In September 1901, Hovhannes Tumanyan, after undergoing treatment in Abastumani, traveled to Alexandrapol. Here, his direct meeting with Avetik Isahakyan turned into an important journey.

«Անի դեռ չեմ ե“I haven’t been to Ani yet, I really want to see it, definitely take care of that,” Tumanyan says to Isahakyan. And they set off for Ani, the once glorious capital of Armenia.

Among the ruins of Ani, Tumanyan wanders silently, lost in thought. His look absorbs every stone, every detail that bears the seal of centuries-old art. Standing in front of columns, arches, sculptures, he stares for a long time, then closes his eyes, as if listening to an invisible music that sounds from the depths of the past.

As they were leaving the city, Tumanyan took one last look at Ani and said with pain:

— How stupid and animalistic a person must be to raise a hand to these wonders… Should this beauty disappear without a trace, without leaving a trace in the art of the world…

These words are not only an eyewitness’ impression, but also a response to pain, protest, and centuries-long loss. Ani’s glorious past and its fate remain a wound in the soul of the Armenian people, constantly reminding them of lost values.