Preobrazhenskaya Cemetery

The Jewish Necropolis of St. Petersburg

Established in 1875 on the southeastern edge of the imperial capital, the Preobrazhenskoe Jewish Cemetery stands as one of Russia's most significant Jewish burial grounds. Spanning 27.4 hectares, this sacred ground became the final resting place for nearly 80,000 souls — from wealthy merchants and renowned artists to the ordinary men and women who built St. Petersburg's Jewish community.

Burials conducted: 1875 — 1968

A Landmark of Jewish Architecture

At the dawn of the 20th century, St. Petersburg's Jewish community sought to transform their cemetery from a simple burial ground into an architectural testament to their faith and prosperity. In 1908, the community held a competition for the design of a stone prayer house and auxiliary buildings. The winning design came from architect Yakov Germanovich Gevirts (1879–1942), a rising talent who would become one of the city's most prolific Jewish architects.

Gevirts's design, completed between 1908 and 1912, merged modernist geometry with Jewish tradition. The prayer house features a distinctive green dome resting on a square drum, flanked by arcaded cloisters that create a serene courtyard for mourners. Islamic-inspired capitals atop slender columns frame Hebrew inscriptions, while the massive gateway conveys both solemnity and grandeur.

— Scroll to explore the cemetery's architectural treasures —

Architectural Features

The Prayer House & Courtyard

The centerpiece of Gevirts's design, this modernist prayer house replaced a humble wooden structure. Its geometric facade, low-pitched dome, and enclosed forecourt create a contemplative space where families once gathered before burial. The arcaded courtyard features pointed arches supported by slender columns with decorative capitals — a synthesis of Jewish, Islamic, and European architectural vocabularies.

The North Range (Cloister Vaulting)

The northern wing of Gevirts's complex features elegant vaulting that provides covered walkways for processions. These arcaded galleries demonstrate the architect's mastery of brick construction and his ability to create monumental spaces on a human scale.

The Tsypin Family Mausoleum

Among the cemetery's many elaborate memorials, the Tsypin family grave stands as a testament to the wealth and status of St. Petersburg's Jewish merchant elite. The brick mausoleum, photographed here on August 16, 2009, showcases the ornate funerary architecture commissioned by prominent families to ensure their lasting legacy.

South Area Monuments

The southern section of the cemetery contains a rich tapestry of memorials spanning nearly a century of burials, from the simple stones of early immigrants to the elaborate sculptures of the Silver Age.

Notable Burials

The cemetery's 80,000 graves include some of the most significant figures in Russian Jewish history:

  • Mark Antokolsky — Renowned sculptor
  • Samuel Polyakov — Railroad magnate and philanthropist
  • Baron David Gunzburg — Publisher and Jewish scholar
  • Moses Altman — Distinguished historian
  • Mark Khidekel — Architect and artist
  • Dr. Abram Sternberg — Founder of the Institute of Tuberculosis
  • Chief Rabbis of Leningrad — Spiritual leaders across generations

Legacy & Preservation

Closed to new burials in 1968, the Preobrazhenskoe Jewish Cemetery remains a vital link to St. Petersburg's Jewish heritage. In 2008, the prayer house complex was transferred to the city's Jewish community for preservation — a belated recognition of its architectural and spiritual significance. Today, it stands as both a memorial to those who came before and a testament to the enduring legacy of Jewish life in the imperial capital.

Photographs by William C. Brumfield • August 16, 2009

Sources

Mitzvatemet — Jewish Cemetery Authority. "Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia." Mitzvatemet.com. Accessed March 2026. https://mitzvatemet.com/he/index.php?route=information/univernews&univernews_id=211

Tulane University — Jewish Contributions to St. Petersburg Architecture. "Ya. G. Gevirts." JCASP. Accessed March 2026. https://jcasp.tulane.edu/architect-collections/gevirts/

Saint-Petersburg.com. "Preobrazhenskoe Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia." Accessed March 2026. http://www.saint-petersburg.com/cemeteries/preobrazhenskoe-cemetery/

Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Cemetery chapel at the Preobrazhenskoe Jewish Cemetery in St. Petersburg." CJA. Accessed March 2026. https://cja.huji.ac.il/browser.php?mode=set&id=42256

JewishGen — Center for Data and Research on Jewish Communities. "St. Petersburg: Federal Subject | Russia." JewishGen.org. Accessed March 2026. https://cdp.jewishgen.org/eastern-europe/russia/st-petersburg-federal-subject

Brumfield, William C. Photographs of Preobrazhenskoe Jewish Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Russia. August 16, 2009. JCSR Archive, Tulane University.

Brumfield, William C. Lost Russia: Photographing the Ruins of Russian Architecture. Duke University Press, 1999.

Image Captions Source: — Professor William C. Brumfield Collection, Tulane University. Caption details: Prayer House & Courtyard, North Range (Cloister) Vaulting, Brick Mausoleum (Tsypin Family Grave), South Area — dated August 16, 2009.