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Armenians in Cyprus or Armenian-Cypriots (Armenian: Կիպրահայեր, Greek: Αρμενοκύπριοι, Turkish: Kıbrıs Ermenileri) are ethnic Armenians who live in Cyprus. The relation of Armenians with Cyprus and their presence on the island are very old and there has been a mutual economic and cultural association for many centuries. Armenians in Cyprus are a structured community with a long history and their presence has enriched the island in several ways; they are a recognised minority with their own language, schools, churches, cemeteries, monuments, information media, social institutions, customs, traditions and cultural life. During the last 50–60 years, the number of Armenians in Cyprus has decreased due to emigrations to other countries and integration into the broader Cypriot society, including intermarriage; their number today is smaller than it was 80 or 90 years ago. Economically, Armenian-Cypriots have tended to be self-employed businessmen/merchants, professionals or craftsmen.

Despite the relatively small number of Armenians living in Cyprus, the Armenian-Cypriot community has had a significant impact upon the Armenian Diaspora and the Armenian nation in general: during the Middle Ages, Cyprus had an extensive connection with the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, while the Ganchvor monastery had an important presence in Famagusta; during the Ottoman Era, the Virgin Mary church and the Magaravank were very prominent. In more recent times, the short-lived National Educational Orphanage and the Melkonian Educational Institute were very influential, as was the presence of the Armenian Legion in Cyprus, while the emigration of a large number of Armenian-Cypriots to the United Kingdom virtually shaped today's British-Armenian community. Certain Armenian-Cypriots were or are very prominent on a Panarmenian or international level and the fact that, for nearly half a century, the survivors of the Armenian Genocide co-operated and co-existed peacefully with the Turkish-Cypriots, perhaps a unique phenomenon across the Armenian Diaspora. Additionally, the history and the various other aspects of the Armenian community of Cyprus are extremely well-documented. Finally, Cyprus was the first country to bring the issue of the Armenian Genocide recognition to the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1965 and the second country in the world to recognise the Armenian Genocide in 1975.

Currently, Armenians in Cyprus maintain a notable presence of about 3,500 on the island (including about 1,000 non-Cypriot Armenians, mainly from Armenia, Georgia, Lebanon, Russia and Syria),^[1] mostly centred around the capital Nicosia, but also with communities in Larnaca and Limassol, where they have churches, schools, associations, cemeteries and monuments; there is also a small unstructured Armenian community in Paphos (virtually all of its members originate from Armenia).^[2] The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus is located in Nicosia. According to the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus, together with the Maronites and the Latins, they are recognised as a “religious group” and have opted to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community. The Armenian-Cypriot community is strongly supported, financially and morally, by the Republic of Cyprus and Armenian-Cypriots are represented by an elected Representative in the House of Representatives; since May 2006, the Representative is Vartkes Mahdessian, a prominent businessman from Nicosia, who was re-elected in May 2011 for a new term in the House of Representatives.^[3] The religious leader of the community, since August 1997, is Catholicosal Vicar Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, accountable to the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

History

Of the three religious groups, Armenians are the oldest in Cyprus, since the first confirmed presence of Armenians on the island goes back to 578 AD, during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justin II, while Maronites and Latins appeared on the island in 686 and 1126, respectively.

Byzantine Era (578–1191)

There is a long link between the Armenians and Cyprus, possibly dating back to the 5th century BC. However, Armenians have had a continuous documented presence in Cyprus since 578 AD: according to historian Theophylact Simocatta, during his campaign against the Persian King Chosroes I, Byzantine General (and future Emperor) Maurice the Cappadocian captured 10.090 Armenians as prisoners in Arzanene (Aghdznik), of whom about 3,350 were deported to Cyprus.^[4] Judging by the strategic position of the colonies they established (Armenokhori, Arminou, Kornokipos, Patriki, Platani, Spathariko and perhaps Mousere), it is very likely that these Armenians served Byzantium as mercenary soldiers and frontiersmen.

More Armenians arrived during the reign of Armenian-descended Emperor Heraclius (610–641) for political reasons (he attempted to bridge the differences between the Armenian Church and the Byzantine Church), during the pontificate of Catholicos Hovhannes III Odznetsi (717–728) for commercial reasons and after the liberation of Cyprus from the Arab raids by patrician Niketas Chalkoutzes (965) for military reasons, when Armenian mercenaries were transferred to Cyprus to protect it. In the middle Byzantine period, Armenian generals and governors served in Cyprus, like Alexios Mousele or Mousere (868–874), Basil Haigaz (958), Vahram (965), Elpidios Brachamios (1075–1085) and Leo Symbatikes (910–911), who undertook the construction of Saint Lazarus' basilica in Larnaca. It appears that Saint Lazarus' church had been an Armenian Apostolic church in the 10th century and was used by Armenian-Catholics during the Latin Era as well.

