Pokrov Cemetery () is a wide cemetery in Riga built in 1773. The current owner of the cemetery is Shelter of Our Most Holy Lady Church who are renting the land.
Two Red Army burial sites are located in the cemetery â a smaller one for the summer of 1941 and a bigger one for the years 1944âÂÂ1946; as well as Russian Empire army's bed of honour dating from 1917.
The cemetery also houses Ascension of Christ Church; the only Latvian Orthodox church in Riga where sermons are held in Latvian.
The cemetery was built in 1773 following the Russian Empire's prohibition of burials within city territories. Together with Vagaà Âka and NovodeviÃÂja cemeteries, Pokrov Cemetery was among Russian Empire's largest five cemeteries. In 1773 a wooden Proclamation Chapel was built, and in 1777 under Pskov's archbishop's order Pokrov church was built, which burnt down in 1875. On April 29, 1845, the first sermon in Latvian was held by priest JÃÂkabs Mihailovs, former domain factor of Piebalga's count à  eremetjevs. In 1858 Latvian congregation was established in the church. The current church was built in 1879 designed by architect R. Pflà «gs, and sanctified on September 9, 1879.
Pokrov Cemetery became Riga's Russian community's main cemetery. The base of this commune had been established from centuries of Russian families living in the land, as well as cultural workers and scientists escaping the USSR in the early half of the 20th century. The members of the community held the cemetery in high standing, for example, the former writer and commandant of Daugavgrëva stronghold Jurijs GonÃÂarenko-GaliÃÂs secured himself a spot in the cemetery before shooting himself knowing that after Soviet occupation he would be harshly prosecuted.
The burials were suspended in 1964, and in 1967 the cemetery was administratively joined with Great Cemetery of Riga to establish a memorial park. In 1991, the ownership over the cemetery was restored to Latvian Orthodox Church, who restored the cemetery operation.
A number of notable citizens of Riga are buried here, such as archbishop of Riga JÃÂnis Pommers, metropolitan of Vilnius and Lithuania Sergejs (Voskresenskis), poet O. à  midta, teacher F. Erns, magistrate N. Eà ¡e, literature critic P. Piüskis, state councillor V. JuzepÃÂuks, governor of Riga A. Bekleà ¡ovs, professor V. ÃÂernobajevs, primadonna of Mariinsky Theatre M. ÃÂerkaska, augur Eià ¾ens Finks, infantry general A. Simonovs, actor V. Svobodins, Saint Petersburg opera soloist D. Smirnovs, writer Aleksey Tolstoy's wife J. Roà ¾anska, Russian First journalism school principal P. Piüskis, bibliographer S. Minclovs, Check assassinated literate and newspaper Segodnya ("áõóþôýÃÂ" from Russian: "Today") editor M. Ganfmans, state councillor K. Kuzjmanovs, poet Leri (V. Klopotovskis), professor V. Küimenko, Order of the Three Stars cavalier and professor G. Klarks, knyaz P. JengaliÃÂevs, painter Sergejs Vinogradovs, artist K. Visockis, publisher N. Belocvetovs, professor K. Arabaà ¾ins, actor J. de Burs, philosopher à ½akovs, private assistant professor J. BÃÂrzià Âà ¡, pharmacologist A. Pauls, biologist KÃÂrlis Reinholds Kupfers, actress Vija Artmane. Here are also located the burials of Mukhins (such as world-known sculptor Vera Mukhina) and VÃÂrmanes Garden patron Wöhrmann family graves.