To perpetuate the memory, relatives can put a simple cross or a double monument on the grave, or even build a family crypt in which all family members are buried. In principle, the cost of the monument or whether gorgeous roses or simple forget-me-nots grow on the grave are not an indicator of how much the memory of a person is honored, how deeply the grief is due to his death. This is more clearly indicated by the constant care of the tombstone.

Modern special products for natural and artificial stone, as well as the experience of the craftsmen, allow you to maintain the tombstone in excellent condition long time. But sooner or later it will need to be restored or replaced with a new one. Old monuments, dilapidated by time, also require restoration, because they are of historical value and simply serve as a symbol of the memory of specific people.

Especially careful attitude requires a cross installed on the grave - sacred symbol for every believer. On the Cross, Christ accepted death for all humanity, and then rose again. Therefore, the Cross, which trampled upon death, is installed on the graves. Even if the tombstone is a stele, obelisk, sculpture, the Cross can be engraved or be an element of the monument. The cross is installed immediately at the time of burial. And when, after a while, the monument is erected, the question arises - what to do with the Cross? Under no circumstances should it simply be thrown into a cemetery landfill. The wooden cross is placed into the gravestone. If the site for the monument is already concreted, then it must be burned and scattered crosswise over the grave. The Metal Cross is also buried in the headstone of the grave; it can also be buried on the side of it.

A more complex issue is the restoration or disposal of stone tombstones. If the monument is replaced with a new one, the old monument can be disposed of by the cemetery administration; this service is paid. Using the monument for any household purposes is blasphemous and un-Christian. But in principle, this is a problem - tombstones are large, heavy and bulky. An original example of recycling old memorial monuments is the famous Tree of a Thousand Tombstones in London. When did it become necessary to rebury a large number of the deceased, their tombstones were taken to one tree. There they remained for a long time and even seemed to have grown together with this tree, partially absorbed by it.

Experienced specialists directly restore old monuments. The restoration includes several stages - cleaning the monument, restoring broken parts, polishing and polishing the stone, and competently restoring the inscriptions. Concrete monuments are cleaned of fungus, rust and other contaminants and covered with plaster based on granite chips. All types of tombstones are covered with water-repellent, protective agents. Restoration work may include restoration of the fence.

Restoring memorial monuments is not just about extending their service life. This is the preservation of the memory of a person, which is very important for the soul of every deceased.

In the Rusgranit workshop you can order a new granite monument according to the existing catalog, as well as according to the customer’s photo provided.

As it turned out, the question of how long it takes to place a monument on a grave after a funeral is asked by many people who have experienced loss loved one. Actually, there is nothing surprising here: one wants to fulfill one’s last duty to one’s deceased loved one correctly and with dignity, in compliance with all traditions and regulations. I decided to answer this question in detail, so to speak, with all the consequences, in order to resolve this dispute once and for all.

You can start with an equally frequently asked question:

Aneed toat allput a monument on the grave?

I’ll be honest: no matter how much I looked for any comprehensive information on this topic in Orthodox sources, I never found a clear answer to this question. I even consulted with my priest, saying, what are the instructions “from above” on this matter? The Holy Father said that a cross is auspicious, and if relatives want a monument, then the soul of the deceased will be grateful if there is an icon or a temple there. And as such, the church does not give instructions regarding the installation of a tombstone monument and the time when to erect it.

Another thing is the requirements. There are official regulations according to which each burial must be marked. Moreover, it is not simply indicated that a person is buried at this place. The monument must be erected indicating the name of the deceased and the period of his life.

Don’t forget about traditions, because this is ours. cultural heritage. But according to them, the monument still needs to be erected after the funeral. And the portrait is desirable, and the farewell words, she is such a Russian soul - subtle and a little sentimental.

So, you’ve sorted out the question “to put it or not to put it” - put it up. This is necessary not only because higher authorities require it, but also to preserve memory for posterity, and first of all, for ourselves. You willy-nilly turn to a deceased person whom you loved and respected when you come to the grave, and no matter how strange it may sound now, a monument with such dear features on it helps to ease the soul. Now let's find out

When can a monument be erected after a funeral??

Immediately after the burial, a so-called temporary monument is erected - that is, a temporary monument. Most often, preference is given to a wooden cross: it is both lightweight and inexpensive. Funerals and all funeral services today are already expensive, so an inexpensive monument is a good solution.

