'Forgive Me, Mom': Words on Tombstones in Surgut
A reporter from 86.RU visited the Chernorechenskoye Cemetery in Surgut to document the inscriptions and images families leave on the backs of tombstones.
Jul 23, 2026 0
In summer, many Yugra residents replace monuments on relatives« graves with more modern ones.
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On July weekends, the cemeteries in Yugra are quite crowded. Many people rush to clean their relatives« graves, plant flowers, replace tiles and even the monuments themselves. Surprisingly, local cemeteries have their own trends. For instance, one increasingly sees obelisks with color photographs, and many are abandoning fences in favor of more open spaces.
A monument bears the inscription: «You left life, but not the heart.»
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In Surgut, a 86.RU journalist noticed the inscriptions and images that relatives place on the backs of monuments. Some put prayers on the marble, others words of gratitude. One can also find touching messages where family members ask for forgiveness from loved ones, or highly evocative images.
Children and grandchildren express gratitude on a monument at Chernorechenskoye Cemetery.
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A considerable number of Yugra residents prefer not to leave words on the backs of tombstones but instead place telling images. From them, one can immediately understand what the person«s hobbies were.
A monument bears the message: «To the one dear in life, from those who love and mourn.»
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But back to the tender lines. Many of them are dedicated to mothers. Children express gratitude and regret, preserving the memory of the closest person who gave them life.
A beautiful monument at Chernorechenskoye Cemetery reads: «I remember and thank forever, blessing the years lived.»
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A whole series of images on monuments at the largest cemetery in Surgut is dedicated to Siberian nature. A Russian birch tree — worth a thousand words.
Lines from Nikolai Rubtsov«s poem appear on this monument: »Sadness lightens when flowers bloom.«
Another trend is to depict religious buildings, saints« faces, or prayer verses on the backs of gravestones.
The man«s love for hunting is evident from the imagery on the monument.
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Perhaps one of the most ambiguous inscriptions on the back of a monument seen at the Chernorechenskoye Cemetery in Surgut reads: «Sleep in peace in the silence of cold oblivion.»
This tombstone likely marks the final resting place of an avid fisherman.
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Previously, we showed where crime bosses are buried in Surgut. Some graves have fresh flowers, but there are also those that no one tends to. We also visited the graves of Surgut residents who have made a huge contribution to the development of the city. Builders of the State District Power Plant (GRES), athletes, and doctors are buried at the Chernorechenskoye Cemetery.
A woman from Surgut left a touching message on her mother«s grave: »Forgive me, Mom, for everything.«
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A monument asks: «Who opened this world to us? The best mom in the world.»
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A concise inscription on a monument says: «Sleep peacefully, Mom.»
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