The city of Evpatoria is counted among the four ancient cities of Ukraine (Kerch, Evpatoria, Feodocia, Belgrod-Dnestrovsky). These cities arose before the time of Christ and continued as urban settlements to our era. Evpatoria has three historic names: in the ancient era it was called Kerkiniteda, in the Middle ages it was known as Gozlov, and currently as Evpatoria. The ancient history of the city is preserved in numerous archaeological and architectural monuments.

Our city was founded as a Greek city-state in the 6th century B.C. The first 200 years it existed as a sovereign state and had internal self-government, a system of intergovernmental agreements, taxation, customs duties, a military force, and its own mint. Kerkinitedian coins were poured, then minted; especially interesting are the unusual shapes of the coin: ‘pointers’ in the form of arrow tips and coin ‘fish’ in the form of sturgeons.

In the 4^th century B.C., the city enters the dominion of the Hersones state but continued to mint its own coin. At its peak the city covered an area of 5.3 hectares, had 280-290 dwelling-houses, the fortress walls were about 1 km long, the walls were reinforced with 12 towers, the population of free citizens reached 1360-2240 people. As a result of numerous Greco-Sythian wars (3^rd to 2^nd centuries B.C.) the city lost its former economic power and by the 4^th century B.C. it was in economic decline.

In the 15^th to 18^th centuries (A.D) the city was known under the name of Gozlov. The city was a main port and a great economic center of the Crimean Khanate. After Crimea was annexed to Russia in 1784, the city was renamed Evpatoria in memory of the ancient fortress Evpatorion, from the pontific tsar Metridat VI Evpator.

On the 24^th of April, 1784 Evpatoria became a city district of the Tavrian region, later of the province. In the second half of the 19^th century, the city developed into a resort. In 1915, Evpatoria was acknowledged as a national resort and in 1936 as a model resort.

In 1997, Ukraine’s President Kuchma bestowed the status of all-Ukraine children’s health-resort upon the city.

Two hundred monuments of history and culture are located on the city’s territory. Most well-known of these are the site of ancient Kerkiniteda, the Han-Jami Mosque, the Karaites Kenasa complex, the Tekiye dervish complex, the Turkish bath-houses and the St. Nickolas Cathedral.

        At the administrative and cultural centre of city is the theater square. The main theater was opened on April 20, 1910. The elegance of the interior decoration of Evpatoria’s theater in the 20^th century is famous as the best in southern Russia (designed by the architects Genrech and Cepherov). The history of this stage calls forth memories of such names as Savena, Staneslav, Vahtangov, Shalyapene, Sobenov, Nejdanova, Obyhova...

          A building with a semi-circle facade framed by colonnades attracts attention to this area (building designed by architect Sepherov). This is the Pushkin library, opened on July 15, 1916 with funds set aside for its construction by S.E. Duvan.

        On the Tereshkovie embankment, sits the orthodox church of Saint Ely the Prophet  built with money collected by all of the city’s religious communities. Duvan selected the site for the church, organized the collection of funds and carried out sponsorship for its construction. Originally the church was Greek (for the city’s Greek orthodox community) although its holy services are given in the Russian and Greek languages. Construction was completed in 1918. The interior is lined with frescos of the ‘Neo-Greek’ style. N. Elezar, a famous academic who studied ancient Byzantium, served in this church until the revolution.

        Evpatoria is the only city in Crimea that preserved the interior planning of squares, streets and alley-ways of a eastern medieval fortress. When the capital was transferred, to Gozlov, a mint was established which existed after the change of city status. Gozlov became the capital in approximately 1558. A city territory in those times was protected by crenulated battlements that ran for 2869 meters.

A modern embankment is arranged on the site of the medieval port, which could simultaneously take in 200 merchant ships of different sizes. The population reached 20,000. Five fortress gates lead to the city. A fortress was destroyed in 1856.