The numerous Armenians required an analogous spiritual pastorate, and so in 973 Catholicos Khatchig I established the Armenian Bishopric in Nicosia. Relations between Cyprus and the Armenians became closer when the Kingdom of Cilicia was established. The Kingdom, on the coast of Cilicia to the north of the island, was established at around 1080 AD by Armenian refugees who fled the Seljuk invasion to the north and remained an ally of Byzantium. Between 1136–1138, Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus moved the entire population of the Armenian city of Tell Hamdun to Cyprus. After Isaac Comnenus' wedding to the daughter of the Armenian prince Thoros II in 1185, Armenian nobles and warriors came with him to Cyprus, many of whom defended the island against Richard the Lionheart (May 1191), when he landed in Limassol in a conquering mood, and the Knights Templar (April 1192), who had purchased Cyprus from Richard and governed with a particular cruelty. Eventually, the Templars returned the island to Richard, who in turn sold it to Guy de Lusignan.^[5]

Latin Era (1191–1570)

After the purchase of Cyprus by titular Frankish King of Jerusalem Guy de Lusignan in 1192, in his attempt to establish a western-type feudal kingdom, the latter sent emissaries to Europe, Cilicia and the Levant, resulting in a massive immigration of Armenians and other peoples from Western Europe, Cilicia and the Levant (mainly Franks, Latins and Maronites, as well as Copts, Ethiopians, Georgians, Jacobites, Jews, Melkites, Nestorians and others). To these numerous bourgeois, noblemen, knights and warriors, fiefs, manors, lands, offices and various privileges were bounteously granted. Because of their proximity, their commercial ties and a series of royal and nobility marriages, the Kingdom of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Cilicia became inextricably linked. In the subsequent centuries, thousands of Cilician Armenians sought refuge in Cyprus fleeing the Muslim attacks: the Fall of Antioch (1268), the Fall of Acre (1291), the attack of the Saracens (1322), the Mameluke attacks (1335 and 1346) and the Ottoman occupation of Cilicia (1403 and 1421). Cyprus became now the easternmost bulwark of Christianity; in 1441 the authorities of Famagusta invited Armenians from Cilicia to settle there.

The Fall of Sis in April 1375 put an end to the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia; its last King, Levon V, was granted safe passage to Cyprus and died in exile in Paris in 1393, after calling in vain for another Crusade. In 1396, his title and privileges were transferred to his cousin, King James I de Lusignan, in the Saint Sophia cathedral; subsequently, the royal crest of the Lusignan dynasty also bore the lion of Armenia. Thus ended the last fully independent Armenian entity of the Middle Ages, after nearly three centuries of sovereignty and bloom; the title of "King of Armenia" was then held through the centuries down to the modern day by the House of Savoy, through the marriage of Queen Charlotte of Cyprus to Louis of Savoy. Although the Egyptian Mamelukes had taken over Cilicia, they were unable to maintain their hold on it; Turkic tribes eventually made their way to the region and established themselves there, leading to the conquest of Cilicia by Tamerlane. As a result, 30,000 Armenians left Cilicia in 1403 and settled in Cyprus, which continued to be ruled by the Lusignan dynasty until 1489.^[6]

During the Frankish and the Venetian Eras (1192–1489 and 1489–1570, respectively) there were Armenian churches in Nicosia, Famagusta, Spathariko [Sourp Sarkis (Saint Sergius) and Sourp Varvare (Saint Barbara)], Kornokipos [Sourp Hreshdagabedk (Saint Archangels)], Platani [Sourp Kevork (Saint George)], Piscopia and elsewhere [Sourp Parsegh (Saint Basil)]. Armenians were amongst the seven most important religious groups in Cyprus, in possession of stores and shops in the ports of Famagusta, Limassol and Paphos, as well as in the capital Nicosia, thus controlling a large segment of commerce. Additionally, Armenian was one of the eleven official languages of the Kingdom of Cyprus and one of the five official languages of the Venetian colonial administration of Cyprus.

According to chroniclers Leontios Makhairas (1369–1458), George Boustronios (1430–1501) and Florio Bustron (1500–1570), the Armenians of Nicosia had their own Prelature and used to live in their own quarter, called Armenia or Armenoyitonia. They originally had three churches: Sourp Kevork (Saint George), Sourp Boghos-Bedros (Saints Paul and Peter) and Sourp Khach (Holy Cross) - believed to the today's Arablar mosque or Stavros tou Missirikou. In Famagusta, a Bishopric was established in the late 12th century and Armenians lived around the Syrian quarter. Historical documents suggest the presence of an important monastic and theological centre there, at which Saint Nerses Lampronatsi (1153–1198) is said to have studied; of the three Armenian churches of walled Famagusta [Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Mother of God), Sourp Sarkis (Saint Sergius) and Sourp Khach (Holy Cross) - believed to be the unidentified church between the Carmelite church and Saint Anne], only Ganchvor church survives, built in 1346.

During the Middle Ages, Armenians in Cyprus were actively engaged in commerce, while some of them formed military garrisons in Kyrenia (1322) and elsewhere. A number of Armenians defended the Frankish Kingdom of Cyprus against the Genoese (1373) at Xeros, against the Saracens (1425) at Stylli village and against the Mamelukes (1426) in Limassol and Khirokitia. By 1425, the renowned Magaravank – originally the Coptic monastery of Saint Makarios near Halevga (Pentadhaktylos region) – came under Armenian possession, as did sometime before 1504 the Benedictine/Carthusian nunnery of Notre Dame de Tyre or Tortosa (Sourp Asdvadzadzin) in walled Nicosia; many of its nuns had been of Armenian origin (such as princess Fimie, daughter of the Armenian King Hayton II). During the Latin Era, there was also a small number of Armenian Catholics in Nicosia, Famagusta and the Bellapais Abbey, where Lord Hayton of Corycus served as a monk.

