It of course reminded me of my trip to Russia 2 years ago, when I stumbled on this famous graveyard in the Aleksander Nevsky Lavra. The monastery was just across the street from the Hotel Moskva and since we had the evening free I said what the hey! I'll pop across and maybe catch an Orthodox service with the incense and the priests singing that lovely Orthodox chant. As it was I caught the tail end of some service or other, and as I wandered around the now gently mouldering monastery I saw a small booth offering entry to the graveyards that flank the entryway to the grounds. Curious as to why they would be charging entrance to a graveyard, I paid my pittance and entered. To my surprise, I soon found myself in front of Dostoevsky's grave! I was so shocked that it took a few minutes for me to realise that it was the Dostoevsky and not any other.. The list of famous Russians buried there is quite amazing as you'll see from the link. I was just annoyed that I had chosen that day not to carry my camera with me, and the sun was quickly setting. I decided instead to soak up the melancholy atmosphere; it was a lovely fall day, with just a light misting rain from time to time, the leaves were still golden up in the trees, and the wind swayed them gently in its cradling breeze. From time to time a crow would caw and startle me out of my reverie.. there was no-one else in the graveyard and it was just perfect for solitary meditation...It was a wonderful couple of hours that will stay with me forever, every time the leaves begin to turn and the wind begins to bite, I am transported back to that time and place that lies now forever in my memory...
Enjoy your Samhain folks, and take some time out to remember those who have passed on...
posted by WM @ 10:06
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