Gyumri
Encyclopedia
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia
. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan
, and, with a population of 168,918 (2008; up from 150,917 reported at the 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 , then Leninakan ( , 1924–1990), then again as Gyumri.
The city is situated on a 126 km distance north to Yerevan
in the central part of the Shirak Highland, at an approximate height of 1550 meters above sea level. The Akhurian River
passes through the western suburbs of Gyumri. Gyumri's climate is characterised with very severe and cold winters, where the minimum temperature could fall down to -41 °C. On the other hand, summers in Gyumri are relatively hot with temperatures could reach up to 36 °C (97 °F). The annual precipitation averages 500 millimetres (19.7 in).
inscriptions since the 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. 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, which bears phonetic resemblance to the word used by ancient Armenian in reference to Cimmerians
. Historians believe that Xenophon
passed through Gyumri during his return to the Black Sea, a journey immortalized in his Anabasis
.
During the Middle Ages
Gyumri was known as a large and important settlement, and a center of Armenian rebellion against the Caliphate
(733-755)
. Gyumri came under Russian control in 1804 around 25 years earlier than the rest of Eastern Armenia
. During this period it was one of the best-known cities of the Transcaucasus region. In 1829, in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War
there was a big influx of Armenian population as about 3000 families, who had migrated from territories within the Ottoman Empire, in particular from the towns of Kars
, Erzurum
, and Doğubeyazıt
, settled in and around Gyumri. Before this settlement policy, Armenians were minority in Gyumri.
The 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
.
During the Soviet era Gyumri was renamed Leninakan in Lenin's honor.
A major Russia
n fortress was built on the site in 1837. In the 1840s, Alexandropol (a town since 1840) experienced rapid growth. It was an important outpost for the Imperial Russian military in the Transcaucasus where their military barracks were established (e.g. at Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post).
in World War I
but withdrew from it on December 24, 1918 after being required to under the Armistice of Mudros
. 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 Turkish forces were headquartered in Gyumri. From this city the Turks presented the Armenian republic 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 the Democratic Republic of Armenia
, thus ending the Turkish-Armenian War. Turkish forces withdrew from Alexandropol afterwards Treaty of Batum
.
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 decided 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.
During the centuries Gyumri, the "city of trades and arts", has been famous for its schools, theaters, and gusans
. The first opera performance in Armenia took place in Gyumri in 1912, and the first Armenian opera theater was also opened here, in 1923.
Archeological excavations conducted in the 20th century have shown that the area has been populated since at least the third millennium BC. Many graveyards and dwellings have been found. The first recorded mention of Kumayri is from 773 and describes the revolt against Arab domination led by prince Artavazd Mamikonian that resulted in the revival of Armenian statehood one century later. Later, during and after the reign of the Bagratid kings of Armenia, Kumayri developed into a well-built modern town that was a center of commerce for the region.
The restoration project of the damaged buildings of Gyumri has been spearheaded by Earthwatch to preserve the city's unique architecture.
. Gyumri is the home of the Diocese of Shirak with the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God. The Armenian Catholic Church
has a tiny community in Armenia headed by the Eparchy of Armenia and Eastern Europe which is based in Gyumri. The presence of the small Russian Orthodox community in the city is marked with Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker's Church.
, located about 5 km from the centre of the 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
. Being located on top of high mountains, the Shirak Airport is not a preferred destination for most air carriers.
Gyumri has a major contribution in the sports life of Armenia. Many olympic and world champion wrestlers, weightlifters and boxers are from Gyumri. The city is notable for its worldwide champions in individual sports, such as Robert Emmiyan
in long jump, Yurik Vardanian
in weightlifting and Ara Abrahamian
in Greco-Roman wrestling
. The city is home to the Armenia
n football (soccer)
team FC Shirak
. They play their home games at Gyumri City Stadium
, built in 1924. Other teams from Gyumri are Aragats
and Kumairi
. The all-time leading scorer for the Armenia national football team
Artur Petrosyan
is from Gyumri. Lots of special sport schools are serving the young generation of Gyumri such as the School of Gymnastics, the School of Athletics (named after Robert Emmiyan), the School of football (named after Levon Ishtoyan) and other special schools of boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, martial arts and chess.