A permanent monument can be safely erected a year after the funeral. The fact is that within a year the soil has time to be compacted properly, which means that you won’t have to watch the sad sight of a warped stele or sagging pedestal. But this advice may not be strictly adhered to. For example, if a sad event occurred in the fall, then a monument can be placed on the grave six months later - in the spring. Over the winter, the soil usually settles sufficiently and there should be no problems with installing the tombstone.

There is another opinion that It’s better to erect a monument in two years, but it’s impossible before. The first time I came across such a recommendation was on an online forum. It was stated there that up to a year, and even more so within six months, the soil will not be compacted as it should be. Allegedly, the coffin must still collapse and all the voids must be filled. When I began to find out about this in more detail, it turned out (according to the assurance of a master from one rather large ritual office) that now such coffins that could quickly rot and form those voids that are dangerous for the monument are not being made, for which, in fact, the manufacturers thank you so much.

When people ask me why a monument cannot be erected before a year, it immediately becomes clear that the person is afraid of breaking some traditions or “unwritten laws.” But as you can see, there are no regulations on this matter. You can install it after 3-4 seasons, when the rains have passed, all the precipitation has fallen and dried up, so to speak, when the seasonal cycle has passed. And this is connected only with practical considerations. The church leaves this moment solely at the discretion of relatives, and this is good. After all, there are all sorts of situations: someone wants to arrange a grave as quickly as possible, while others decide to raise funds in order to build it, even if not immediately, but for centuries.

One more thing. Sometimes the time when it is necessary to erect a monument, it is in the winter. But in this case you will have to wait, and that will be right. If the soil is frozen, even the most experienced installer will not be able to install the tombstone efficiently, and in the spring he will have to “shove up the consequences” of such a hasty installation. And, as far as I know, no one will issue permission for installation in cemeteries in winter.

And one last thing. Many modern companies that sell monuments and, as a rule, install them, offer to place a tombstone directly on the day of the funeral. To be honest, it’s hard to believe that a block of stone weighing several tons can be installed in loose soil without consequences, but see for yourself. If you are given at least a year warranty for such an installation, why not? At least you won’t have to replace the stele with your own money. But my advice to you is to take your time. Let this be a balanced decision, calmly discussed within the family circle and not imposed by anyone.

What to do with the cross after installing the monument?

Most people honor the memory of deceased relatives and consider it their duty to visit the cemetery every year and care for the grave. But ignorance and non-compliance with the rules can lead to unintentional, but sinful actions and deeds. These laws were not laid down by our century; centuries are behind the current rituals. And it has long been a pious Russian tradition to place a cross on the grave mound at the time of burial.

The cross is a symbol of Christ

According to excerpts from the Bible, it follows that the cross on which Christ was crucified was made from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree was described as universal, with a height from the earth to the heavens. Therefore, a cross installed on a grave and rising upward means that although the body of the deceased is in the ground, his soul strives for heaven. As a rule, the cross is placed at the feet so that the deceased resurrected by Christ “can first of all see the cross of Christ and be encouraged by great hope.”

The relatives of the deceased have enough time to think about the improvement of the grave. After only a year, during which the land of the burial site will undergo natural changes, it becomes possible to erect a monument. But many Christians believe that until the cross decays, it is not worth introducing innovations into the decoration of the grave and fence. Whatever time the relatives of the deceased consider necessary, before installing the chosen monument, one must remember that the grave cross is a shrine for every believer, which requires special careful treatment.

What can't you do?

• Under no circumstances should the cross be taken to a cemetery garbage dump. Throwing away the cross - a symbol of victory over death - is considered a very serious sin.
• Selling a well-preserved cross would also be a blasphemous act.

What can you do?

• A metal or granite cross can be disassembled and buried in a gravestone.
• The wooden cross should be burned and the ashes scattered in a cross pattern for burial.
• Christian virtue would be to give the cross to a needy family who at that time needs help with the funeral of a loved one.
• You can take it to a temple, if there is one on the cemetery grounds.

What should I do?

The ideal option is considered to be a combination of both a cross and a monument in the fence.

