Armenia: Gyumri – Cathedrals & Churches
Gyumri has a lot of historic churches and a large cathedral. The largest is Surp Amenaprkich Church (All Savior’s Church) near the main square, built in 1873. It suffered extensive damage during the 1988 earthquake, and partially collapsed, but has since been fully restored, with some of the cupola parts on display to show the destruction. Also on the main square is the Yot Verk Church aka Cathedral of the Seven Wounds of the Holy Mother of God built in 1874. This cathedral is one of the main religious sites in Gyumri and is known for its impressive architecture and historical significance. Finally, just a couple blocks away is the Surp Nishan Church aka the Church of the Holy Sign, that dates back to the 1852 and is notable for its classic Armenian religious style. All three churches are austere-looking – black and red rock, with very little decoration inside, small windows, and a lot of interplay of light from the central conical dome.
