera Konstantinovna and Prince George Konstantinovich Romanov; a descendant of the famous hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, Prince Pyotr Bagration, Teimuraz Bagration; the youngest daughter of the writer Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, Countess Alexandra Lvovna Tolstaya, founder of the Tolstoy Foundation, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the writer from his second son Ilya Lvovich Tolstoy; wife, daughter and grandson of General P.P. Wrangel… Novo-Diveevo is the final resting place for hundreds and hundreds of such names, eloquently calling out from centuries of bygone Russian history.
But time, remoteness from the historical homeland, the gradual departure of the old generation to another world, which left no heirs, and, finally, natural disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy, combine to cause irreparable damage to tombstones, resulting in neglect and abandonment.
To prevent this from happening and in order to preserve this historical place for our descendants, for our memory, the cemetery has determined the need to start a gradual restoration of the monuments destroyed by time and natural disasters in addition to a number of other projects, which are described below.
Ways You Can Help
News and Updates
June 26th, 2024: New restoration work has begun (see below). Read about our previous work.
November 8th, 2023: Report on Restoration Work: The first goals for the restoration of monuments at the Novo-Diveevo cemetery have been achieved!
Adopt a grave
Sadly, many of the people buried here no longer have relatives who could take care of the graves. Recently, visitors to the cemetery have asked permission from the monastery to help ennoble and take care of abandoned graves. We are pleased to offer the start of this charitable project.
As a first step, five tombstones in serious need of repair were identified and designated for restoration. The estimated cost of this initial restoration work is approximately $5,000, and this project requires financial support for the repair of these tombstones. The grave monuments were selected from across the various types found in the cemetery, e.g., marble, granite and wooden monuments.
All those who are able to offer financial assistance for the restoration of monuments will be provided with a full report on the expenditure of funds for specific work, photos of the work process, as well as “before” and “after” photos will be published upon completion of the restoration.
Current Restorations
The following grave sites in the Military part of the cemetery have been selected by the Committee:
Officers of the Drozdovsky regiment:
- Boris Vladimirovich Tryapkin
- Leonid Ivanovich Andreevsky
- Alexey Vasilievich Dashkiev-Panov
- Georgy Osipovich Goldschmidt von Schiffers
- Konstantin Fedorovich Petrov
- Alexander Vasilievich Popov
- Grigory Fedorovich Dudkin
- Grigory Mokrousov
- Gabriel Ramensky
The Drozdovsky regiment in the White Army was considered the elite of the elite.
Very often the Drozdovsky regiment was called the regiment of the last crusaders of Russia!
They were called this not only for the regimental badge in the form of a cross or for the cross on the top of the regimental Banner, but for their humane attitude towards the population, often to the detriment of themselves. Members of the Drozdovsky regiment did not take defeated opponents as prisoners, but released them, often paying for lodging and food. They severely punished looting, and were distinguished by rare nobility and self-sacrifice.
Boris Vladimirovich Tryapkin
Cost of Repairs: $700
Amount Collected: $0
Staff Captain of the Drozdovsky Regiment, Knight of St. George.
Born in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, Tryapkin fought on the fronts of the First World War and was awarded the Order of St. George. During the Civil War he fought in the Drozdov artillery brigade.
He was evacuated from Crimea in 1920 to Gallipoli. Afterwards, he settled in France, serving as a guard for Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. After World War II he came to the USA, where from 1959, he served as chairman of the Gallipoli Union.
Description of work to be done:
- Granite cross
- Fell during Hurricane Sandy
- It is necessary, if possible, to glue and install on a pedestal
Leonid Ivanovich Andreevsky
Cost of Repairs: $2200
Amount Collected: $0
A native of the Saratov province, Andreevsky was a hereditary nobleman and a Knight of St. George.
He graduated from the Odessa Cadet Corps and the Kiev Military School and served in the ranks of the 14th Infantry Regiment during the First World War.
In June 1916, he was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree, for heroism. In 1918 he joined the Drozdovsky regiment. He was a colonel of the 2nd Drozdovsky Rifle Regiment. He was evacuated from Novorossiysk to Gallipoli, after which, he lived in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. After World War II he came to the USA.
Vsevolod Ivanovich Andreevsky, the younger brother of Leonid Ivanovich, served as Lieutenant Colonel of the Drozdov Artillery Brigade.
Description of work to be done:
- The granite cross has been preserved, but the granite “beds” have been damaged and moved due to soil erosion
- It is necessary to pour the foundation and level and install granite sides
Alexey Vasilievich Dashkiev-Panov
Cost of Repairs: $1000
Amount Collected: $0
Staff Captain Dashkiev-Panov served as the Operational adjutant of the 2nd Drozdovsky Regiment.
