The time comes when relatives are faced with the need to install a new tombstone on the grave.
The point is that memorial complex, made from low-quality and short-lived material, may lose its appearance over time and will have to be dismantled and a new one installed in its place. The reason for the destruction of the monument may be improper installation of the tombstone. Ignorance of the technological features of installation often leads to the fact that after several years, the tombstone has to be replaced. To avoid this, remember that it is better to order the installation of a monument from professionals.
The aesthetics of the pedestal can also be disturbed by cracks, damage and chips as a result of vandalism or initially incorrect installation of the monument. In this situation, relatives are faced with the need to replace the old tombstone with a more dignified option.
It is natural that replacement of an old monument may seem incorrect, since a tombstone is a piece of memory of a deceased relative. However, if you notice obvious damage, replacing the monument is necessary to maintain the burial site in decent condition. The best option there will be a solid granite tombstone. Such pedestals are very strong and durable due to the material from which they are made. Granite is not afraid of temperature changes and natural phenomena in the form of rain, snow, etc. If the installation technology is followed correctly, granite monument can last several hundred years.
Sometimes it happens that there is no need to replace the entire memorial complex, but some parts require replacement. For example, a stele, flower bed, plinth or fence has become dilapidated. Then we recommend ordering restoration of the monument with the production and replacement of elements of the tombstone. Replacing the base, tombstone or other elements will cost much less than installing a new monument.
So, the reasons for the destruction of the monument may be the following:
- vandalism;
- low-quality material for making a tombstone;
- unfair processing of stone at the stage of making a tombstone;
- technological errors made during the installation of the memorial.
The dismantling of the monument by our company’s employees is carried out in all cemeteries in Moscow and the Moscow region and this service costs from 5 thousand rubles. More detailed information can be obtained by phone from our managers (the call is free from all phones).
Today you can directly from the manufacturer, regardless of the region in which you live. Our company is a manufacturer of Karelian granite; all products from gabbro-diabase are made on special equipment using latest technologies. You can view the catalog of monuments. possible within 2-14 days by modern transport companies.
Can. Religion does not prohibit doing this. And it doesn’t matter for what reason: it got worse appearance, collapsed or not satisfied with the shape. Relatives can replace the monument with a new one.
There are omens among the people. Many people believe that it is impossible to change the monument on the grave. But this is just a sign that is not related to religion. The clergy who were asked a similar question are of the same opinion - it is allowed to restore order and improve the grave site.
As for the details of the burial ritual, they differ in the regions of Belarus. The only thing that the clergy clarify is the religion of the deceased. It is recommended to bury people of different faiths in different cemeteries.
Common reasons for replacing a monument:
- there is no photograph, inscription, painting on the reverse side;
- cracks, chips have appeared, a photograph or inscription has been damaged;
- the foundation collapsed, the old monument leaned and collapsed;
Why does the view deteriorate?
It’s good when the replacement is due to the desire to make the monument more beautiful and better: to add a few important details, information or a photograph. But usually loved ones have to resort to buying new memorials when the old one gets damaged. This happens during natural disasters, aging, insufficient good quality installation or material of manufacture.
When choosing a funeral workshop, you must also carefully evaluate the quality of the services provided and the monument itself. With professional performance of all work related to installation and selection of durable materials, the product will retain its appearance for more than 100 years.
It happens that the team responsible for the installation makes mistakes. This results in a weak foundation and frame. The monument will simply tilt or fall. IN best case scenario you'll just have to reinstall it. At worst, replace it with a new one.
How to achieve a quality installation
If there are cracks in the monument, there is a high probability that it will collapse quickly. Therefore, it is important to check the integrity of the monument when purchasing. Of course, this is not what you want to do, but you shouldn’t throw money away either.
There are people who prefer to install products themselves. Naturally, without the proper skills and experience, you can make mistakes that will lead to the rapid destruction of the monument. Therefore, it is better to trust the installation of the monument to professionals. Of course, it can always be replaced, but it’s better to do it well the first time.
Important
All work, including cleaning the burial site and disposal of the old monument, is carried out by the craftsmen who install it. Can't leave old monument or throw it away at the nearest landfill. Such services can be ordered separately or entrusted to professionals.
Signs, superstitions and instructions of the Church about crosses on the grave.
The symbol of Christ's crucifixion - the cross - has been shrouded in a mysterious shroud of riddles, secrets and superstitions since ancient times. Many of these signs have taken on a religious form since Christianity spread throughout the world, choosing the cross as its symbol.