The prosperity of the inhabitants of Cyprus was brought to a halt by the harsh and corrupt Venetian administration and the iniquitous taxes they imposed. Their tyrannical rule, combined with adverse conditions (droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, famines, floods etc), caused a noticeable decline in the island's population. According to historian Stephen de Lusignan, by the late Venetian Era, Armenians lived mainly in Famagusta and Nicosia and, in small numbers, at three “Armenian villages”, Platani, Kornokipos and Spathariko.

Ottoman Era (1570–1878)

During the Ottoman conquest of the island (1570–1571), about 40,000 Ottoman-Armenian craftsmen were recruited, mainly as sappers. The new order of things affected the Armenian community as well: many of the Ottoman Armenians who survived the conquest settled mainly in Nicosia, increasing its Armenian population, while the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus was recognised as an Ethnarchy (Ազգային Իշխանութիւն, Azkayin Ishkhanoutiun), through the millet institution. However, the Bishopric in Famagusta was abolished, as the Christian population was slaughtered or expelled and the entire walled city became forbidden for non-Muslims until the early years of the British Era. As a reward for their services during the conquest, the Armenians of Nicosia were granted the right to guard Paphos Gate (this privilege was used only for a short period, due to the large expenditure required) and, by a firman dated May 1571, they were given back the Notre Dame de Tyre church (also known as Tortosa), which the Ottomans had turned into a salt store. Additionally, the Magaravank monastery had won the favour of the Ottomans and became an important way station for Armenian and other pilgrims en route to the Holy Land, as well as a place of rest for travellers and Catholicoi and other clergymen from Cilicia and Jerusalem.

Contrary to the Latins and the Maronites, Armenians – being Orthodox – were not persecuted because of their religion by the Ottomans. Even though about 20,000 Armenians lived in Cyprus during the very first years of the Ottoman Era, by 1630 only 2,000 Armenians remained, out of a total of 56.530 inhabitants. In the Bedesten (the covered market of Nicosia), there were many Armenian merchants and in the late 18th century/early 19th century Nicosia's leading citizen was an Armenian trader called Sarkis, who was a “beratli” (bearer of a berat or charter granting a privilege) and was initially the dragoman (interpreter) for the French Consul, before becoming the dragoman for the English Consul. Later on, in the early to mid-19th century, travellers and registers mention another rich Armenian merchant, Hadji Symeon Agha of Crimea, who had earlier financed a complete reparation of the Magaravank and was Sarkis' son-in-law. A third Armenian notable was Mardiros Fugas, dragoman for the French Consul and a well-known trader, who was arrested and beheaded by the Ottomans circa 1825. Gifted with the acumen of industry, Armenians practised lucrative professions and in the beginning of the 17th century Persian Armenians settled in Cyprus as silk traders, as did some affluent Ottoman-Armenians in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as Boghos-Berge Agha Eramian. However, with the new order of things, the number of Armenians and other Christians dramatically declined due to the onerous taxation and the harshness of the Ottoman administration, compelling many Christians to become Linobambaki (Crypto-Christians) or to embrace Islam, which explains why former Armenian villages (Armenokhori, Artemi, Ayios Iakovos, Ayios Khariton, Kornokipos, Melounda, Platani and Spathariko) were inhabited by “Turkish-Cypriots” at the end of the 19th century; a few Armenian-Cypriots became Catholics through marriage with affluent Latin families.

Gradually, after the bloody 1821 events – when, as a response to the Cypriot support to the Greek Revolution, the Ottomans destroyed the Armenian and Greek mansions, prohibited Greeks, Franks, Armenians and Maronites from carrying guns and hanged or massacred 470 notables, amongst them the Armenian parish priest of Nicosia, der Bedros - some improvements were observed during the Tanzimat period (1839–1876). In the spirit of the Hatt-ı Şerif of Gülhane (1839), the Armenian Bishop, the Greek Archbishop and the Maronite Suffragan Bishop participated in the Administrative Council (Meclis İdare), which was formed in 1840. After 1850, some Armenians were employed in the civil service, while in 1860 the Armenian church of Nicosia became amongst the first in Cyprus to have a belfry – donated by Constantinopolitan Armenian Hapetig Nevrouzian. Additionally, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 benefited the Armenian and other merchants of the island, while in 1870 the first Armenian school was established in Nicosia by newly-arrived Archimandrite Vartan Mamigonian. Furthermore, as a result of the Hatt-ı Hümayun in 1856, the administrative autonomy of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus was officially recognised.

