Donskoy crematorium, Historic crematorium in Donskoy District, Russia

Donskoy Crematorium is a red-painted building on the New Donskoy Cemetery, rebuilt in 1926 from a church by architect Dmitry Osipov. A rounded arch frames the central entrance, a circular emblem with a figure hangs above the doorway, and a band of lettering runs across the facade below a small square bell tower. The church dome was replaced by a 20-metre concrete tower.

The building was a church of Seraphim of Sarov and Anna of Kashin, consecrated in 1914 but left unfinished. In 1925 Dmitry Osipov's winning design converted it into a crematorium: the dome was replaced by a 20-metre concrete tower and German Topf furnaces were installed in the basement. It opened on 6 October 1927 and closed in 1992, when the building was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The building began as the church of Seraphim of Sarov and Anna of Kashin, consecrated in 1914 but left unfinished. Dmitry Osipov's winning 1925 design replaced its dome with a 20-metre concrete tower, and the organ of Wilhelm Sauer (1898, 33 registers, 2,000 pipes), taken from the demolished Lutheran church of St Michael, was installed inside. The press called the crematorium a "cathedra of godlessness".

The building stands on the grounds of the New Donskoy Cemetery, where the paved path and low flower bed lead to the arched entrance. Since 1992 it has again served as an Orthodox church, so visitors should check service times before entering and dress accordingly.

The organ installed in the crematorium hall came from the demolished Lutheran Church of St. Michael: built by Wilhelm Sauer in 1898, it had 33 registers and 2,000 pipes. The building itself was a church of Seraphim of Sarov and Anna of Kashin, consecrated in 1914 but left unfinished, and its dome was replaced by a 20-metre concrete tower.