Seriously wounded in the summer of 1920, he was evacuated to Gallipoli after which he lived in exile in France, Yugoslavia, and Germany finally settling in the USA after World War II.
Description of work to be done:
- The site is a family burial plot comprising antique wooden crosses
- The wife’s cross rotted at the base and fell
- It is necessary, if possible, to repair and reinstall the cross, and create a concrete “bed”
Georgy Osipovich Goldschmidt von Schiffers
Cost of Repairs: $1400
Amount Collected: $0
A Lieutenant of the 1st officer general Markov regiment, Goldschmidt von Schiffers was an active member of the White movement in the South of Russia. He was also an artist. After he graduated from the Stroganov School and the Tbilisi Military School, he served on the Caucasian front in the First World War. After 1917 he joined the Junker battalion of the Volunteer Army and he took part in the 1st Kuban campaign in the ranks of the Officer Regiment. In 1920 he was evacuated from Crimea to Gallipoli. While in exile in Yugoslavia, he studied painting and graphics and continued in the USA after 1945.
Description of work to be done:
- Black granite cross. Well preserved
- Due to soil erosion, the granite sides of the grave “bed” have been displaced
- Foundation and installation required
Konstantin Fedorovich Petrov
Cost of Repairs: $1400
Amount Collected: $0
A Colonel of the Life Guards of the St. Petersburg Regiment, Petrov was a nobleman and son of the court councilor of the Irkutsk province. He graduated from the Siberian Cadet Corps and the 3rd Alexander Military School. He took part in the First World War in the ranks of the Life Guards of the St. Petersburg Regiment, where he was severely shell-shocked. Later, he was appointed head of the Gatchina school for training warrant officers of the Northern Fleet armies. He was the commandant of the Supreme Commander’s Headquarters. He served in the White movement in eastern Russia until he was exiled to Yugoslavia, after which, in 1945 he emigrated to the USA.
Description of work to be done:
- The granite cross collapsed during Hurricane Sandy and was completely shattered
- It is necessary to install a new cross and correct the granite frames of the grave “beds”
Alexander Vasilievich Popov
Cost of Repairs: $800
Amount Collected: $0
Popov was a Colonel of the Russian Army.
Description of work to be done:
- Wooden cross in the old style
- The foundation has rotted and collapsed
- Repair, replace rotten bottom of cross and install the original cross
Grigory Fedorovich Dudkin
Cost of Repairs: $1000
Amount Collected: $0
Dudkin served as Captain 2nd rank of the Imperial Navy.
Description of work to be done:
- Due to soil erosion, the granite frames of the grave were damaged
- Re-pour the foundation and install the frames
Grigory Mokrousov
Cost of Repairs: $1000
Amount Collected: $0
The cross has fallen face down.
Description of work to be done:
- Cement crosses. Very crumbled and damaged
- To be replaced with wood
Gabriel Ramensky
Cost of Repairs: $1000
Amount Collected: $0
The cross has fallen face down.
Description of work to be done:
- Cement crosses. Very crumbled and damaged
- To be replaced with wood
Plant a Birch Tree in Memory of Your Loved Ones
Novo-Diveevo Cemetery is now offering an opportunity to plant birch trees in specific locations at the cemetery. While trees are no longer permitted at individual grave sites, we would like to offer this opportunity for family members to pay respects to their loved ones by planting a birch tree and at the same time to participate in the beautification of our cemetery.
Volunteer Your Time at the Cemetery
For those who would like to make friends for the glory of God and personally help in the improvement of the cemetery, you can visit during our working hours (Monday to Friday from 7am-4pm) or on Saturday and help the workers of the monastery in restoring wooden crosses, cleaning the cemetery territory and generally to support other needs of the cemetery. Please contact us via email at office@novo-diveevo.org or call the monastery office at 845-356-0425.
Donate for Repair Materials
Another way to support the monastery’s efforts is to help with the procurement of materials needed for restoration of the monuments, for example, paint, special bonding cement, and the like. For more information, please contact us via email at office@novo-diveevo.org or call the monastery office at 845-356-0425.
Other Ways to Help
- General volunteer Saturdays
Occasionally we will have opportunities for all those people willing to help to gather on a set date and work for the glory of God together. Such days will be announced 1-2 weeks in advance. You can subscribe to our newsletter, check online or call the office to find out more. - Donate equipment
Please call the cemetery office 845-356-0425 if you have any equipment you can donate for any of the aforementioned projects. - Help us cover Grass cutting costs at the cemetery
It costs over 30K a year for landscaping costs and maintenance. The high price is due to the fact that the cemetery allows frames and grave covers, which make it more difficult to cut the grass around graves on a monthly basis. Any and all financial support is appreciated and we thank you in advance.