, Egypt
Alexandria, Virginia
, United States
Kutaisi
, Georgia
Kaliningrad
, Russia
Nardò
, Italy
Osasco
, Brazil
Plovdiv
, Bulgaria
Population and ethnic groups chart of Gyumri throughout the history:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp07nWWmavM
http://armshop.in.ua/product/hovhannes-shiraz/
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, and, with a population of 168,918 (2008; up from 150,917 reported at the 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 , then Leninakan ( , 1924–1990), then again as Gyumri.
The city is situated on a 126 km distance north to Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
in the central part of the Shirak Highland, at an approximate height of 1550 meters above sea level. The Akhurian River
Akhurian River
The Akhurian, Akhuriyan, Akhuryan or Akhouryan is a river in the South Caucasus. It originates in Armenia and flows from Lake Tseli south, along the border with Turkey, forming part of the geographic border between the two states, until it flows into the Aras River as a left tributary near Bagaran...
passes through the western suburbs of Gyumri. Gyumri's climate is characterised with very severe and cold winters, where the minimum temperature could fall down to -41 °C. On the other hand, summers in Gyumri are relatively hot with temperatures could reach up to 36 °C (97 °F). The annual precipitation averages 500 millimetres (19.7 in).
History
Gyumri is one of the oldest localities in Armenia. The region of Gyumri is mentioned in different UrartianUrartu
Urartu , corresponding to Ararat or Kingdom of Van was an Iron Age kingdom centered around Lake Van in the Armenian Highland....
inscriptions since the 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
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
colonists. An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by Cimmerians
Cimmerians
The Cimmerians or Kimmerians were ancient equestrian nomads of Indo-European origin.According to the Greek historian Herodotus, of the 5th century BC, the Cimmerians inhabited the region north of the Caucasus and the Black Sea during the 8th and 7th centuries BC, in what is now Ukraine and Russia...
, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri, which bears phonetic resemblance to the word used by ancient Armenian in reference to Cimmerians
Cimmerians
The Cimmerians or Kimmerians were ancient equestrian nomads of Indo-European origin.According to the Greek historian Herodotus, of the 5th century BC, the Cimmerians inhabited the region north of the Caucasus and the Black Sea during the 8th and 7th centuries BC, in what is now Ukraine and Russia...
. Historians believe that Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
passed through Gyumri during his return to the Black Sea, a journey immortalized in his Anabasis
Anabasis (Xenophon)
Anabasis is the most famous work, in seven books, of the Greek professional soldier and writer Xenophon. The journey it narrates is his best known accomplishment and "one of the great adventures in human history," as Will Durant expressed the common assessment.- The account :Xenophon accompanied...
.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Gyumri was known as a large and important settlement, and a center of Armenian rebellion against the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
(733-755)
19th century
Gyumri continued to develop in the 19th century, when, along with its surroundings, it became part of Russia after the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)
The 1804-1813 Russo-Persian War, one of the many wars between the Persian Empire and Imperial Russia, began like many wars as a territorial dispute. The Persian king, Fath Ali Shah Qajar, wanted to consolidate the northernmost reaches of his Qajar dynasty by securing land near the Caspian Sea's...
. Gyumri came under Russian control in 1804 around 25 years earlier than the rest of Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia
Eastern Armenia or Caucasian Armenia was the portion of Ottoman Armenia and Persian Armenia that was ceded to the Russian Empire following the Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829...
. During this period it was one of the best-known cities of the Transcaucasus region. In 1829, in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War
Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829
The Russo–Turkish War of 1828–1829 was sparked by the Greek War of Independence. The war broke out after the Sultan, incensed by the Russian participation in the Battle of Navarino, closed the Dardanelles for Russian ships and revoked the Akkerman Convention....
there was a big influx of Armenian population as about 3000 families, who had migrated from territories within the Ottoman Empire, in particular from the towns of Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
, Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
, and Doğubeyazıt
Dogubeyazit
Doğubeyazıt is a city and district of Ağrı Province of Turkey, and is Turkey's most eastern district, the border crossing to Iran. Elevation 1625 m. Area 2.383 km². Population 115.354 of which 69.447 live in the town of Doğubeyazıt, the remainder in the surrounding countryside...
, settled in and around Gyumri. Before this settlement policy, Armenians were minority in Gyumri.
The Russian poet Alexander Pushkin visited Gyumri during his journey to Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
in 1829.