The Han-Jami (Khan) Mosque or Juma-Jami (Cathedral Five) Mosque was constructed in 1552 by the great Turkish architect Sinan Hodji. Greek by origin, he like many of the Renaissance age, had an encyclopedic education, and was not only an architect and military engineer but also a mathematician and astronomer. A creation by Sinan Hodji was the peak of the development of Ottoman architecture.

On Letnom Alley is the beautiful three-story house of Duvan, the city mayor until the revolution. It’s named the Duvan House. Duvan build the city library with personal funds. With his direct participation with townspeople funds the city theater and tram depot are built and a railway line is laid.  On May 10, 1914, the first city tram runs and on October 21, 1915 the first train arrived at the Evpatoria RR station. During the period of Duvan’s management, the city quickly began to realize a general plan of development that was ratified by his predecessor in 1893. The south resort part of city is built up, a new suburb Slobodka, and the east entrance to the city - Periseep. The first high school in town is built under the supervision of the father of Syemon Erzovich - Erzo Duvan. Under Duvan’s efforts, universal free instruction for the city’s children began in Evpatoria in 1912. In the famine of 1921, Duvan’s daughter sent starving evpatorians a steamship of bread from Bulgaria, saving the townspeople.

Crimea’s largest orthodox cathedral is located in Evpatoria (designed by architect A.I. Bernardatzi). A main throne is devoted to Saint Nikulous, protector of travelers and navigators. The cathedral was constructed in 1893 in memory of the 1956 liberation of the city from English, French, Turkish, and Sardinian troops and was sanctified in 1899. Its construction took 178,000 Roubles. A small cross is visible in the courtyard behind the fence at the north entrance, set on the grave of doctor N.A. Ojye, who first applied in practice the scientifically-based medical treatment of Saki mud. From this, the district doctor received the rank of hereditary nobleman and professing Karaimism, was buried on the territory of the orthodox church.

Evpatoria has many historical monuments of Crimean-Tatar culture, one of which is the Tekiye dervish complex for the 16^th century. A Tekiye is a place for rest and spiritual communication of the Mevlevi order of monks founded by the Persian philosopher and poet Jelal Ed Din Rumi. In the complex are three constructions from different eras. The first building from the direction of the square is a coffee shop (from the 19th century). The second is the Shukurula-Effendi Mosque with Evpatoria’s last preserved ancient minaret, in which 54 steps wind up the staircase. The minaret is 20.07 meters high. The third building is the dervish Tekiye. The floor plan is a square with cut corners turning into an octagon on which the dome lies. In the perimeter of the hall are nineteen doorways to the monastic cells, one of which leads to the monastic cell of the sheik, the leader of the dervish community.

         On Karaimski Street, beyond the delicate gates there is the Karaites Kenasa  complex, including the large Kenasa (Cathedral) and the small Kenasa. The simplicity of forms, the carefully thought-out planning, the skilled use of Italian-marble finishing and the un-duplicated aura of this complex makes it one of most famous sights in Crimea. A modern complex was constructed at the end of 18^th century on the site of the more ancient Karaites temple in the heart of medieval Evpatoria. Fifty-two marble plaques reflecting major events in the history of the Karaites are located along the courtyard walls of the complex.

        The little Kenasa – the only Karaites temple in the entire CIS which conducts holy services, was restored by Crimean Karaites in 1999. Russian emperors have visited this Kenasa - in 1825 Alexander the 1st came and in 1916, Nickolas the 2^nd visited. In the Kenasa court a row of memorial marble stones were laid in honor of the Russian monarchs Katherine the 2nd, Alexander the 1st, Nickolas the 1^st and Alexander the 2nd. The Karaties Kenasa is the most well-restored and adoringly-guarded monument of architecture. The restored temple, the Kenasa Cathedral, the museum of Karaties life, the Lipidary, a club and a wonderful ethnic café are all successfully integrated on just one site. The cafe has an ethnic kitchen and offers original dishes with recipes unchanged through the ages.

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