Throughout the Ottoman Era, the vast majority of the Armenian population of Cyprus had been Armenian Orthodox, although there is also mention of a small Armenian Catholic community in Larnaca. Of the three religious groups, the Armenians are the only ones to have a continuous presence of prelates throughout the Ottoman period. Based on various estimates, the Armenian-Cypriot community of the 19th century numbered between 150–250 persons, the majority of whom lived in Nicosia, with smaller numbers living in Famagusta, Larnaca, the north and south of the capital (especially in Dheftera and Kythrea) and, naturally, around the Magaravank.^[5]

British Era (1878–1960)

With the arrival of the British in July 1878 and their progressive administration, the already prosperous yet small Armenian community of the island was particularly strengthened. Known for their linguistic skills, several Armenians were contracted to Cyprus to work as interpreters and public servants at the consulates and the British administration, such as Apisoghom Utidjian – the official state translator and interpreter for Ottoman Turkish between 1878 and 1919. The number of Armenians in Cyprus significantly increased following the massive deportations, the massacres and the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans and the Young Turks (1894–1896, 1909 & 1915–1923). Cyprus welcomed over 10,000 refugees from Cilicia, Smyrna and Constantinople, who arrived in Larnaca and all its other harbours, some by chance, others by intent; about 1,500 of them made the island their new home. Industrious, cultivated and progressive, they brought new life into the old community and did not need long to find their feet and establish themselves as people of the arts, letters and sciences, entrepreneurs and merchants, craftsmen and photographers, as well as professionals who introduced new crafts, dishes and sweets to the island, thus contributing to Cyprus' socioeconomic and cultural development.^[7]

The newcomers established associations, choirs, sports groups, Scout groups, bands, churches, schools and cemeteries in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Famagusta, Amiandos and elsewhere, while soon Armenophony became a reality. Armenians were the first locksmiths, mechanics, seat, comb and stamp makers, upholsterers, watchmakers and zincographers in Cyprus. They were the first to introduce the cinema, they significantly improved the craft of shoemaking and it was Armenians who first introduced Armenian bastourma, baklava, dried apricots, gassosa, gyros, halva, ice cubes, koubes, lahmadjoun, lokmadhes and pompes into the Cypriot cuisine – all very popular today. Armenians also introduced two techniques of embroidery needlework: the Aintab work (Այնթապի գործ) and the Marash work (Մարաշի գործ). There were also some Armenian factory owners (ice makers, soap makers, sock makers, tanners etc.), but above all, there was a disproportionately large number of Armenian photographers.

Law-abiding by nature,^{[citation needed]} Armenian-Cypriots always had a high profile with the British administration and many became conscientious civil servants and disciplined policemen or were employed at the Cyprus Government Railway and at Cable and Wireless. Throughout the 1920s–1950s, many worked at the asbestos mines at Amiandos and the copper mines at Mavrovouni and Skouriotissa, some of whom had been trade unionists. Some Armenian-Cypriots participated in the 1897 Greco-Turkish War, the two World Wars (1914–1918 – at the Cyprus Muleteers' Corps – & 1939–1945 – both at the Cyprus Regiment and the Cyprus Volunteer Force) and the EOKA liberation struggle (1955–1959). Also, the Eastern Legion (later called Armenian Legion) was formed and trained between December 1916 and May 1918 in Monarga village, near Boghazi, consisting of over 4.000 Diasporan Armenian volunteers who fought against the Ottoman Empire. Some Armenian refugees arrived from Palestine (1947–1949) and Egypt (1956–1957).^[6]

The Armenian-Cypriot community prospered throughout the British Era (1878–1960), by establishing associations, choirs, Scout groups, sports teams, musical ensembles, churches, cemeteries and schools, including the renowned Melkonian Educational Institute. In many ways unique across the whole Armenian Diaspora, it was built just outside Nicosia between 1924–1926, after the generous and benevolent donation of the Egyptian-Armenian tobacco trading brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian, initially in order to shelter and educate 500 orphans of the Genocide, who planted the trees in front of the school in memory of their slaughtered relatives. From an orphanage (1926–1940), it gradually became a world-renowned secondary school with a boarding section (1934–2005).^[8]

Examining the population censuses of the British Era (see Demography section), we observe a steady increase in the number of Armenians in Cyprus, ranging from 201 in 1881 to 4.549 in 1956. In their vast majority, they were Armenian Apostolic, but there was also a small number of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Protestants. In the 1960 population census, 3.628 Armenians were recorded – in contrast to 4.549 in 1956 – as about 900 Armenian-Cypriots had emigrated to Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere, not only because of the difficult economic conditions of the time, but mainly due to the emergency situation caused by the EOKA liberation struggle (1955–1959) and the uncertainty that some felt with the departure of the British, whom they viewed as their protectors. In fact, a large portion of British-Armenians hail from Cyprus.^[6]

Independence Era (1960–present)

The end of the EOKA liberation struggle (1955-1959) found Armenian-Cypriots having forged strong bonds with the rest of the Cypriots. The 1960 Independence brought a new era for the Armenians of Cyprus, who – together with the Maronites and the Latins – were recognised as a “religious group” by the Constitution (Article 2 § 3) and were now represented by an elected Representative - initially a member of the Greek Communal Chamber (Article 109) and, since 1965, a member of the House of Representatives (Law 12/1965). The size of the community, however, had been reduced because of the emigration of about 900 Armenian-Cypriots to the United Kingdom, due to the emergency situation caused by the EOKA liberation struggle (1955–1959) and the poor state of the local economy. A second factor that contributed to the reduction of the community’s size was the emigration of about 600 Armenian-Cypriots to Soviet Armenia, as part of the Panarmenian movement for “repatriation” during the 1962–1964 period (nerkaght).^[9]

