Angelo motyvas Suvalkų katalikų ir stačiatikių kapinių istorijoje

ENOn tombstones from the 19th century, the angel motif was extremely popular and appeared in cemeteries in various variants and versions. This was related to the role assigned to angels - divine messengers, intermediaries between heaven and earth, guardians and comforters, and at the decisive moment - guides of souls. Their protective role was already mentioned in the 15th century, when the first treaties related to Ars Moriendi were written. These treaties were intended to prepare for a happy death that leads to salvation. They included questions and warnings addressed to the dying person, as well as prayers and tips for those who accompanied them in the last moments of their life. A common subject of the art of dying well was the presentation of the fight between an angel and Satan for the soul of a dying person. In this case, God’s messenger appeared as a defender of a man. Their wings have become a special symbol of care and support. There are three tombstones with sculptures of angels at the Suvalkai Cemetery where people of seven various denominations were buried. There are two in the Roman Catholic part. The first of them - Angel of Resurrection, commemorates Kamilla Świętosławska née Świderska (died 1873). The second tombstone belongs to the seven-year-old Hipcio Sipowski (died 1901) and shows the Guardian Angel with a child. The third, with a figure of a tiny little angel, was erected in the Orthodox part and belongs to the ten-year-old Kotia Krasowski (died 1894).