In 1837 Russian Czar Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
arrived in Gyumri and renamed the town Alexandropol. The name was chosen in honor of Czar Nicholas I's wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia
Alexandra Fyodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia)
Alexandra Feodorovna, born Princess Charlotte of Prussia , was Empress consort of Russia. She was the wife of Tsar Nicholas I, and mother of Tsar Alexander II.-Princess of Prussia:...
, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
.
During the Soviet era Gyumri was renamed Leninakan in Lenin's honor.
A major Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n fortress was built on the site in 1837. In the 1840s, Alexandropol (a town since 1840) experienced rapid growth. It was an important outpost for the Imperial Russian military in the Transcaucasus where their military barracks were established (e.g. at Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post).
20th century and beyond
Ottoman forces captured Gyumri on May 11 1918 during the Caucasus CampaignCaucasus Campaign
The Caucasus Campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, later including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Central Caspian Dictatorship and the UK as part of the Middle Eastern theatre or alternatively named as part of the Caucasus Campaign during World War I...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
but withdrew from it on December 24, 1918 after being required to under the Armistice of Mudros
Armistice of Mudros
The Armistice of Moudros , concluded on 30 October 1918, ended the hostilities in the Middle Eastern theatre between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies of World War I...
. During the Turkish-Armenian War
Turkish-Armenian War
The Turkish–Armenian War stemmed from an invasion of the Democratic Republic of Armenia by the Turkish Revolutionaries of the Turkish National Movement in the autumn of 1920...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
attacked Gyumri and occupied the city on November 7, 1920, after winning the Battle of Alexandropol
Battle of Alexandropol
The Battle of Alexandropol was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and Turkish Revolutionaries of the Turkish National Movement which was on November 7, 1920 at Alexandropol.-Background:...
. After the battle, the Turkish forces were headquartered in Gyumri. From this city the Turks presented the Armenian republic 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
Treaty of Alexandropol
The Treaty of Alexandropol was a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey ending the Turkish-Armenian War, signed on December 2, 1920, before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. It was the first treaty signed by Turkish...
to stop the Turkish advance towards Yerevan, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
, thus ending the Turkish-Armenian War. Turkish forces withdrew from Alexandropol afterwards Treaty of Batum
Treaty of Batum
Treaty of Batum was signed in Batum between the Democratic Republic of Armenia and the Ottoman Empire on June 4 1918. It was the first treaty of the Democratic Republic of Armenia. It consisted of 14 articles...
.
In 1924 the name was changed to Leninakan after the deceased Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
. 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 decided 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.
Main sites
As an old town, Gyumri has rich history and a unique style of architecture. Unfortunately it lost many of its historical and cultural buildings after the disastrous earthquake in December of 1988.During the centuries Gyumri, the "city of trades and arts", has been famous for its schools, theaters, and gusans
Gusans
Gusans were creative and performing artists - singers, instrumentalists, dancers, storytellers, and professional folk actors in public theaters of Parthia and ancient and medieval Armenia....
. The first opera performance in Armenia took place in Gyumri in 1912, and the first Armenian opera theater was also opened here, in 1923.
Kumayri
The Kumayri historic district in the city of Gyumri is said to resemble an open air museum. It is the old part of Gyumri with more than one thousand 18th and 19th century buildings. It is also one of the few places in the Republic of Armenia with an authentic historical Armenian urban architecture. Nearly all the buildings in the Kumayri district have survived two major earthquakes, in 1926 and 1988. The district is in the center of Gyumri.Archeological excavations conducted in the 20th century have shown that the area has been populated since at least the third millennium BC. Many graveyards and dwellings have been found. The first recorded mention of Kumayri is from 773 and describes the revolt against Arab domination led by prince Artavazd Mamikonian that resulted in the revival of Armenian statehood one century later. Later, during and after the reign of the Bagratid kings of Armenia, Kumayri developed into a well-built modern town that was a center of commerce for the region.
Sev Ghul
Sev Ghul (meaning "Black Sentry") is a Russian fortress in Gyumri dating to the 1830s. It is built on a hill, heavily armed and, in case of a siege, the fortress site could accommodate 15,000 soldiers and officers. The monumental statue of "Mother Armenia of Gyumri" stands on an adjacent hill. The 102nd military division of the Russian Federation is stationed near another old Russian fortress known as Red Fort.Other sites
- The Aslamazyan Sisters House-Museum built in the 1880s, housing nearly 700 drawings, paintings and other works of The, the Soviet-era artists "Aslamazyan sisters".