During the 1963–1964 inter-communal troubles, the Armenian-Cypriot community suffered major losses, as the Armenian quarter of Nicosia was captured by extremist Turkish-Cypriots: taken were the Prelature building, the mediaeval Virgin Mary church, the Melikian-Ouzounian school, the Genocide Monument, the club houses of the Armenian Club, AYMA and AGBU, as well as the Armenian Evangelical church; also taken was the mediaeval Ganchvor church in Famagusta. In total, 231 Armenian-Cypriot families became victims to the Turks and/or lost their shops and enterprises. As a result, hundreds of Armenian-Cypriots left for Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States.^[7] After the 1974 Turkish invasion, the Armenian-Cypriot community suffered additional losses: 4–5 families living in Kyrenia, about 30 families in Nicosia and 40–45 families in Famagusta became refugees, while an Armenian-Cypriot lady (Rosa Bakalian) has been missing since then; the renowned Magaravank monastery in Pentadhaktylos was taken by the Turkish troops, the Melkonian boys' dormitory was bombed by the Turkish Air Force, while the Ayios Dhometios Armenian cemetery was hit by mortars and fell within the buffer zone. As a result, dozens of Armenian-Cypriots emigrated, mainly to Great Britain - in total, about 1,300 Armenian-Cypriots left Cyprus in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to those who emigrated to Soviet Armenia.^[5]

With the unfailing support of the government, the small yet industrious Armenian community of Cyprus gradually managed to recover from its losses and continued to prosper in the remaining urban areas, contributing culturally and socioeconomically to the development of its homeland. On 24 April 1975, Cyprus became the first European country (and the second world-wide, after Uruguay) to recognise the Armenian Genocide with Resolution 36/1975; two more resolutions followed, Resolution 74/1982 and Resolution 103/1990, with the latter declaring 24 April as a National Remembrance Day of the Armenian Genocide in Cyprus. Over the past decades, the dynamics of the Armenian-Cypriot community have changed with the increased number of marriages with Greek-Cypriots and other non-Armenians, and the arrival over the last 30–35 years of thousands of Armenian political and economic immigrants because of the civil war in Lebanon (1975–1990), the insurgencies in Syria (1976–1982), the Islamic revolution in Iran and the Iran-Iraq war (1978–1988), as well as after the Spitak earthquake (1988) and the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991); some of them have settled permanently in Cyprus. According to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, the Armenian language – the mother tongue of the vast majority of Armenian-Cypriots – was recognised as a minority language of Cyprus as of 1 December 2002. Today, it is estimated that Armenians living in Cyprus number over 3,500 persons; other than the countries mentioned above, in Cyprus there is also a small number of Armenians coming from Ethiopia, Greece, Kuwait, Turkey and the United Kingdom.^[10]

Demography

There is no accurate information as to the number of Armenians living in Cyprus during the Byzantine Era. Although during the early Frankish Era there were tens of thousands of Armenians living in Cyprus (mainly in Nicosia and Famagusta - where in the latter they numbered around 1,500 souls in 1360), by the late Frankish Era and certainly during the Venetian Era, the number of Armenians in Cyprus dwindled - for a number of reasons: this was due to the tyrannical rule of the Venetian administration, combined with the adverse natural conditions (which affected all Cypriots), as well as the Hellenisation of the various minorities of the island. In fact, the 1572 survey of population and property of Nicosia after the Ottoman conquest, under beylerbey Sinan Pasha, recorded 90-95 local Armenians in Nicosia, out of about 1,100 inhabitants - all with completely Hellenised names.

It appears that during the very first years of the Ottoman Era (1570–1878), about 20,000 of the 40,000 recruited Ottoman Armenians had remained in Cyprus. Their number, however, rapidly declined, due to the harshness and the oppression of the regime, the onerous taxation and the natural disasters: according to the Latin Bishop of Paphos, Pietro Vespa, in 1630 there were only 2,000 Armenians in Cyprus (out of a total population of 56.350 - mostly living in rural areas), as a great number emigrated elsewhere and many others embraced Islam or they became Linobambaki (Crypto-Christians). Franciscan missionary Giovanni Battista da Todi recorded only 200 Armenians in Nicosia in 1647, while in 1660 he recorded over 300 Armenians on the island. Cardinal Bernardino Spada, representative of Propaganda Fide, also mentioned 200 Armenians in Nicosia in 1648, out of 3,000 inhabitants, also mentioning that their church was the largest in the capital, with 3 priests. Up until the mid-18th century, despite the limited arrival of Ottoman Armenians and Persian Armenians, their number was rather small. Russian monk Basil Barsky, who visited the island in 1727 and 1735, mentions “some Armenians” living in Nicosia. Visiting Cyprus in 1738, British traveller Richard Pococke mentions “very few Armenians, yet they have possession of an ancient church [in Nicosia]”, while for the island as a whole he makes mention to “a small number of Armenians, who are very poor, though they have an Archbishop and a convent in the country”. However, by the time Italian Abbot Giovanni Mariti visited Cyprus in 1760 and 1767, they had apparently become “the richest section of the inhabitants [of Nicosia]”, which is why thought “there are many Armenians [on the island]”. By the mid–19th century, following various waves of Hellenisation (peaceful assimilation) and Turkification (forced conversion), the number of Armenian-Cypriots ranged between 150–200.

