Archaeological, ethnographical literature and rich materials prove the ancient origin of Kumayri.

A colophon of toponymic name of 1209 reached us from the depth of centuries with that name (Matenadaran/Depository of Manuscripts/ manuscript of 1866), where the big settlement was mentioned as Kumayri (in brief also "Kumri"), the reliable explanation of the name is Gyughavan.

The Armenian first written information about Kumayri reached us from the 7th century bibliographer Ghevond historian.

The picture of Aragats Mountain looks more beautiful and proud of Gyumri than from other place.

Gyumri is one of the ancient settlements of the Armenian world, which has been a city of science, culture, art and crafts through centuries. First, it's specific by its geographical position connecting Europe with Asia. That's the reason that the Roman and Byzantium generals often tried to conquer this proud city adjoining the bottoms of Aragats, bunched on the bank of deep Akhurian River.

The well-known historian of antic times Plutarch, when with Cras's tracks has been in the Armenian world and was hosted "in Kumayri" during hot summer, instead of water they gave him a cold drink in clay cup, where barley grains were floating.
And he wrote about this with surprise.


After the Russian-Turkish war (1826-1828) the emigrants of Kars, Karin, Bayazet of the Western Armenia and other places of Historical Armenia come to Eastern Armenia with big flow, mainly Armenians, great number of craftsmen, who were seeking to settle in Gyumri, which were in the crossroads of the roads, and where the fortress with the name of Russian Gyumri was built.





In connection with the building of the fortress on October 3, 1837 Nikolay I Tsar arrived there and in the honour of his wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna, named Gyumri fortress city Alexandropol (in brief - Alekpol). In 1849 in Shirak Alexandropol province of Yerevan state with Alexandropol centre was formed. In 1899 after the construction of the railway Alexandropol became a military-strategic, cultural, trade and crafts center. According to the data of the same year, the city had 30.000 residents and occupied the third place in Transcaucasus after Tiflis and Baku.

With the help of the Russian military specialists the main plan of the city was developed with the principle of regular quadrangles of crossing streets. Numerous churches were built: Amenaprkich (St. Saviours), Surb Astvatsatsin (St. Mary), Surb Nshan (St. Sign) and others. Olginian girls' gymnasium, schools, hospitals, children's institutions and other first aid units were built. Military detachments were built in different parts of the city.



Gyumri-Alexandropol had permanently functioning professional theatre, where played such great figures of theatrical world, as: Gevorg Chaush, Petros Adamian, Mhrdat Amrikian, Siranuish, Hovhannes Abelian, Hovhannes Zarifian, Vahram Papazian, Armen and Durian Armenians, Hasmik. In 1912 for the first time in Armenia Armen Tigranian's "Anush" opera was staged here. In 1921 here the State University of Armenia was founded.



The resident of Gyumri likes company, friendship, sacredness and purity of family. They highly evaluate the human dignity.

As the well-known poet Avetik Isahakian said, when they ask the Gyumri resident what they miss:
"We miss man…There is bread, wealth, but there is very little MAN…
"What's up?"
"We miss man, nothing else."
Gyumri resident with human high criteria consistently have sought to be MAN and remain MAN.



By the will of providence, the Gyumri resident could make harmoniously closer the craft and art beginning from old times. Today, when you pass by the buildings of the old city that survived after the severe tremours of nature, you become convinced in the truth of the said, moreover, when you get the Gyumri resident's witty and picturesque word.