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Polish Foreign Ministry marks All Saints’ Day and remembers soldiers in Tehran cemetery

01.11.2025 13:20
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland has highlighted All Saints’ Day, observed on 1 November, as a time to reflect on bonds that endure beyond death and to honour the memory of those who have passed.
Lighting a symbolic candle to honour the dead on All Saints Day at Szczecin Central Cemetery on 1 November 2025, the largest necropolis in Poland and the third largest in Europe.
Lighting a symbolic candle to honour the dead on All Saint's Day at Szczecin Central Cemetery on 1 November 2025, the largest necropolis in Poland and the third largest in Europe.Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

Poles traditionally visit graves on this day, laying flowers and lighting candles in remembrance. As the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted: „On All Saints’ Day, we remember those who have passed away but remain present in our memories and hearts. It is a moment of reflection, gratitude, and contemplation of what truly matters – the bonds that endure despite the passage of time.”

„May this time inspire us to remember with care and hope, in a spirit that connects the past with the present,” dipomats added.

Although Halloween parades have become increasingly popular on the streets of Polish cities the evening before, the following day is marked by a very different atmosphere.

From early in the morning, people across the country gather at cemeteries to pay their respects to departed loved ones, creating a solemn and contemplative mood.

On All Saint's Day, Poles traditionally visit the graves of loved ones, laying flowers and lighting candles in remembrance (photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki) On All Saint's Day, Poles traditionally visit the graves of loved ones, laying flowers and lighting candles in remembrance (photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki)

The flickering candlelight and the careful placement of flowers transform the cemeteries into spaces of reflection, memory, and quiet connection with the past, highlighting the enduring bonds that transcend time.

Polish cemetery in Tehran commemorates soldiers and civilians

In a separate post on the same day, the ministry drew attention to the Polish War Cemetery in Tehran, the capital of Iran, where 1,937 Poles - soldiers of General Anders’ Army and civilians who left the Soviet Union in 1942 - are buried.

The site is a testament to the tragic fate of Poles during World War II and a symbol of the shared history between Poland and Iran.

The ministry’s statement reads: “At the Polish War Cemetery in Tehran rest 1,937 Poles - soldiers of General Anders’ Army and civilians who left the USSR in 1942. The necropolis stands as a testament to the tragic fate of Poles and an important symbol of the shared history between Poland and Iran.”

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Source: Radio Poland/MSZ/X/@PolandMFA