Droopy crosses.

Chapel of the Droopy Crosses

This unique open-air chapel is officially in memory of "the Holy Syriac Martyrs of 1895-1918." In the Middle East, thousands of Assyrian Christians were starved, shot, or hacked to death by other ethnic and religious groups in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. The chapel includes a couple of signs in English, but all of its engraved text is in a squiggly foreign language, leaving its meaning a mystery to the casual visitor.

The most memorable feature of the chapel are its three large tri-budded crosses drooping out of the their respective walls, as if wilting on a hot summer afternoon. Benches for quiet reflection are arranged beneath the crosses. It was built in 2000.

Chapel of the Droopy Crosses

Laurel Grove Cemetery

Address:: Totowa Rd, Totowa, NJ
Directions:: Laurel Grove Cemetery. Enter the cemetery on its west side, off of Totowa Rd/Hwy 644 just east of Dewey Ave. Drive straight in, keeping out of the trees. The road eventually curves left; follow it until it ends at a large mausoleum. Turn right, then turn left. You'll see the chapel on the left.
Hours:: Gates open M-F 9-4, Sa 9-2, Su 10-2 Local health policies may affect hours and access.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Light Bulb Grave of World's Greatest Electrician, Totowa, NJ - < 1 mi.

Great Falls of Patterson, Paterson, NJ - 2 mi.

Lou Costello Statue, Paterson, NJ - 2 mi.

In the region:

United States War Dog Memorial, Holmdel, NJ - 35 mi.

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