• Not everyone knows that no inscriptions can be made on the cross, the only exception being a prayer or an epitaph. Therefore, in front of the cross you can install not big monument or a gravestone with dated information. A small monument is recommended by church ministers who believe that heavy pedestals crush and strangle the deceased.
• Also, in accordance with Christian canons, the monument will be installed opposite the cross. If the cross is at the feet of the deceased, then the monument, accordingly, is at the head. The cross carries a spiritual load, which is very important for the soul of someone who has passed on to another world. The monument, in turn, is intended to preserve information for a long time. Therefore, this combination of material and spiritual principles is considered justified.
• If only the monument remains in the enclosure, then do not forget about the obligatory presence of a drawing or engraving of a cross on the stone product. Since without the designation of a cross, there will simply be a soulless block of marble standing on the grave hill.

These are the main options for proper landscaping of a burial site. Choosing an expensive monument or a wooden cross will not indicate the depth of grief. Constant and proper care, maintaining cleanliness and order at the grave will much more show the degree of respect for the deceased and preserving his memory.

When to install a monument on a grave. Where to put it?

Dates for installing a monument in the cemetery.

There are two views on the question of when to install a monument on a grave. Sometimes you hear that you need to place it after 40 days. Of course, from the point of view of common sense, a monument should be erected when the ground has settled after burial, soil has been added, and the foundation has completely dried out. If you do not do this, you cannot avoid the monument skewing to one side, or worse, subsidence or sinking into the ground. The time for complete shrinkage of the earth after burial is considered to be a year.

Worth your time Special attention correct installation of the monument on the grave. On one ground, an easy installation is sufficient; for heavy monuments and viscous moving soil, it is necessary to pour a good foundation that firmly connects the stele, stand, plinth or fence. Installation must be thought out, it is necessary to take into account water drains and ground level. If you decide to erect a monument yourself and monitor the grave in the future, it will not be superfluous to know why graves sink.

The monument must be installed in dry, warm weather, during the season, which lasts from May 15 to October 15. The same applies to installing a fence, table, bench or plinth.

What does the Christian religion say about this? In Orthodox funerals it is customary to install a cross, and this is the main thing. As for the monument, the only thing the priests recommend on this issue is keeping the cross in a fence or having an engraved cross on the monument.

Do you know why it is necessary to install a monument on a grave? Should the cross be replaced with a monument? We wrote a separate article about this.

We figured out when to install a monument on a grave; this is necessarily a warm time of year and not before a year After the burial, now let's talk about installing a monument in the cemetery. First about legal side question. You can buy and order a monument wherever you want, where the price suits you, where the craftsmen take your fancy. No one has the right to limit you in your choice. Professional installers should be invited to install the monument; unprofessional installation of the monument can lead to the product falling and even to its destruction, which would be very undesirable.

Where are monuments placed? As a rule, the stele is installed in place of a wooden or metal cross, which in turn can be preserved and rearranged directly behind the monument. If you do not want to keep the cross, it has become weathered or deteriorated; according to Christian customs, the cross is not thrown away, but a tourniquet is used.

Each religious ceremony has its own rules for installing a monument. It can be placed at the feet of the deceased or at the head. Having erected a monument as required by religion, they often install a fence, which creates a sense of privacy.

Old people often ask their relatives not to erect a monument at all, a heavy tombstone evokes negative emotions in them, many say: don’t let the stone strangle me, don’t let the stone put pressure on me, etc. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to talk about the wishes of your elderly relatives, try to ask about this during your lifetime, and as a result, fulfill their will. If you can't ask or decide, then just do what's best for you, what's best for your peace of mind.

Let's return to the installation of the monument. Today there are no too strict standards and standards for the installation of stone products on graves, but there are some details that are still worth paying attention to. Approximately 5-7 years after burial, relatively inexpensive coffins begin to deteriorate, the earth sinks into the resulting voids, and the grave may sag. During a normal installation of a monument that is not reinforced with horizontal beams, the monument may tilt and will have to be remounted. To take into account all the details of when and how to install a monument, it is best to turn to professional installers. Experience in such installations will allow you to save money and not worry after several years.

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 above the grave there is one large 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 earth, 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 the fact that on the grave contradict the Orthodox canons? 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? It is not right. 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 us twice about the origin of man - 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 the 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 the 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 to do it? memorial days, a particularly 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 it from the cemetery grave crosses and install it 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. Is it not 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 Julia! 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 Assumption 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 one 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, and 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, Natalia.
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? Save me, God.

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?