According to religious dogmas, death is an important, turning point event in the life of every person. Moreover, monks and elders call life a preparation for death, since it is with the end of “earthly affairs” that the soul meets the Lord. Therefore, it is not surprising that so many different religious instructions and instructions are associated with the burial rite. A very important one is the installation of a cross on the grave of a deceased Christian.
The cross is a shrine that is revered and arouses reverence among all Christians. And in this regard, when installing it on a grave, some practical issues may arise caused by the fear of offending sacred symbol, thereby incurring divine wrath.
How to install a cross on a grave?
Based on the traditions of Orthodox Christianity, the grave is placed in such a way that the head of the deceased is directed to the west and the legs to the east. According to biblical accounts, this is how Jesus was buried.
A tombstone cross is placed at the feet of the deceased, so that at the moment when the soul leaves its final refuge, it can see in front of it the holy symbol of forgiveness and offer prayers before it. Catholic traditions require placing a cross above your head. It is believed that when leaving the earth, the soul kisses the crucifix, expressing its submission and devotion to Christian teaching.
What to do with the old cross?
On the day of the funeral, an ordinary wooden cross is placed on the grave. This is done not only for religious reasons, but also for practical ones: a wooden structure is quite light in weight (compared, for example, with stone tombstones), and therefore its installation will not interfere with the natural subsidence and compaction of the soil at the burial site.
But when the time comes to install a new, permanent headstone, the cross is dismantled and the question arises of what to do with it. It is really impossible to throw away a shrine in the trash, as this is a sign of disrespect. It is recommended to burn a wooden cross as unnecessary. If such a need arises, you should ask the cemetery administration where this can be done. As a rule, each graveyard has places for such needs.
If the cross is well preserved, it can be given to a workshop or even sold. According to clergy, there is nothing forbidden or shameful in installing an old crucifix. In addition, an old tombstone can become the personification of the deceased’s non-covetousness, his meekness and lack of desire for material, earthly goods.
What to do if the cross is askew or has fallen?
Due to bad weather, a tombstone, especially a temporary one made of lightweight material and installed without a solid foundation, can become askew or even fall. If the crucifix is lopsided, it should be corrected, a dense earthen mound should be made and it should be compacted well. The cross should stand straight on the grave.
There are two opinions about fallen crosses, but they agree that this is an unfavorable sign. Some argue that a toppled tombstone can simply be reinstalled, but with a better installation this time. According to others, the fallen cross should be burned and a new one installed in its place. Be that as it may, the Church recommends ordering a prayer service for the repose or lighting a candle if this happened at the grave of your loved one.
Signs and superstitions
Many people associate various superstitions with grave crosses. They cast fortunes on them, remove and damage them, cast love spells and conspiracies. Orthodox Church disapproves of such rituals; they are called pagan. The Holy Fathers claim that if you notice bad signs associated with tombstone crosses, as if someone wants to bring trouble on you, you should not be afraid and take it too to heart. You need to strengthen your faith, go to church, pray, take holy communion, then no misfortunes will be able to touch you or your family.
One way or another, many different signs and religious requirements are associated with crosses. To bury a loved one, thoroughly observing the instructions of the Church, is commendable, good wish, however, if faith lives in the heart and sincere prayers for the deceased come from the depths of the soul, then you should not be afraid of making small mistakes associated with the installation of a tombstone cross.
More than once from fellow villagers before parenting days, including on the eve of Trinity parent's Saturday, I happened to hear questions: how to remember loved ones correctly, is it possible to change tombstones and crosses that fell over time, rotted, and where to put them when replacing them with new ones... The ZS correspondent addressed these and other questions to the rector of the Nelkan Church of the Annunciation Mother of God Father Konstantin.
There is no need to remember the dead in the cemetery with food. This custom has no religious basis - Father Konstantin says. - It appeared in Soviet times, when churches were closed. IN memorial days people came to cemeteries and, according to their own understanding, commemorated their deceased relatives. Over the years, this custom, not sanctified by the church, acquired hypertrophied forms. Po-minks turn into picnics with copious amounts of alcohol. There is a decline in spiritual culture. This is why it is necessary to compare our actions with church teaching about the afterlife.