When Englishman Captain John MacDonald Kinneir visited Cyprus in 1814, he estimated about 40 Armenian families in Nicosia (around 200 persons) - out of a total of 2,000 families (about 10,000 persons), as did British Consul Niven Kerr and Greek Vice-Consul Demetrios Margarites in 1844 and 1847, respectively. The first large-scale Ottoman census in 1831, under the supervision of Muhassil Halil Effendi, counted 114 non-Muslim males in the Armenian quarter of Nicosia and 13 at the Armenian Monastery (with a total male population of 45,365). Therefore, the number of Armenians in Cyprus would have been around 200 (out of a total of about 88,500). Visiting Cyprus in 1835, American missionary Rev. Lorenzo Warriner Pease writes “the number of Armenians [in Nicosia] is between 30 and 40 families”. In 1841, about 200 Armenians lived on the island (out of a total of 108,600), of whom about 150-160 resided in Nicosia (with a population of 12.000) - according to the record of population by Muhassil Talât Effendi and the writings of French historians and travellers Louis Lacroix and Count Louis de Mas Latrie. The Latin Vicar General Paolo Brunoni also mentioned 200 Armenians in Nicosia in 1848, as well as some others at the Magaravank. In 1874 Belgian traveller Edmond Paridant-van der Cammen estimated 190 Armenians in Nicosia (out of a total of 13,530). Although unreliable for the Armenian population of Nicosia (mentioning only 20 families in 1875), researcher Philippos Georgiou recorded 6-8 Armenian families around the Magaravank and 5 Armenian families in Larnaca. In 1877, newly-arrived priest Hovhannes Shahinian recorded 152 Armenians living in Cyprus, while the first modern population census of Nicosia, carried out in 1879 by the District Commissioner, Major-General Sir Robert Biddulph, counted 166 Armenians - out of a total of 11,197 inhabitants.

The British colonial censuses that took place between 1881 and 1956 provide us with fairly accurate data on the Armenian population of Cyprus. The following numbers are the combined figures of those recorded as Armenians (by religion) and those recorded as speakers of Armenian: in 1881 there were 201 Armenians in Cyprus (of whom 174 belonged to the “Armenian Church”), who increased to 291 in 1891 (of whom 269 were “Gregorians” and 11 “Armenian Catholics”) and to 553 in 1901 (of whom 491 were “Gregorians” and 26 “Armenian Catholics”); the numerical increase was due to the influx of Armenian refugees from the Hamidian massacres. In 1911 there were 611 Armenians in Cyprus (of whom 549 were “Gregorians” and 9 “Armenian Catholics”), while in 1921 their number rose to 1,573 (of whom 1,197 belonged to the “Armenian Church”) and to 3,617 in 1931 (of whom 3,377 were “Armenian Gregorians”), as a result of the huge wave of refugees from the Armenian Genocide.

In 1935 the Armenian Prelature recorded 3,819 Armenians in Cyprus: 102 were “native Cypriots” (mainly residing in Nicosia), 399 resided at the Melkonian Educational Institute, while 3,318 were “refugees”, i.e. Genocide survivors and their descendants; of those, 2,139 lived in Nicosia, 678 in Larnaca, 205 in Limassol, 105 in Famagusta, 58 in Amiandos, 25 in Lefka, 20 in Kalo Khorio (Lefka), 18 in Lefkara, 17 around the Magaravank, 5 in Kyrenia, 4 in Paphos and 44 in various villages. In 1946 there were 3,962 Armenians in Cyprus (of whom 3,686 were “Armenian Gregorians”), while in 1956 they numbered 4.549.^[6] The table on the right shows the geographical distribution of Armenian-Cypriots per district from 1881 through 1960.

The last accurate census of the population of Cyprus with regard to its ethnic breakdown was carried out in 1960; it recorded 3,628 Armenians in Cyprus (of whom 3,378 were “Armenian Gregorians”). In 1978 and 1987 the Armenian Prelature recorded the Armenian population of Cyprus, which was 1,787 and 2,742, respectively (however, without extra information regarding their geographical distribution).

Since then, their number has increased; currently, about 3,500 Armenians live in Cyprus: 65% live in the capital, Nicosia, 20% in Larnaca, 10% in Limassol and 5% in Paphos and some villages. Over 95% of the Armenian population of Cyprus speak Armenian and are Armenian Orthodox (also known as Armenian Apostolic or Gregorian); some 5% belong either to the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Latin Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, the Plymouth Brethren Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church or they are Jehovah's Witnesses. About 1,000 out of the 3,500 Armenians who live in Cyprus hail from Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, Russia, Georgia, Persia, Greece, Iraq, Ethiopia, Turkey and Kuwait. Most of the first wave of Armenians from Armenia who arrived in Cyprus from 1988 onwards were in fact the Armenian-Cypriots and their descendants who emigrated to Armenia between 1962–1964, as part of the nerkaght (ներգամթ – repatriation) Panarmenian movement.

