The “Saint Lazarus” Cemetery in Chisinau, one of the largest in Southeast Europe, still has burial places available for approximately seven to eight years. This is stated by Ludmila Botan, the director of the municipal enterprise “Funeral Services Combine”. The official declared for IPN that, every year, hundreds of people are buried here, and the rapid pace of occupation of the places requires finding alternative solutions. Land restoration could be an option, but a more feasible solution would be the construction of a crematorium. Although the project is considered realistic, it has remained only on paper for almost ten years.

“Saint Lazarus” Cemetery – a historical landmark

The “Saint Lazarus” Cemetery in Chisinau, with an area of approximately 145 hectares, hosts over 300 thousand graves. Ludmila Botan mentioned that, being established in the ’60s, it reflects the evolution of the city and Moldovan society over the past decades, becoming a reference point of recent history.

Among those buried here are veterans of the Afghanistan war, liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster, and heroes of the Soviet Union, alongside cultural figures. The “Saint Lazarus” Cemetery remains a significant place for the collective memory of Chisinau.

Interments and Reservations

Annually, in the “Saint Lazarus” Cemetery, approximately 4,500-5,000 burials are carried out, and during the pandemic, this number peaked at 9 thousand. Ludmila Botan mentioned that there are still available spaces for about seven to eight years, but lands that have exceeded certain usage limits could be reused.

According to her, relatives can be buried in the same grave seven years after the last burial, and in the case of abandoned graves, they can be reused twenty years after the initial burial. Moreover, the person in charge emphasized that at “Saint Lazarus”, the redistribution of graves has not yet begun, considering it is the youngest cemetery, not only in Chisinau but also in the entire country. The reuse of graves is done only at the request of relatives, who can opt for burial in the same places as their parents or grandparents.

A service that is increasingly in demand is the reservation of burial plots. This practice is valid for all cemeteries, including “Saint Lazarus”. Many of those who reach an advanced age usually request for their partner a burial place next to the grave of the deceased, so that they can remain together. Consequently, about 30% of the interred individuals already have their burial places reserved by relatives.

The sanitation and maintenance of the cemetery

The director of the company emphasized that it is the responsibility of each family to maintain the graves and keep order in the cemetery. Nearly 70% of visitors come only once a year, around the Easter of the Dead or a few weeks before, to clean and commemorate their deceased. This is largely due to the fact that many of them live outside the country.

Ludmila Botan emphasized the importance of adhering to hygiene rules in the cemetery, urging visitors to collect and dispose of trash in bins, separating plastic, household waste, and plant debris. However, she noted that sometimes, trash is left on access paths or on neighboring graves, explaining that the company does not have the authority to intervene on individual graves.

The cemetery workers are responsible for general cleaning, maintaining access paths, collecting and sorting garbage, which they take to the dumpsters. Repair works are also carried out, and recently 2.5 kilometers of road in the old sectors of the “Saint Lazarus” cemetery have been rehabilitated. The necessary expenses for the maintenance and arrangement of the cemeteries are covered by the annual fee of 240 lei.

The director of the company emphasized the need to increase the annual fee, considering the inflation rise and the self-management status of the institution. Moreover, certain categories of people, such as retirees and war veterans, benefit from exemptions from paying this fee.

The Crematorium – a Solution

The director of the company stated that the idea of building a crematorium in Moldova is a realistic one, but it has remained only on paper for almost 10 years. The bill was proposed by employers as early as 2016, and several meetings took place in Parliament, to which representatives of all religious sects in the country were invited. Following these discussions, it was concluded that the subject is a sensitive one, and the discussions were postponed.

“Right now, I can’t tell you whether we will proceed, because, in that bill, the last section was about the construction and operation of the crematorium. You should know that we have many requests for cremation,” said Ludmila Botan.

The director of the company emphasized that expanding cemeteries is not an ideal long-term solution, as it does not represent a sustainable legacy for future generations, who should have the opportunity to develop other areas. She added that, instead, building a crematorium would not require much land, and arranging a columbarium for storing urns would be a much more practical and efficient option than the continuous expansion of cemetery land for each coffin.

Preparations for Blajini

At present, cemeteries are in a busy period, with tomb cleaning works and funeral stone installations. Although these activities are allowed, authorities encourage visitors not to leave waste on graves, in order to maintain a clean and respectful place for those who rest their relatives here.

The director of the company emphasized that visitors to the cemetery should come with a candle and a thought of gratitude for those resting in this sacred place. She recommends the use of live flowers instead of artificial ones, considering their negative impact on the environment. Also, visitors are encouraged to adopt a respectful behavior and leave food and alcoholic beverages at home.

Starting from April 15, private transportation access to the territory of the “Saint Lazarus” Cemetery will be restricted. Travel to the cemetery will be possible with the free transportation organized by the Chisinau City Hall.

Milena Macarciuc, IPN