The Church plays the same role in the world as salt for food. Just as food without salt has no taste, so human customs without church consecration deteriorate, and society gradually degrades. Therefore, it is necessary to explain the meaning of what is happening in cemeteries on parenting days. First of all, these are days of spiritual, prayerful remembrance, and not a holiday of the belly and not a reason to drink. On this day we must come to the church, light candles, write a note with the names of the deceased, and thereby add our prayer to the one that is performed in the temple on this day. This is our spiritual mercy towards the dead. A sign that we are spiritually together with them and do not forget them even when our heart is filled with the joy of the holiday of the Holy Trinity. Together with the church, we ask for an improvement in the fate of their souls in the afterlife. After all, the soul, created in the image and likeness of the immortal God, is not destroyed at the moment of death. “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for with Him all are alive” (Gospel of Luke, pl. 20, verse 38). Then we can go to the cemetery to care for the graves of our loved ones and prayerfully congratulate them on Pentecost. The deceased hear our prayers. You can sprinkle millet for the birds. Caring for our little brothers is also a form of remembrance. And that's enough.
The Apostle Paul, seeing the intemperance of his contemporaries, admonished them: “Don’t you have houses where you can eat and drink?” Is there a place for a meal in a place of decay? Is there a place for a feast in a place of rest? Shouldn't the deceased, tired of their earthly life, finally be given the right to rest from the turmoil? Don't they deserve it? Based on these considerations, the church does not bless funeral feasts in cemeteries, as it is not a Christian matter.
- Does what has been said mean that what is happening is eating food and alcohol, walking from one grave to another - this is simply paganism? But people don’t know what to do. I have heard more than once in Aim, and also in Nelkan, from local residents, that before it was generally not customary for the Evenks to go to the cemetery. They buried him and left him alone.
When people were churchgoers, such a custom did not exist not only among the Evenks, but throughout Russia. He appeared during the era of the struggle against the Church. Arranging funeral meals at burial sites is a revival of pre-Christian customs, pagan funeral feasts, accompanied by orgies and all sorts of lasciviousness. This is a consequence of the loss of true knowledge about the afterlife. The Church calls us to take comfort not in perishable food, but in the word of God: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the time is coming, and has already come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and having heard it, they will live... And they will come out.” those who did good into the resurrection of life, and those who did evil into the resurrection of condemnation” (Evan. from John, chapter 5, vv. 25, 29). What a consolation to know that our separation is not forever, but only for a while, because our Lord Jesus Christ promises to resurrect them, just as He resurrected Himself! We need to leave our departed alone and learn to remember them with prayer and good deeds. It will be good for them more benefit, as we ourselves will be convinced of, moving in due time to eternity.
- What does the church think, is it possible to replace a cross or monument if it has rotted over the years and fallen? Where should I put it?
Since the monuments installed on the graves are not consecrated, it is permissible to dispose of rotten and unusable ones along with other garbage. If the Cross was installed and consecrated, then the disposal of consecrated objects, which become unusable over time, occurs by burning them or lowering them into the river. You can also bury them in the ground when burying someone, lowering them into the grave along with the deceased.
- I would also like to note that on parenting days, many leave food and alcohol at the graves of their relatives. Supposedly for the deceased. What do you think about this?
The dead do not need food left behind. The soul, having separated from the body, does not need material food. Therefore, it is better not to leave it on the graves, since after the people leave, a dog feast begins. It seems that it is better to feed dogs in another place, because often, excuse me, they immediately defecate, desecrating our shrines. And graves and cemeteries are considered holy, just like temples. Animals have nothing to do here. It’s better to treat someone with food. Such alms, in memory of the deceased, will bring great benefit to his soul from the hands of Christ himself. And sprinkle millet on the grave, the birds, after pecking, will pray in their own way to the Creator for the deceased. “We try, as much as possible, to help the departed, instead of tears, instead of sobs, instead of magnificent tombs - with our prayers, alms and offerings for them, so that in this way both they and we will receive the promised benefits.” , - wrote St. John Chrysostom.
- I would also like to say that every deceased Orthodox Christian should be commemorated annually on his birthday, death, and name day. It is advisable on such days to donate to the needs of the church, to give alms with a request to pray for the departed.
Interviewed
Tatiana Fonova.
Records found: 65
Hello, someone leaves handfuls of coins or several crosses at my father’s grave, on a monument, on a table, on the floor. Not for the first time. What could this mean and what to do? Thank you.
Tatiana
Tatiana. I don’t know who is doing this and why, but I am sure that you do not need to fear anything. Take the crosses to church, and distribute the change to those in need.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! Please tell me what to put on the grave of a relative and what not? Is a cross enough, are photos and other information about the deceased needed? They say that we need something like a monument with photos and data. Tell me what is really needed?