- The Dzitoghtsyan House-Museum or the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life of Gyumri, an old Gyumri mansion, houses collections covering both the history and everyday life of Gyumri as well as paintings and other works of art.
- The MerkurovSergey MerkurovSergey Dmitrievich Merkurov was a prominent Soviet sculptor-monumentalist of Greek-Armenian descent. He was a People's Artist of the USSR, an academic at the Soviet Academy of Arts, and director of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts from 1944 to 1949...
House-Museum. - House-Museum of Avetik IsahakyanAvetik IsahakyanAvetik Isahakyan , Ghazarapat, near Aleksandropol, current Gyumri, Russian Empire – October 17, 1957, Yerevan) was a prominent Armenian lyric poet, writer, academian and public activist.-Biography:...
. - House-Museum of Hovhannes ShirazHovhannes ShirazHovhannes Shiraz was a notable Armenian poet.- Biography :He was born Hovhannes Karapetyan in the city of Alexandropol, then part of the Russian Empire . His first work called Beginning of Spring was published in 1935...
. - House-Museum of Mher Mkrtchyan.
- Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God or the Seven Wounds of the Holy Mother of God, built in the 17th century.
- Church of the Holy Saviour or Surb Amenaprkich, constructed between 1859-1873. Designed to resemble the Cathedral of AniCathedral of AniThe Cathedral of Ani is an Armenian church built in 1001 AD by the architect Trdat in the ruined ancient Armenian capital of Ani, located in what is now the extreme eastern tip of Turkey, on the border with modern Armenia...
. The church was heavily damaged by the 1988 Spitak earthquake and is currently under reconstruction. - Surb Neshan Apostolic Church, built in 1870.
- The Russian Orthodox church of Saint Nikolai the Wondeworker, also known as "Plplan Zham" (the Shimmering Chapel), built in 1879-80.
- Saint Gregory the IlluminatorGregory the IlluminatorSaint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
's Church of Gyumri. - Saint Jacob of NisibisJacob of NisibisJacob of Nisibis , is a Syriac saint. He was the second bishop of Nisibis, spiritual father of the renowned Syriac writer Ephrem the Syrian, and celebrated ascetic....
Apostolic Church (Surb Hakob Mtsbinetsi) built in 2005. - Gyumri's Central Park, founded during the 1920s on the site of the old town cemetery.
The restoration project of the damaged buildings of Gyumri has been spearheaded by Earthwatch to preserve the city's unique architecture.
Religion
Almost the entire population of Gyumri belongs to the Armenian Apostolic ChurchArmenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
. Gyumri is the home of the Diocese of Shirak with the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God. The Armenian Catholic Church
Armenian Catholic Church
|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
has a tiny community in Armenia headed by the Eparchy of Armenia and Eastern Europe which is based in Gyumri. The presence of the small Russian Orthodox community in the city is marked with Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker's Church.
Economy and Transportation
- The economy of Gyumri is mostly depended on construction sector, tourism and banking services. Industry as well has a big share in the domestic product. The most important industrial activities are the production of building materials, yarn and textile manufacturing and food industries. Gyumri is home to Shirak "Gyumri" Beer Company.
- During the pre-Soviet era, Alexandropol was considered to be the third most important trade and cultural center in the Trans-Caucasus after TiflisTbilisiTbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
and BakuBakuBaku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
(YerevanYerevanYerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
would not rise to prominence until being proclaimed the capital of the independent Republic of ArmeniaArmeniaArmenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 1918 and Armenian SSRArmenian SSRThe Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
in 1920). At the end of the 19th century, the population of Alexandropol reached 32,100 residents, mostly Armenians. 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, JolfaJolfaJolfa is a city in and capital of Jolfa County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 4,983, in 1,365 families....
(in 1906), and TabrizTabrizTabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
. As a result, Alexandropol became an important rail hub.
Air transportation
Gyumri is served by the Shirak AirportShirak Airport
Shirak International Airport is an international airport serving Gyumri and the province of Shirak. It is located about 5 km from the center of Gyumri. The airport was inaugurated in 1961, and is the second largest airport in the country, after Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport...