The map on the right shows the places of origin of Armenian-Cypriots, based on a survey that Archbishop Bedros Saradjian conducted in 1935. According to available information, the about 1,000 refugees from the Hamidian massacres (1894–1896) mainly originated from Diyarbakir (Dikranagerd), Aintab and Kilis; only about 100 of them stayed. The next wave of Armenian refugees were the about 2.000 who fled the Adana massacre in 1909, most of whom returned to their ancestral homes in Adana within the same year.^[11] However, the largest wave of Armenian refugees – some of whom had come before and returned – were the nearly 9,000 who escaped the massive deportations, the horrific massacres and the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans and the Young Turks; about 1.300 of them decided to stay, while the others eventually made arrangements to settle in other countries. Those refugees came mainly from Adana and Seleucia (Silifke), while there a significant number of them came from Sis, Marash, Tarsus, Caesarea, Hadjin and Aintab; smaller numbers came from other places, alphabetically: Adapazar, Adrianople (Edirne), Afion-Karahisar, Alexandretta (Iskenderoun), Arapgir, Armash, Baghche, Bardizag, Balian Dagh, Biredjik, Bitlis, Brusa, Chemishgezek, Constantinople (Bolis), Dörtyol, Edessa (Urfa), Erzerum, Eskishehir, Everek, Ikonion (Konya), Jeyhan, Kesab, Kharpert, Kutahia, Malatia, Mersin, Misis, Musa Dagh (Musa Ler), Nicomedia (Izmit), Rhaedestos (Tekirdagh), Sasun, Sebastia (Sivas), Shar, Sivri Hisar, Smyrna (Izmir), Tokat (Evdokia), Trepizond, Van, Yerzinga, Yozgat and Zeitun.^[11]

Politics

Armenian-Cypriots have been politically organised since the late 19th century. The breakdown below examines their involvement in local administration, Cypriot politics and Armenian politics.

Local administration

With regard to local administration, the Armenian participation has been limited. Traditionally, there is the appointed mukhtar of Nicosia's Karaman Zade quarter (the Armenian Quarter). So far, there have been 4 mukhtars: Melik Melikian (1927–1949), Kasbar Delyfer (1949–1956), Vahe Kouyoumdjian (1956–2009) and Mgo Kouyoumdjian (2011–today). Bedros Amirayan served as an appointed member of Famagusta's municipal committee (1903–1905), Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian served as an appointed municipal councillor and, later on, Vice Mayor, for Nicosia (1964–1970), while Berge Kevorkian served as an appointed municipal councillor for Nicosia (1970–1986).

Cypriot politics

With the exception of the elected Representatives, so far there has been only one Armenian-Cypriot MP in the House of Representatives, Marios Garoyian. He was elected as an MP for Nicosia District on 21 May 2006 with the Democratic Party and in October 2006 he became the party's President. After the election of Demetris Christofias as President of the Republic of Cyprus in February 2008, Marios Garoyian was voted Speaker of the House of Representatives on 6 March 2008, the second highest political position in Cyprus. He was re-elected as an MP for Nicosia District on 22 May 2011 and he served as House Speaker until 2 June 2011.

Armenian politics

Despite its relatively small size, the Armenian-Cypriot community has been an active participant in Panarmenian politics already since the late 19th century, even though this became more established in the mid-20th century. All three major Armenian Diaspora parties are active in Cyprus, especially ARF Dashnaktsoutiun. It established its presence in Cyprus as early as in 1897 and it continued to be present on and off on the island until the early years of the 20th century. At that time, Cyprus was frequently used as a stepping stone for some European Armenian fedayees who had Asia Minor and Cilicia as their final destination. However, after the Armenian Genocide, the party presence became minimal, save for individual members, supporters and/or sympathisers, until it was re-organised after World War II and was officially re-established in 1947; its chapter is called Karenian, after Armen Karo, who briefly visited Cyprus, in order to organise the assembly of weapons for the Zeitoun Resistance.

ARF Dashnaktsoutiun is affiliated with the Armenian Young Men's Association (AYMA) in Nicosia, the Armenian Club in Larnaca and the Limassol Armenian Young Men's Association (LHEM) in Limassol, as well as with the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, the Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus, the “Azadamard” Armenian Youth Centre, the Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus and the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus, all based in Nicosia. The Armenian Relief Society chapter of Cyprus is called Sosse, after Sosse Mayrig, who visited Cyprus in the summer of 1938, while the Hamazkayin chapter of Cyprus is called Oshagan, after Hagop Oshagan, who had been a professor at the Melkonian Educational Institute between 1926–1934.

The ADL Ramgavar first appeared in Cyprus in the early 1930s, in the form of a core of party members. It also participated in the Diocesan Council elections of 1947, which caused a very big stir in community life. However, the party has officially been active in Cyprus since 1956. Its chapter is called Tekeyan, after Vahan Tekeyan, who had been a professor at the Melkonian Educational Institute between 1934–1935.^[12] The party has never been very active on the island, mainly because it was overshadowed by the significant presence of the AGBU, affiliated with ADL Ramgavar. Both organisations lost a substantial number of followers, when they "repatriated" to Armenia between 1962–1964, as part of the nerkaght (ներգաղթ – repatriation) movement and when they realized that what was promised was not real.

