These old town cemetery grounds, established in the mid-19th century on the southern shore of Lake Druskonis, became the final resting place of Čiurlionis’ parents – Konstantinas (1846–1914) and Adelė (1853–1919) – as well as his youngest sister, Jadvyga Čiurlionytė (1898–1992).

The cemetery was divided into two parts: an Orthodox section and a Catholic one. In the latter stands a small Neo-Gothic chapel, funded by the wealthy local Kiersnovski family. Many well-known residents of Druskininkai were buried here.

M. K. Čiurlionis himself visited these grounds and the Catholic chapel during his stays in Druskininkai, when he would return home to rest between periods of study. It is believed that his solitary walks toward the “great forest” often led him through this cemetery.

In his seven-painting cycle Funeral Symphony, Čiurlionis also immortalized a now-vanished local tradition: the funeral procession. Already in the artist’s time, Druskininkai bustled with summer visitors who came for treatment and leisure. To avoid disturbing the guests’ holiday mood, funerals took place only after dusk. Following a Mass in the town’s church, mourners would form a procession and accompany the deceased along the shore of Lake Druskonis, the path lit by the flicker of countless small candle flames.

M. K. Čiurlionis, Funeral Symphony. VI from the 7-painting cycle (1903) © ciurlionis.eu

❯ If you wish to pay your respects to the Čiurlionis family, you can find the graves of M. K. Čiurlionis’ parents and his sister ↗.

The graves of Čiurlionis’ parents (2024) © Vilensija, wikipedia.org

A few steps from the graves of M. K. Čiurlionis’ family stands a pine tree whose bark still bears the carved initials “K Č”, topped with a small cross. When Konstantinas Čiurlionis – the long-serving organist of the Druskininkai church – passed away on the eve of the First World War after a serious illness, his family had no time to prepare a proper burial. As the German front approached, the elder sons buried their father themselves and marked the place by carving his initials into the pine, hoping to erect a gravestone once they returned after the war.

Because of the occupation of the region, however, the family remained separated from Druskininkai and their homeland until the end of the Second World War. A gravestone was erected only much later, after the remains of his beloved wife were laid to rest beside him.

The remains of Adelė Radmanaitė-Čiurlionienė did not reach the cemetery immediately. They were reinterred in 1974 on the initiative of the youngest daughters, Jadvyga and Valerija. Her remains were moved from the churchyard of Alytus Church of the Guardian Angels to the Old Druskininkai Cemetery.

After visiting this quiet resting place, continue your walk around Lake Druskonis – a symbolic circle of time. Once you cross the footbridge and follow the long straight path, you will see the Čiurlionis family homes again on your left.

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Parengta pagal šaltinius:

ciurlioniokelias.lt, Aušra Česnulevičienė „Čiurlionių takais. Pažinksniavimai po Dzūkiją“ („Vox altera“, 2025)

Old Druskininkai Cemetery

Old Druskininkai Cemetery

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