Born in Simferopol. He received his early education at the Armenian church in Simferopol and then at the gymnasium. In 1848 he graduated from the Lazarev Seminary (Lazarian Jemaran) in Moscow. He was also interested in painting. In 1848-51 he trained at the Academy of Arts in St Petersburg. In 1853 he went to Dorpat (Tartu), entered the university and studied economics and law. In 1854 he wrote his famous “Tsitsernak” (The Swallow). After 1859, having graduated from the university, he taught in St Petersburg, the North Caucasus and the Crimea. He worked as a teacher for almost 40 years. He died in Simferopol.
