Gyumri

Gyumri Գյումրի
Seal
Country Marz	Armenia Shirak
Established	401 BC
Government
• Mayor	Vartan Ghukasyan
Area
• Total	36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation	1,509.3696 m (4,952.0000 ft)
Population  (2001)
• Total	150,917
• Density	4,192.1/km2 (10,857/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4 (GMT+4)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+5 (GMT+5)
Website	www.gyumri.am

Gyumri (Armenian: Գյումրի) is the capital and largest city of the Shirak province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 75 miles (120 km) from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 150,917 (2001 census), is the second-largest city in Armenia.

The name of the city has been changed many times in history. It was first known as Kumayri or Gyumri, then Alexandropol (or Alexandrapol, 1840–1924), then Leninakan (1924–1990), then again as Gyumri.

History

Gyumri is one of the oldest localities of Armenia. The region of Gyumri is mentioned in different Urartian inscriptions since 8th century BC. The first settlement at the location occupied by today's city of Gyumri is believed to have been founded some time in the 5th century BC, perhaps ca. 401 BC, by Greek colonists ^[1]. An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by Cimmerians, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri ^[2]. Historians believe that Xenophon passed through Gyumri during his return to the Black Sea, immortalized in his Anabasis.

During the Middle Ages Gyumri was known as a great settlement, and the center of Armenian rebellion against the Arabian regime (733-755).

Gyumri continued to develop in the 19th century, when, along with its surroundings, it became part of Russia, as a result of the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813). Gyumri came under Russian control in 1804 around 25 years earlier than the entirety of Eastern Armenia. During this period it became one of the famous cities of the Trans-Caucasus region. In 1829, on the heels of the Russo-Turkish War there was a major influx of population as about 3000 families from Western Armenian cities of Kars, Erzurum, Doğubeyazıt and other places in the Ottoman Empire migrated and settled in Gyumri.

Russian poet Alexander Pushkin visited Gyumri during his journey to Erzurum in 1829.

In 1837 Russian Czar Nicholas I arrived in Gyumri and renamed the town Alexandropol. The name was chosen in honor of Czar Nicholas I's wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity.

Church of the Holy Saviour after 1988 Spitak earthquake

Church of the Holy Saviour before 1988 Spitak earthquake

A major Russian fortress was built on the site in 1837. In 1840's, Aleksandrapol (a town since 1840) was quickly growing. It was an important outpost for the Imperial Russian military in the Transcaucasus, where their military barracks were established (Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post).

Alexandropol was considered to be the third trade and cultural center in the Trans-Caucasus after Tiflis and Baku (Yerevan would not rise to prominence until being proclaimed the capital of the independent Republic of Armenia in 1918 and Armenian SSR in 1920). At the end of 19th century the population of Alexandropol reached 32,100 residents, mostly Armenians. From 1858-1876, St. Prkich (Saviour) church was erected, made to resemble the Cathedral of Ani. The first rail link to Alexandropol was finished in 1899, which was the Tiflis-Alexandropol railway. The rail line was then extended from Alexandropol to Yerevan, Jolfa (in 1906) and Tabriz. As a result, Alexandropol became an important rail hub.

During the Turkish-Armenian War, Turkey attacked Gyumri and occupied the city on November 7, 1920 after winning the Battle of Alexandropol. After the battle, the Turks were headquartered in Gyumri. From this city Turks presented the Armenians with an ultimatum that Armenia was forced to accept -- otherwise Turkey would have invaded Yerevan, Armenia's capital, from their headquarters in Gyumri. Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Alexandropol to stop the Turkish advance towards Yerevan, the capital of Democratic Republic of Armenia, thus ending the Turkish-Armenian War.

In 1924 the name was changed to Leninakan after the deceased Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. Leninakan was a major industrial center for the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and its second largest city, after Yerevan, the capital. The city suffered major damage during the 1988 Spitak Earthquake, which devastated large parts of the country.

The current name of the city was chosen in 1990, at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union. The Russian 102nd military base is located in the city. Today, Gyumri is Armenia's second largest city.

View from steps of Gyumri

Culture

During the centuries Gyumri, the "city of trades and arts", is famous for its schools, theatres, gusans and ashoughs. The first opera performance in Armenia took place in Gyumri in 1912, and the first Armenian opera theatre was also opened here in 1923.

Gyumri is also considered as the capital of Armenian humour.

Buildings and constructions

Religious Buildings

There are five churches, one convent, and one Russian chapel in Gyumri. One of the most important historical churches is the Church of the Holy Saviour of All (Sourb Amenaprkich), resembling Ani Mother Cathedral. Construction of the church began in 1859 and was completed in 1873. It was greatly damaged by the 1988 Spitak earthquake and is currently being reconstructed.

Transportation

Gyumri is served by the Shirak Airport, located about 5 km from the center of town. The airport offers regular flights to Moscow, Sochi and Rostov-on-Don. It also serves as an alternate airport to Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport.

Shirak airport was closed for renovations from June 20th til October 20, 2007, during which time the runway was repaved and work was done on the airport lighting and the main terminal.

Sports

Gyumri is home to the Armenian football (soccer) team FC Shirak. They play their home games at Gyumri City Stadium, built in 1924. Other teams from Gyumri are Aragats, Kumairi and FK Gyumri.

Sister cities

City	Country
Alexandria	United States
Kutaisi	Georgia
Osasco	Brazil
Plovdiv	Bulgaria

Famous natives

• Anania Shirakatsi, medieval Armenian scholar
• G.I. Gurdjieff, mystic and philosopher
• Sergey Merkurov, sculptor
• Avetik Isahakyan, poet
• Armen Tigranian, composer ("Anush" opera)
• Olga Chekhova, actress
• Khachatur Avetisyan, composer
• Shushanik Kurghinian, poetess
• Ruben Zaryan, Art historian
• Hovhannes Shiraz, poet
• Frunzik Mkrtchyan, actor
• Svetlana Svetlichnaya, film actress
• Edmond Keosayan, film director
• Artavazd Peleshyan, film director and theorist
• Levon Mkrtchyan, film director
• Vazgen Manukyan, politician, Armenia's former Prime Minister
• Yurik Vardanyan, Hero of the Olympics
• Robert Emmiyan, European long jump record holder
• Manvel Gamburyan, mixed martial artist (UFC)
• Armen Nazarian, wrestler
• Mkkhitar Manukyan, wrestler
• Arthur Petrosyan, soccer player
• Harutyun Vardanyan, soccer player
• Bambir, folk-rock band

Gallery

Modern Gyumri

• Charles Aznavour Statue
  Charles Aznavour Statue
• The monument of Frunzik Mkrtchyan
  The monument of Frunzik Mkrtchyan

Historic photographs of Gyumri

• 
  The Saint Saviour (Surb Amenaprkitch) Church in Gyumri, Armenia. In the right - Greek Orthodox Church, destroyed by earthquake in 1926

Film

• "Gyumri" (1987, 35mm, Armenfilm), Film director Levon Mkrtchyan

See also

• List of Honorary Citizens of Gyumri

References

Footnotes

• ^ See: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Adrian Room, Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for Over 5000 Natural Features, Countries, Capitals, Territories, Cities and Historical Sites, McFarland, 1997, ISBN 0-7864-1814-1 (pbk) p.192
• ^ See http://www.gyumri.am/eng/history.html

External links

• City website (English)
• Shirak
• Flash Gallery of 2005 Gyumri
• Surp Amenaprkich cathedral in Gyumri