Over time, the appearance of the cemetery has changed. Currently, various forms of commemorating the dead appear in burial places. These are not only private graves, traditional for our culture, m.in. earth graves. More and more often, relatives looking for a dignified burial place for their loved ones, decide to have cremation and burial, e.g. in mass tombs. These are the so-called columbaria, which are gaining more and more popularity in Polish cemeteries. Why are they so often replacing traditional burials today?
What is a columbarium?
Columbarios are places where urns with the ashes of a deceased person are placed. These are often elegant buildings that serve as a collective tomb, next to which you can place a flower or a candle to commemorate the people buried there. Although it seems to be a niche, this type of burial has been known for years. Columbararia appeared as early as Roman and early Christian times.
History of columbaria
The history of columbaria dates back to antiquity. They appeared during the time of Emperor Augustus in ancient Rome, where they served as a place to store urns with the ashes of deceased members of wealthy families. The name “columbarium” itself comes from the Latin word “columba”, which means “dove” – a reference to the holes in the walls where urns were placed, resembling pigeons’ nests.
In the following centuries, columbaria evolved, taking on a variety of forms and functions. In the Middle Ages, especially in Italy, monumental columbaria, which were both a burial place and the center of religious worship of the Catholic Church, became popular.
Contemporary columbaria is the result of combining tradition with modernity. They are becoming an increasingly popular solution for people looking for alternative forms of commemoration of the dead. They combine aesthetics, functionality and individuality.
In what places can columbaria be built? Does the area have to meet certain requirements?
The places where columbariums are created are subject to specific restrictions and requirements of legal regulations. There are several key aspects that determine the suitability of the area for this form of storing the ashes of the deceased.
First of all, most columbaria are located in cemeteries, which is usually subject to strict regulations of cemetery managers. The law regulates the places where columbaria are built, this applies to issues related to spatial planning, environmental protection, as well as building permits. These areas must meet specific standards, such as accessibility, structural safety, and compliance with sanitary standards.
In addition, the location of the columbarium is often subject to control by church authorities or the local community, which directly affects the character and function of these places.
Are the urns with the ashes of the deceased stored in the columbarium in a safe and dignified way?
Burial in a columbarium is practically no different from burying ashes in a grave. It is a dignified and noble form of commemoration of the dead, in which the members of the whole family can be accommodated and preserved.
The urns with ashes are placed in dedicated niches or chambers, which are protected against moisture, wind or other weather conditions. Additionally, columbaria are subject to appropriate safety standards and are often subject to rigorous supervision due to cemetery regulations, making it a respectful and safe form of storing loved ones’ ashes.
What does a funeral ceremony with a burial in a columbarium look like?
Are you wondering if they choose a columbarium as a burial place for their loved ones, do you have to take into account a special funeral procedure? This rite is the same as in the case of burial in a brick grave.
The whole ceremony begins in a church or cemetery chapel, where friends and family of the deceased person gather. After the religious part, the participants move to the place where the columbarium is located. The urn with the ashes is placed in a specially prepared niche. This place becomes a permanent place of burial and remembrance of a deceased loved one.
Columbariums made of noble concrete are becoming popular – what are their advantages?
Columbararia are becoming an increasingly popular form of burial, not only in Warsaw, but also in the rest of the country. They allow you to customize the appearance of the burial place and, as in the case of a brick tomb, decorate it with marble tablets, as well as create them in the shape of a cuboid.
Columbariums, compared to traditional graves, can be built on a much smaller area, which will be especially useful in the case of old cemeteries with limited burial space.
Columbarium systems by DASAG
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