Yuri
Hello, Yuri! First of all, there should be a cross on an Orthodox grave. For the memory of the living, you can hang a sign with the data of the deceased, a photograph. If you eventually want to erect a monument, then the cross should still be present on it.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Good health. I wanted to order a new cross from the cemetery, because the old one fell, and they offered me to put up a used cross, but I also have to buy it, only it’s cheaper. These, they say, are the crosses that are removed to erect a monument. Is it even possible to put up such a cross?
Catherine
Ekaterina, of course you can. If it is expensive to put a new cross on a grave, put the one that is offered to you. An Orthodox grave should not have a monument, but an Orthodox cross.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, is a photograph required on the monument of the deceased?
Tatiana
Tatyana, there must be an Orthodox cross on an Orthodox grave; everything else (monuments, photos, etc.) is not at all necessary.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Good afternoon, father! In the Kharkov region, a mother and her three children - 6 months, 6 years and 7 years old - burned to death during a fire. They were buried in two coffins: a mother with a 6-month-old child in one coffin, and children 6 and 7 years old in another coffin. And in the cemetery, instead of four graves, there are only two. How does the church treat such cases and is this even acceptable? God bless you for your answer. Sorry to bother you.
Natalia
Natalya, yes, it’s possible, there’s nothing reprehensible here: remember, for example, soldiers’ mass graves, where many people are buried, and over the grave - one big monument or cross. Moreover, this was also the case with the early Christian martyrs - each of them was not always buried separately. Very often, the bones of martyrs, burned in ovens or torn to pieces by wild animals, were buried by the pagans in the same grave.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello, please tell me, is it true that soil from one grave cannot be poured onto another? The fact is that when installing monuments to my parents, the soil from the graves was mixed. If this is a violation, how can it be corrected?
Lydia
Lydia, there are no rules in the church that would indicate that you cannot take soil from one grave to another. I think this is not significant. We all live on the same land, under the same sun, and we all breathe the same air. Don't worry, there's nothing wrong. The main thing is to pray for your departed, and visit church more often, confess and receive communion.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, father! Doesn’t it contradict the Orthodox canons that the grave Orthodox man When installing the monument and fence, the workers pulled out an oak cross, placed it on the grave, filled it with concrete and laid paving slabs on top. (In the upper corner established monument there is a small Orthodox cross).
Gennady
Gennady, we Orthodox Christians must live and die in an Orthodox manner, and we must be buried strictly in a Christian manner. The most important thing on an Orthodox grave is, of course, the CROSS. The cross should not be drawn, but stand at its full height. Tell me, why does the deceased need a monument at all if it is erected instead of a cross? This is wrong. The cross should not have been removed from the grave. The cross is our hope, our hope. And what is a monument? It’s a soulless block of marble, which, unfortunately, many now put in place of the Cross. Cross on the grave Orthodox Christian It must be mandatory, and not lie down, but stand!
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! Please answer two questions on Genesis. 1. Why does the Bible tell the origin of man twice - once every sixth time [Gen. 1:23-29], and the second time the seventh day of creation [Gen. 2:2-8] and [Gen. 2:15-24]? 2. Why is the creation/creation of man different on the sixth and seventh days of creation? Thank you!
Vladimir
Vladimir, there is no contradiction here, it’s just a style of storytelling characteristic of this ancient monument like the Bible. First it talks about the creation of the world, including man, and then in more detail about the origin of all things.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! Please answer my question. My grandmother died and exact date We don’t know the death, because we found her on the morning of January 12, and this date was written everywhere, in documents and on the monument. But having compared some facts, we doubtfully came to the conclusion that she died on the afternoon of January 11th. What should we do now and when should we do memorial days, especially the important fortieth day? This is a very painful question for me. After all, we may be late (so to speak) with the memorial day. Please help and thanks in advance.
Natalia
Natalia, if the most likely date of death is January 11, then remember in accordance with this date, and without embarrassment.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! Please tell me what would be right: to put it on the grave Orthodox monument with an image of a cross and a photograph of the deceased, or just a cross? If you just put up a cross, is it possible to place an image of the deceased on the cross, or is only a sign with the full name allowed? and date of birth and death?
Oleg
Oleg, a Christian should always have the Cross, both during life and after death. The cross on the grave should stand independently of the monument. You can erect a monument, as convenient, but the cross is separate. It is better to put only the date and full name on the cross, and a photo separately. But you can make a tombstone with an inscription and a photo, and put the cross separately, it will be inexpensive.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello. Help, tell me what to do. Neighbors bring grave crosses from the cemetery and place them in front of my windows. They also erected a monument depicting the deceased. Previously, my child suffered from the actions of these people - he spent more than a month in the hospital, and when he was discharged, crosses appeared under the window. I can't remove them. I live alone and have two small children.
