Rasos cemetery is the oldest ”surviving” and one of the most important and famous cemetery in Vilnius. According to different sources the year when cemetery was open vary from 1769 to 1796. It was free of charge to all residents of the city and was the first cemetery not to be located next to a church. In 1801 a new part of cemetery was open which is now separated by the street. During Napoleon's invasion the cemetery was heavily damaged, the old wooden fence was destroyed by fire. In the XIX century the neo-gothic chapel with a bell tower, columbariums and a brick fence were built.
The cemetery became burial place of many Lithuanian, Belarusian and Polish noblemen. Here lays The Act of Independence signatories, Lithuania’s independence wars soldiers, political activists, participants of 1963 uprising, famous scientists, artists, writers, architects, professors and many more notable figures. In both old and new cemeteries memorial cenotaphs were build, for victims of Polish, German and Soviet occupations.
After Vilnius was occupied by Polish, war cemetery was built near the main entrance, where Polish soldiers of Soviet-Polish war and Polish-Lithuanian war are buried. After Marshal’s Pilsudki’s death his heart was buried in war cemetery. During the occupation this part of cemetery was always guarded by the honorary guard.
During the Soviet occupation the cemetery was seen as “regime unfriendly”. The initial plan was to raze the whole cemetery and build a highway. Both columbariums, part of the fence were destroyed. Due to protests and economical difficulties demolition was halted.
After Lithuania gained back independence the cemetery was granted with a status of cultural heritage. The new burials were prohibited. Now both Lithuanian and Polish authorities are collaborating to restore the cemetery.
NOTABLE INTERMENTS:
Jonas Basanavicius - (1851-1927) Lithuanian physician, activist signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, he is on the 50 litas banknote
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis - (1875-1911) Worldwide famous Lithuanian painter and composer
Jozef Pilsudski (Heart) - (1867-1935) Polish stateman
Joachim Lelewel - (1768-1861) Polish historitian, professor
Antoni Wiwulski - (1877-1919) Lithuanian-Polish architect
Vincas Mykolaitis Putinas - (1893-1967) Lithuanian writer
Kazys Boruta - (1905-1965) Lithuanian writer
Balys Sruoga - (1896-1947) Lithuanian writer
Petras Cvirka - (1909-1947) Lithuanian writer