, located about 5 km from the centre of the town. The airport offers regular flights to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Sochi
Sochi
Sochi is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated just north of Russia's border with the de facto independent republic of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast. Greater Sochi sprawls for along the shores of the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains...
and Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
. It also serves as an alternate airport to Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport
Zvartnots International Airport
Zvartnots International Airport is located near Zvartnots, west of Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. The airport was built in 1961. It is now the busiest airport in Armenia and the Caucasus. The draftsmen of the airport included architects M. Khachikyan, A. Tarkhanyan, J. Sheqhlyan, L....
. Being located on top of high mountains, the Shirak Airport is not a preferred destination for most air carriers.
Education
Gyumri has a large number of educational institutions. It is considered the main cultural and educational centre of northern Armenia. The city has three major higher educational centers: the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute named after Hovhannes Shiraz, "Progress" Gyumri University and "Imastaser Anania Shirakatsi" Gyumri University. Branches of Yerevan State University are also operating in the city. Currently, there are 47 public education schools, 23 nursery schools and 7 special schools for music are operating regularly in the city. Gyumri has a rich heritage of art and cultural legacy, and is considered to be the capital of Armenian humor.Sport
Robert Emmiyan
Robert Emmiyan is a retired long jumper who represented USSR and later Armenia. His personal best jump of 8.86 metres, which he achieved in Tsakhkadzor in May 1987, is the current European record and also the fourth best result of all time .His achievements include a silver medal at the 1987 World...
in long jump, Yurik Vardanian
Yurik Vardanian
Yurik Vardanian is a former Olympic weightlifter for the USSR. He trained at Lokomotiv in Leninakan, Armenia.Vardanian won the gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics, becoming the world's first weightlifter to achieve a 400 kilogram total in the 82.5 kg weight category...
in weightlifting and Ara Abrahamian
Ara Abrahamian
Ara Abrahamian is a retired Armenian-Swedish wrestler in Greco-Roman wrestling...
in Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
. The city is home to the Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team FC Shirak
FC Shirak
Shirak Football Club , is an Armenian football club, playing in the town of Gyumri . The home stadium for Shirak is the Gyumri City Stadium.- History :...
. They play their home games at Gyumri City Stadium
Gyumri City Stadium
Gyumri City Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Gyumri, Armenia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Shirak FC. The stadium can serve around 3,000 supporters, was built in 1924 and reconstructed in the late 90s....
, built in 1924. Other teams from Gyumri are Aragats
Aragats Gyumri
Aragats Gyumri was an Armenian football club from Gyumri. The club dissolved in 2002 and is currently inactive from professional football.-League Record :...
and Kumairi
Kumairi Gyumri
Kumairi Gyumri was an Armenian football club from Gyumri. The club dissolved in 1997 and is currently inactive from professional football.-League Record :...
. The all-time leading scorer for the Armenia national football team
Armenia national football team
The Armenia national football team represents Armenia in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia, the governing body for football in Armenia...
Artur Petrosyan
Artur Petrosyan
Arthur Petrosyan is a former Armenian football midfielder. He currently is one of the coaches of FC Zurich. Artur is the all-time leading scorer for the Armenia national team, and has participated in 70 international matches and scored 11 goals since his debut in a home friendly match against...
is from Gyumri. Lots of special sport schools are serving the young generation of Gyumri such as the School of Gymnastics, the School of Athletics (named after Robert Emmiyan), the School of football (named after Levon Ishtoyan) and other special schools of boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, martial arts and chess.
Twin cities
AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Kutaisi
Kutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Nardò
Nardò
Nardò is a town and comune of 31,185 inhabitants and comune in the southern Italian region of Apulia, in the province of Lecce.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Osasco
Osasco
Osasco is a municipality and city in São Paulo State, Brazil, is located in the Greater São Paulo and ranking 5th in population among São Paulo municipalities. The current mayor is Emidio Pereira de Souza ....