Irina
However, what “hardworking” neighbors you have found, Irina! If only their energy could go in a peaceful direction!
Don't be afraid of anything, this whole circus won't harm you. And yourself - stand stronger in faith, live together with the Church, approach the Church Sacraments more often, grace will protect you, and the Lord will not abandon His own! The Apostle said: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. Ch. 8, v. 31). And besides, you can turn to utility services and the help of the law, because It is unlikely that the law allows cemetery crosses taken from unknown sources to be installed on residential or public property.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Hello. Thanks for all your answers. I have another question: they ordered a monument for my late mother, but my grandmother wanted (good thing they talked me out of it) to first make a monument for herself with a portrait and date of birth. Isn’t it a sin to order a monument for yourself in advance? And another question: they say that young people cannot bring fresh flowers to the cemetery, but only artificial ones - otherwise young people will supposedly die. This is just superstition, isn't it? And where do people get this nonsense from? Thanks in advance for your answers!
Hello, Yulia! In Orthodoxy there is a tradition of preparing a coffin and a cross for yourself during your lifetime. Many saints did this, and there is nothing wrong with it. This is a remembrance of death that every Christian, especially the elderly, should have. If the grandmother wants to order a monument, let her order it if the relatives do not mind. Regarding flowers, this is definitely a superstition. Fresh flowers in a cemetery are a symbol eternal life deceased. And superstitions are born from ignorance and unwillingness to study one’s faith.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
In 2007, I erected a tombstone for my deceased wife. The red granite tombstone depicts an Orthodox cross, a portrait of Tanyusha, a favorite flower - clematis, and a stylized (unrecognizable) sculptural image of a little girl. The intended meaning is that my Tanya will be like a guardian angel to her granddaughter Alexandra, whom she loved very much. Now eldest daughter Anastasia insists on remaking the monument. Advise, father, what to do.
Kozlovsky Vladimir Leonidovich
Of course, your daughter is driven by superstitious fear. There is no need to redo the monument; the plot can be reinterpreted. Look at the icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God, there the soul of the Mother of God is depicted in the hands of the Savior in the form of a little girl, so you can interpret this figure on the tombstone as a symbolic image of the soul of the deceased.
Deacon Ilia Kokin
Hello, my name is Natalya, I am from Kazakhstan. I have one question, but first a little background: my mother, to my great regret, has been gone for almost 5 years, she sang in the church choir and I grew up in the church (so to speak) and now, I remember that my mother always She said that she did not want a monument to be erected for her after her death, she only allowed us to erect a wooden cross. She explained this, but I don’t remember exactly how she explained it, word for word. She said something about how on Judgment Day the cross would have to be carried, but the monument would be impossible to raise... And my question is: is this described somewhere in the Bible? Where did mom get this decision?
Natalia
Hello, Natalya.
Placing a wooden cross on a grave is a pious act. Russian tradition. The simplicity of the material speaks of the non-covetousness of the deceased.
Many bequeath a portion of their funds and property to donate to those in need, and to place a simple wooden cross on the grave.
On the other hand, in this way Christians confess their readiness to follow Christ and hope for the salvation of their souls. After all, the instrument of our salvation, the Cross of Christ, was made of wood.
Perhaps my mother’s desire to carry a wooden cross on Judgment Day should not be taken literally, but she certainly wanted to have evidence that she had carried her Cross through all the trials of earthly life.
God bless.
Priest Sergius Osipov
Father, bless! At my father's grave, curb stones were used for landscaping. I want to put a monument on the grave and remove the curb stones. Can they be used in a summer cottage? God bless you.
Oleg
Hello, Oleg! These stones are your property, you can do with them as you wish. But I personally wouldn’t take stones home from the cemetery.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
An Orthodox cross was installed at my mother’s burial place 57 years ago. Now I want to erect a monument. Is it possible to replace or remove an old cross that has become unusable?
Alexander
Hello, Alexander! You can erect a monument with the image of a cross, and the old cross, so as not to be desecrated, can be burned or sawn into pieces and burned again.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Hello! I really want to embroider my husband and I’s wedding portrait. Everything is ready for this. Mom, having learned about my desire, said a couple of days later that this should not be done, that this was something like a monument during my lifetime. I was very upset, so I want to know if this is so, and is it possible to embroider a wedding portrait? Maybe you need to go to church and ask for blessings before starting work. Please tell me what is the right thing to do?