Between 2018 and 2023, the POLONIKA Institute implemented a long-term programme for the conservation of tombstones in the Basilian cemetery in Krzemieniec. Until 1891, it was the burial place of many Poles, including professors of the Volyn Gymnasium, later the Krzemieniec High School. The cemetery is also known as the post-Reformation or Monastery cemetery.

Works completed in 2023.

Together with the stone sculpture restorers working at the cemetery last year, we have selected tombstones for restoration.

Work continues on the monument to Alexander Nemeksha, who died on 26 September 1866. The burial chamber, on which work had been ongoing since last year, has been secured. The steel cross crowning the monument has been cleaned and its surface and stone base have been protected.

The equally simple in form obelisk of Catherine Krzyzanowska's gravestone has a particularly well-preserved inscription about the deceased buried there with her two sons. The surfaces of the limestone were cleaned and protected to make the stone water repellent. The resulting improved properties of the relatively soft rock increased the durability of the obelisk.

The monuments were stabilised on new slabs placed on the ground. Comprehensive conservation and restoration work was carried out on the above-ground parts by Piotr Maślanka and Witold Budkiewicz.

However, the neighbouring monument hides the corpse of an unknown person. It is probably deprived of the cross and the inscription plate, of which holes are visible on the face of the obelisk. The state of preservation of the monument necessitated its reconstruction. The missing parts of the cross were reconstructed in limestone. The existing fence was not preserved and due to the lack of any elements or iconographic material, it was not reconstructed.

Executor: Cultural Heritage Foundation

Works completed in 2022.

The former Polish cemetery in Krzemieniec, also known as the Basilian cemetery, has so far been regularly cleaned and kept in order.

The outbreak of war in Ukraine as a result of Russia's aggression in February this year caused the team of work contractors (led by conservator-restorer Radoslaw Tusznio) to begin conservation efforts by removing lush overgrowth.

The tombstones of Bożydar Sobkiewicz and Marianna Gruina were cleaned and stabilised. Comprehensive conservation and restoration work was carried out, resulting in the restoration of the tombstones to an appearance closest to the original.

The front part of Alexander Nemeksha's tombstone collapsed together with the vault. The damage made it difficult to carry out a comprehensive conservation with restoration at the tombstone, planned for one conservation and construction season. Therefore, prior to their planned undertaking, they were limited to cleaning the grave field, redirecting rainwater run-off from the roof of the nearby cemetery chapel.

Executor: Tussini Conservation of Works of Art Radosław Tusznio

Works completed in 2021

Five graves were included in the 2021 works. When selecting them, the state of preservation of the objects, their artistic and historical values were taken into account. It was necessary to carry out works in the immediate vicinity of the gravestones and prepare their stable foundation (the site is located on the slope of the Volovica Mountain). The monument to Antoni Strzelecki, which was undergoing conservation and restoration in 2018, was damaged as a result of a violent windstorm. The work mainly consists of moving the tombstone elements to their original location and repairing the mechanical damage.

To date, it has not been established under what circumstances the statue of St Peter of Alcantara ended up in the cemetery. It is not part of a gravestone monument. It may have come from the nearby Franciscan church and monastery complex that was active until 1832. Judging by its sculptural form, it was once placed at a considerable height. It is covered in fragments by several layers of paint in different colours (one is white, but there are also layers of blue-grey and brown).

The simple obelisk dedicated to Kamilla Malindowska Cholodecka shows the forms of weathering and accompanying damage typical of sedimentary rock. The rough surface is difficult to restore and required finding fillers with a similar texture. In the foundation, two bricks dating to 1820 were discovered in the limestone rubble. The obelisk and base were structurally reinforced with a chemical preparation.
In order to stabilise the monument, it was necessary to build a new foundation for the gravestone of Maria Tomaszewicz. The monument elements were cleaned and partially structurally reinforced.

At another monument, an inscription in memory of the buried Katarzyna Lapanowska, who died in 1822, was uncovered during the earthworks. The gravestone is structurally stable, with losses in the surface layer. These have been filled in with mineral mortar and the monument has also been cleaned.

The work is being carried out according to programmes developed by Marta Butkiewicz.

Executor: Cultural Heritage Foundation

Work carried out in 2020.

Archival queries and conservation works of two column tombstones were carried out: Filip Nezyusz Spendowski and Franciszek Szlamowski, Franciszka z Szlamowskich Majewska Kollaper and Kornela z Majewska Cziszak. Both monuments date from the first half of the 19th century. They have the form of a low column set on a pedestal and topped with an urn. They have survived reasonably well, but the stone elements needed strengthening, cleaning and protection.

In addition, the Polonica Institute financed the felling of three dry trees on the cemetery grounds that threatened the tombstones, at which conservation work was carried out.

Executor: Cultural Heritage Foundation

Realised works 2019.

As part of the project, conservation work was carried out on the gravestones of Joseph Saunders and Julia Saunders.

In the case of the first monument, which is almost 4 metres high, the erection of a specially made scaffolding was required to ensure that heavy elements could be embedded. Due to the significant load on the site, a new foundation was made to accommodate the heavier load in relation to the original foundation, allowing the tombstone to be stabilised. The artefacts were cleaned, disinfected, the stone elements were structurally strengthened and cavities were filled in, and the whole was properly protected. The area around the objects was cleared and cleaned.

Executor: Cultural Heritage Foundation

Work carried out in 2018.

In 2018, the conservation of 4 sandstone tombstones was carried out: those of Willibald Besser, Michał Ściborski, Antoni Strzelecki and Andrzej Lewicki. In cooperation with the Society of Academic Tradition, cleaning works were also carried out at the cemetery, i.e. the area was cleared of rubbish and young bushes and trees threatening the tombstones.

Implemented by: Cultural Heritage Foundation

Conservation works carried out between 2018 and 2023, Conservation Programme, Polonica Institute