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
Demographics
The population of Gyumri has gradually grown since 1840 after gaining the status of town. The huge decline of the population was due to the disastrous earthquake of 1988. The residents here have a distinct look and style, and a boundless pride in their city. Their own dialect is very close to Western Armenian.Population and ethnic groups chart of Gyumri throughout the history:
| Year | Population | Armenians (%) | Russians (%) | Azeris (%) | Others (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1829 | ~600 | ||||
| 1830 | 4,000 | ||||
| 1850 | 15,000 | ||||
| 1873 | 20,000 | ||||
| 1897 | 30,616 | |
|
|
|
| 1914 | 51,300 | ||||
| 1923 | 58,600 | ||||
| 1926 | 42,313 | |
|
|
|
| 1939 | 67,729 | |
|
|
|
| 1959 | 108,446 | |
|
|
|
| 1970 | 164,966 | ||||
| 1984 | 222,000 | ||||
| 1989 | 122,587 | ||||
| 2001 | 150,917 | ||||
| 2010 | 146,100 |
Famous natives
- Anania ShirakatsiAnania ShirakatsiAnania Shirakatsi was an Armenian mathematician, astronomer and geographer. He is commonly attributed to having written the Geography .-Life:Scholars are split on where exactly Anania was born...
, medieval Armenian scholar - G.I. Gurdjieff, mystic and philosopher
- Sergey MerkurovSergey MerkurovSergey Dmitrievich Merkurov was a prominent Soviet sculptor-monumentalist of Greek-Armenian descent. He was a People's Artist of the USSR, an academic at the Soviet Academy of Arts, and director of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts from 1944 to 1949...
, sculptor - SheramSheramSheram was an Armenian gusan , poet and composer.He is known as the founder of the modern gusan art...
, gusan, poet and composer - Avetik IsahakyanAvetik IsahakyanAvetik Isahakyan , Ghazarapat, near Aleksandropol, current Gyumri, Russian Empire – October 17, 1957, Yerevan) was a prominent Armenian lyric poet, writer, academian and public activist.-Biography:...
, poet - Armen TigranianArmen TigranianArmen Tigranian was an Armenian music composer and conductor. His best-known works were two national operas, Anoush and Davit Bek ; the latter of which premiered only months before his death and was his final composition...
, composer ("Anush" opera) - Olga ChekhovaOlga ChekhovaOlga Konstantinovna Chekhova, née Knipper — 9 March 1980, Berlin, Germany) was a Russian-German actress. Her film roles include the female lead in Alfred Hitchcock's Mary .- Biography :...
, actress - Khachatur Avetisyan, composer
- Shushanik KurghinianShushanik KurghinianShushanik Kurghinian was an Armenian writer who became a catalyst in the development of socialist and feminist poetry. She gave voice to the voiceless and saw her role as a poet as profoundly political. Her first poem was published in 1899 in Taraz, and in 1900 her first short story appeared in...
, poet - Ruben ZaryanRuben ZaryanRuben Varosi Zaryan was a Soviet Armenian theatre specialist, Doctor of Art history, Professor, awarded by the Renowned Master of the Armenian SSR title and medals....
, Art historian - Hovhannes ShirazHovhannes ShirazHovhannes Shiraz was a notable Armenian poet.- Biography :He was born Hovhannes Karapetyan in the city of Alexandropol, then part of the Russian Empire . His first work called Beginning of Spring was published in 1935...
, poet - Mher Mkrtchyan, actor
- Levon IshtoyanLevon IshtoyanLevon Arutyunovich Ishtoyan is a retired Soviet football striker. He emigrated to the United States in the late 1980s and opened a private sportschool in Los Angeles in 2008 called Ishtoyan Soccer Academy...
, footballer, Soviet champion with FC AraratFC Ararat YerevanFC Ararat Yerevan , is an Armenian football club, based in Yerevan. Currently, the club plays in the Armenian Premier League, and is one of the most popular teams in Armenia.- History :...
(1973) - Vazgen ManukyanVazgen ManukyanVazgen Manukyan was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1990 to 1991. From 1992 to 1993 Manukyan was acting Minister of Defense....
, politician, Armenia's former Prime Minister - Svetlana SvetlichnayaSvetlana SvetlichnayaSvetlana Afanasyevna Svetlichnaya is a Soviet and Russian actress most famous for her role in The Diamond Arm .-Biography:...
, film actress - Edmond KeosayanEdmond KeosayanEdmond Gareginovich Keosayan was an Armenian Soviet film director and musician.1952-54 - worked in Yerevan watch factory. 1954-56 - studied in Plekhanov Moscow Institute of Economy. 1956-58 - studied in Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute, worked as a compere. 1964 - graduated from the...
