Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Source: Instytut Polonika
Photo showing Kukij cemetery
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ID: CM-000333-P/165328

Kukij cemetery

ID: CM-000333-P/165328

Kukij cemetery

The Kukia cemetery is the oldest surviving cemetery in Tbilisi, opened, according to Lech Sokół - author of the article 'On the 100th anniversary of Dagna's death' (Polish Community Association Bulletin, No. 7/2001, pp. 2-6), most probably at the beginning of the 18th century, as evidenced by the oldest inscriptions on the gravestones. However, the exact date of the necropolis' foundation is unknown. A well-known Norwegian painter, tragically deceased, Dagny Juel - Przybyszewska, wife of Stanislaw Przybyszewski, was buried in this cemetery in 1901. Of the most famous Georgians, Akwsenti Cagareli was buried in this cemetery in 1902, Lado Agniaszwili in 1904, Sio Czytadze in 1906. They were first buried in the central part of the cemetery, then their graves were moved to the newly created Pantheon. Joseph Stalin's wife Ekaterina Svanidze-Djugashvili was also buried in the Kukia Cemetery in 1907.
One of the oldest parts of the cemetery is the so-called 'Fraternity Cemetery' where the graves of the soldiers of the Ardagan Battalion who took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 are located. However, there are graves even older.
In 1895, St Nina's Church was built in the Kukia Cemetery. The construction of this church took two years. The idea to start this project belongs to the then Metropolitan of Saint-Peterburg - Paladi.
After the closure of the old cemetery, where there was no more space for new graves, the state set aside an additional 50 ha on 24 June 1955. The first person buried in the new section was Ketevan Vashakidze.
The Cemetery also contains Memorials for those who disappeared during the Second World War and during the war in Abkhazia.
Approximately 70,000 people of various nationalities are buried in the new Kukij Cemetery: Georgians, Kurds, Armenians, Russians, Assyrians. The cemetery is staffed by 7 people: a manager, a supervisor and 5 gravediggers.
The cemetery is located in the central part of the city, on the north side of the Mtkwari (Kura) River, north of the railway line. It has an irregular, polygonal shape, extending from the north-west towards the south-east, on a rising terrain towards the north and north-east.

Variants of the name:

კუკიის სასაფლაო

Time of construction:

Early 18th century (?)

Area:

approx. 19 ha (entire site), Polish gravestones on the so-called "Polish Hill" in the western part of the necropolis

Active/inactive cemetery:

Yes

Comments on the state of preservation and visible restoration:

In general, the state of preservation of the cemetery and the gravestones in it is good, however, the Polish gravestones are in the worst condition, which are slowly but successively devastated and removed from their places, in such a way as to obtain a "new" burial place. Modern burials affect and devastate precisely Polish gravestones, very often leading to the liquidation of former Polish graves and the former layout of the plots. A large part of the old tombstones bears traces of shifting in order to gain space for new graves and deliberate destruction - some of the tombstones are simply stored "under the fence". In general, Polish graves are abandoned and neglected, without proper maintenance, care and supervision.

Bibliography:

  • „Kukia. Zapomniane dziedzictwo polskie w Gruzji”, red. Olga Solarz, Nowica; Uście Gorlickie 2015

Date of documentation:

2007

Publication:

19.10.2024

Last updated:

20.01.2025

Author of the documentation sheet:

Jerzy Szałygin
see more Text translated automatically
Gravestones with crosses at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi, surrounded by metal fences and trees in the background. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
A weathered tombstone with a green cross on the Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Faint inscriptions are visible on the stone surface. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
A weathered stone grave with a metal cross on top, surrounded by dry grass and metal fencing at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
A black cross on a white stone base with black streaks, located in Kukia Cemetery, Tbilisi. The background shows a metal fence and dry vegetation. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
A stone monument with a cross on top at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. The monument features an engraved plaque and a relief of a kneeling figure. A chain-link fence is visible in the background. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
A stone grave monument on Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi, featuring a sculpture of a seated angel on top. The monument is surrounded by a metal fence. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Gravestone with Latin inscription for Prelatus Maximilianus Orlowski, dated February 11, 1831, on Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. The stone is set in a rough, textured frame. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Old gravestones partially covered by dry branches and surrounded by a metal fence on Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Weathered gravestones partially covered by dry branches at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Old gravestones at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi, partially covered by dry branches. The inscriptions are worn and difficult to read. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Weathered gravestone inscription on Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi, partially legible text in Polish, surrounded by dry grass. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Old gravestone with a cross and faded inscription surrounded by dry grass at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Old gravestone with inscriptions in Latin and Polish, surrounded by trees and a metal fence at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Close-up of a gravestone at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi, featuring inscriptions in Polish. The text includes the name Jan Hołyniec, birth date December 29, 1815, and death date April 14, 1886. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Gravestone of Klemens Ruciewicz, mining engineer, with dates 1859-1926, inscribed in Polish, surrounded by rough stone frame at Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Gravestone of Józef Arkadiusz Szmidecki, mining engineer, 1859-1900, on Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. The stone is weathered with visible text and surrounded by dry grass. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Damaged gravestone with inscriptions and a carved design on the Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi. Surrounding debris and a metal fence are visible. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
Close-up of a weathered tombstone with Polish inscription at Kukia Cemetery, Tbilisi. The text reads: 'This monument from beloved daughter Mary Drozdowicz asks passersby to pray for her soul to God.' Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved
View of Kukia Cemetery in Tbilisi with old graves surrounded by overgrown vegetation and metal fences, set against a backdrop of misty hills and scattered trees. Photo showing Kukij cemetery Gallery of the object +18
Cmentarz Kukijski, photo Jerzy Szałygin, 2007, all rights reserved

List of cemetery objects

26
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