Resting under the Slavonic Cross

Ту спочиває наш син • Tu spočivaje naš sin • Here rests our son
Стефан • Stefan

The boy lived into his sixth year *1919, 1924†. He was a Rusyn (several spellings), and a Greek Catholic. His family would have come from, what would have been before the Great War, the far eastern Austrian empire. The nation now is in several lands: Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and Ukraine. The Ukrainians consider the language to be a dialect of Ukrainian. They are distinct enough to be considered a separate Slavonic nation. Now, the Poles consider some of them Lemko, and Polish. In Cleveland there is a Lemko Hall that appeared in the film Deerhunter. I mention this, because the boy's family name (Aндрiйовскйи) is transliterated (Andrijowskyj) in a Polish fashion, from the Cyrillic script. In the Latin script, he has a middle initial 'A', that is not in the Cyrillic. It may be for the patronymic (the child's form of the father's Christian name).

On the stone is folk incisions of flowers, and the Slavonic cross. Top bar is the title board, the bottom the foot board. It is tilted, towards the Good Thief, and the Bad Thief; tilted towards Heaven, and Hell.

Mary Magdalene in Sorrow

at cemetery

Many people feel similar emotions, have similar senses of sanctity, concerning graveyards and churches. Some faiths consider both holy ground. It is not to be surprised that similar statuary may be found in both.

at church (St. Colman, Cleveland,O.) Mary Magdalene with skull, and jar of perfume

disturbing ground

Gound is broken, and then the resultant hole is filled. Now some times, the same ground is broken again. People are buried, and occasionally disinterred. The casual observer months later may see the dirt settled, and if not planted with new turf, or something, can only guess if someone's remains are below ground.

a closer view, from a different angle

Pentecost, Descent of the Holy Spirit

To-day is Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit descended to the apostles and gave them fortitude and other gifts to be successful, fearless Christians. One of the Byzantine-rite parishes in Parma, Ohio is Holy Spirit. Behind the church is the cemetery. When one enters the threshold, one passes two murals. On the one side the Day of Resurrection of all People, the other is of Pentecost, The Descent of the Holy Spirit.

Hugging the Cross

Mary Magdalene was a witness to the Crucifixion. This dramatic sculpture suggests devotion. Mary was at crucifixion, burial, and witness of the Resurrection. She was faithful at the end, demonstrating courage while others fled, and hid. This sculpture is an allegory of the Christian soul embracing that sort of faith, and also the expectation of Resurrection. Another interpretation would be lamentation for the death.

I will give you rest

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew xi. 28. NAB

This is a newer stone, if it were older the Douai translation might have been used: Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. The next two verses are: Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light. Jesus is a comforting master. That variety are not easy to find. Those who labour are often heavily burdened, the burdens are bitter and heavy.

Pilat is the family name, and this is the back of the marker.

Slovene Madonna

Mary Help of Christians

Marija Pomočnica z Brezji

This family monument is sculpted from a national Madonna. Its many predecessors were mostly paintings. Here, they needed the permanence of stone.
The original is by Leopold Layer 1818, it is surrounded in 23 karat gilt frame, and more gold work. Layer was the last Slovene baroque painter. This Slovene icon is a 'modernised' form of a Theotokos Eleousa (God-bearer Tender Mercy). The faces touch. Mary presents her Son to the world, and the Child looks to His Mother. Layer was also influenced by a Madonna of Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Brezje is a small village in the Karavanke Alps. It is the most popular pilgrimage site in Slovenija. The chapel that contains the painting has been enlarged to be a basilica. The painting has been reproduced many times. It is in many churches, and more homes. It is an image that is most beloved by this Slavonic nation.
one of many Madonnas (Mariahilf) by Lucas Cranach the Elder *1472, 1553†. Innsbruch Cathedral (Dom).
Our Lady of Vladimir came first to Kiev c. 1131 from Constantinople, and then to Vladimir in 1155. In 1395 it went to Moskova (Moscow), and is credited saving the city from Mongol-Tatars and German-Nazis.

These are variations of Bogorodica icons. Bogorodica is Slavonic for the Greek, Theotokos, Godbearer.

off by one

Humour is where you find it. Humour is predicated by recognition.

Now, hare is the general animal, and rabbit is a particular kind. In English, there has been some fluidity in word usage. Rabbits used to be called coneys. In Spanish, they say canejo: Dutch, konijn. Many people say 'bunny' to-day. Rabbits were baby coneys.

All Slavs have a variant of 'zajec' for hare, the several Jugoslavs have it for rabbit. Easter, and Western Slavs have a variant of 'krolik' for rabbit. The exact spelling in Slovak for hare is 'zajac', in Polish 'zając'.

The above photograph is from Sacred Heart Polish National Catholic Cemetery in Parma, Ohio. Notice the gravestone guardian supra, a graveyard rabbit.

what the ...

The above are three views of a central spindle of a family grave monument. It is visible while driving on Brecksville Road.

It shares a character with a drill bit, it has a flute. A drill bit's flutes are uniform, this is not. It is something like a totem pole, but without a distinguishable animal.

Some would a guess, it might have some religious connection? A yin yang column? A corkscrew?

Musical gibberish

We read stories, and watch movies, that have plot details which allude to meanings to be discovered, or to signify some importance in a last message. People, sometimes, have gravestones say something special. The more we see of gravestones, the less truth in that view. Often there is some statement placed to be sweet, or profound; but is often only trite or banal. If i see a cello cut on a stone, i would think the dead was a cellist. If i were to see music written out, i would want it to be a quote of a great piece, or some tune the deceased enjoyed. No, it is not Beethoven, Chopin, a hymn, or folk tune. Neither sound nor fury, it signifies nothing.

E-D-E-D-E--E-D-E

This could be a part of something musical, but this particular phrase is thoroughly uninteresting. Now, there is some odd stuff above it, which makes me believe there is no meaning.

At one time stones were carved, or enscribed. Now, electronic templates are machine cut, or laser etched. A customer can choose to put several of these markings on a stone. At one time, a certain sense of solemness prevailed. Also, the expense and the technology involved were considerations. Now, there is less a dominant sense of solemnity; and technology allows for creativity/silliness. One can put the equivalent of grade school girl stickers on funeral monuments to the point of decorating the stone as a scrapbook page. This stone had other, unusual elements upon it. Musically, the above is nonsense.