, film director - Artavazd Peleshyan, film director and theorist
- Levon MkrtchyanLevon MkrtchyanMovie director Levon Mkrtchyan , is an Armenian director known for his documentaries, "Davit Anhaght," "Charentz: Known and Unknown Sides", "Jean Garzu", "Mesrop Mashtots", "My Komitas", "And There Was Light", "The Manuscript of Independence" which was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of...
, film director - Yurik VardanianYurik VardanianYurik Vardanian is a former Olympic weightlifter for the USSR. He trained at Lokomotiv in Leninakan, Armenia.Vardanian won the gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics, becoming the world's first weightlifter to achieve a 400 kilogram total in the 82.5 kg weight category...
, weightlifting Olympic champion - Robert EmmiyanRobert EmmiyanRobert Emmiyan is a retired long jumper who represented USSR and later Armenia. His personal best jump of 8.86 metres, which he achieved in Tsakhkadzor in May 1987, is the current European record and also the fourth best result of all time .His achievements include a silver medal at the 1987 World...
, European long jump record holder - Artur PetrosyanArtur PetrosyanArthur Petrosyan is a former Armenian football midfielder. He currently is one of the coaches of FC Zurich. Artur is the all-time leading scorer for the Armenia national team, and has participated in 70 international matches and scored 11 goals since his debut in a home friendly match against...
, footballer, all-time leading scorer for Armenia - Manvel GamburyanManvel GamburyanManvel "Manny" Gamburyan is an Armenian American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 5. Besides The Ultimate Fighter, Gamburyan has fought for notable promotions such as King of the Cage and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.Gamburyan is fighting in the...
, mixed martial artist (UFC) - Ara AbrahamianAra AbrahamianAra Abrahamian is a retired Armenian-Swedish wrestler in Greco-Roman wrestling...
, wrestler - BambirBambirBambir is an Armenian folk-rock band, formed in 1978 in Gyumri, who have gained acknowledgement in Armenia and abroad. They have performed in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and the United States. Their repertoire also includes traditional Armenian songs, modern arrangements of Komitas and...
, folk-rock band - Arthur Sarkissian, artist
- Gennady TimchenkoGennady TimchenkoGennady Nikolayevich Timchenko Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko (also spelled Guennadi Timtchenko; (born 1952) is a prominent businessman, active in the energy trading business, citizen of Finland, currently living in Geneva, Switzerland....
, businessman - Sergo ChakhoyanSergo ChakhoyanSergo Chakhoyan is an Armenian weightlifter who represented Australia later in his career.A world record holder, he claimed two gold medals at the 1994 and 2003 World Championships, and competed in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic games...
, weightlifting world champion - Ararat SarkissianArarat SarkissianArarat Sarkissian is an Armenian artist, who was born in Gyumri in 1956. He currently lives in Yerevan.He is a Member of the European Academy of Natural Sciences and International Association of Art.-External links:...
, artist
Film documentary
- 1983: Hovhannes ShirazHovhannes ShirazHovhannes Shiraz was a notable Armenian poet.- Biography :He was born Hovhannes Karapetyan in the city of Alexandropol, then part of the Russian Empire . His first work called Beginning of Spring was published in 1935...
(Հովհաննես Շիրազ / Hovhannes Shiraz / Оганес Шираз Armenfilm 35mm (1915 Genocide Armenian) director Levon MkrtchyanLevon MkrtchyanMovie director Levon Mkrtchyan , is an Armenian director known for his documentaries, "Davit Anhaght," "Charentz: Known and Unknown Sides", "Jean Garzu", "Mesrop Mashtots", "My Komitas", "And There Was Light", "The Manuscript of Independence" which was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of... - 1987: Gyumri Armenfilm, color, 35mm, Film director Levon MkrtchyanLevon MkrtchyanMovie director Levon Mkrtchyan , is an Armenian director known for his documentaries, "Davit Anhaght," "Charentz: Known and Unknown Sides", "Jean Garzu", "Mesrop Mashtots", "My Komitas", "And There Was Light", "The Manuscript of Independence" which was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of...
, narration by Azat Gasparyan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp07nWWmavM
http://armshop.in.ua/product/hovhannes-shiraz/
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 978-0-7864-1814-5 (pbk) p. 192 See http://www.gyumri.am/eng/history.html