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The historic cemetery of Saints Constantine and Helen in Heraklion is home to the Burial Museum, a special cultural space that houses the exhibition “The History of Burial in Crete”. The museum has been operating since 2015 in a restored building from the 1890s, which was originally built as an ossuary and has been regenerated to serve the promotion of the historical and funerary heritage of the area.
The exhibition is developed on two levels. On the ground floor, ecclesiastical relics, ritual objects and paintings related to the religious life of the region are displayed, with special reference to Nikos Kazantzakis, whose first wedding took place in the adjacent church. On the first floor, the evolution of burial practices in Crete from the Minoan period to the present day is presented through authentic pithoi, sarcophagi and urns; an important part of the museum is the woodcarving and hagiography workshop, where visitors can watch the artistic process live, adding an experiential dimension to their visit.
The surrounding area of the cemetery, which covers an area of 24 hectares, is an open-air museum in itself. There are tombs of rare artistic value, memorial sculptures and the graves of important personalities such as the Archbishop of Crete, Eugene Psalidakis, mayors of Heraklion, writers, resistance fighters and heroes such as the 18 young English soldiers who died defending Crete in 1898.
*The photos are sourced from the official website of the museum.
Exhibition
Iconographic, Ecclesiastical, Historical
Holy Cemetery of Saints Constantine and Helen, Heraklion
+30 2810231154
info@agioskonstantinosirakleiou.gr
All days: 10:00 – 12:00
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