The youngest Armenian political party in Cyprus is SDHP Hunchakian, which was set up on the island in 2005, following the split within the AGBU, which was brought about by the decision to close the Melkonian Educational Institute. It must be noted, though, that as Cyprus was frequently used as a stepping stone for some European Armenian fedayees who had Asia Minor and Cilicia as their final destination during the late 19th century and the early 20th century, a small number of the party's members temporarily stayed on the island during those times. SDHP Hunchakian is affiliated with the “Nor Serount” Cultural Association in Nicosia.

The Armenian-Cypriot community has been actively engaged in Panarmenian issues, such as the organisation of demonstrations and other forms of protest on matters that pertain to all Armenians. Other than promoting awareness and recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which is more extensively examined below, the Armenian-Cypriot community has been lobbying successfully in favour of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as a result of which Cypriot politicians and EuroMPs are sympathetic towards its existence. During the last decade, the Armenian-Cypriot community was actively involved in the movement to raise awareness on the unilateral closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute by the AGBU (2004–2005), the Armenia-Turkey protocols and the extradition of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan (2012), as well as in events commemorating Hrant Dink's memory, organised every year since his murder in 2007.

Finally, in recent years the Armenian-Cypriot community has been providing financial and humanitarian aid to Armenians in need around the world: it has provided assistance to earthquake-stricken Armenians in Armenia, after the 1988 earthquake, to orphans in Nagorno-Karabakh, to Armenians in Lebanon, Armenians in Greece and Armenians in Syria, as well as to Armenians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, through the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund.

Armenian Genocide recognition

On the level of the ordinary people, most Cypriots are aware of the great calamity the Armenian nation suffered during 1894–1923 and have always been supportive and sympathetic towards Armenians; the Armenian Genocide refugees who remained in Cyprus were in the unique position of escaping from Ottoman Turks and living amicably amongst Turkish-Cypriots.

Cyprus has been one of the pioneering countries in recognising the Armenian Genocide, when on 25 January 1965 Foreign Minister Spyros Kyprianou first raised the issue to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Prior to his powerful speech, a delegation comprising ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Bureau members Dr. Papken Papazian and Berj Missirlian, as well as Armenian National Committee of Cyprus members Anania Mahdessian and Vartkes Sinanian, handed him a memorandum urging Cyprus' support in raising the issue at the United Nations.^[13]

Cyprus was also the first European country (and the second world-wide, after Uruguay) to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide. On 24 April 1975, after the determined efforts and the submission by Representative Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian, Resolution 36 was voted unanimously by the House of Representatives. Representative Aram Kalaydjian was instrumental in passing unanimously through the House of Representatives two more resolutions regarding the Armenian Genocide: Resolution 74/29–04–1982, submitted by the Foreign Relations' Parliamentary Committee, and Resolution 103/19–04–1990, submitted by all parliamentary parties. Resolution 103 declared 24 April as a National Remembrance Day of the Armenian Genocide in Cyprus.

Since 1965, when Cypriot government officials started participating in the annual Armenian Genocide functions, Cyprus' political leaders are often keynote speakers in those functions organised to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. Over the last years, there is usually a march starting from the centre of Nicosia and ending at the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, where a commemorative event takes place in front of the Armenian Genocide Monument; other events also take place, such as blood donations.

Social life

The Armenian-Cypriot community has traditionally had an active and structured social life. Various charity, cultural, educational and social events are organised, such as fund-raisers/bazaars, art/book exhibitions, dancing/theatre performances, balls, lunches, film screenings, camps/excursions in Cyprus and abroad (panagoum), as well as lectures and commemoration ceremonies regarding Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Diaspora and the Armenian Genocide.

The main venue for community events is the AYMA club and the “Vahram Utidjian” Hall, at the basement of the Armenian Prelature building, both in Strovolos, Nicosia. In the past, numerous events were organised at the Melkonian Educational Institute in Aglandjia, the hall of the Armenian Club in Nicosia or the hall of the old AGBU club in Nicosia. School events take place at the open amphitheatre or the newly-built auditorium of Nicosia's Nareg Armenian School. More recently, some community events have been organised at the Larnaca Armenian Club or Limassol's Armenian church hall.

Originally, Limassol's Armenian church hall was a shack which was transferred in late 1959 from a British camp to the west of Nicosia, called Wayne's Keep, and was re-assembled in Limassol by contractor Evagoras Constantinou. It was renovated in the early 1970s, under the care of George Didonian and had been used by the local AGBU chapter until 2002; it underwent radical restoration in 2009, with expenses by the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus and on 8 May 2010 it was inaugurated by Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Representative Vartkes Mahdessian. Since then, it is jointly used by the church, the local AGBU chapter and LHEM.

The “Vahram Utidjian” Hall (“Վահրամ Իւթիւճեան” Սրահ) took shape in 1998 by initiative of Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, from the proceeds of the auction in 1994 of the art collection that antiques' collector Vahram Utidjian had donated to the Prelature in 1954. It was inaugurated on 3 February 1999 by Catholicos Aram I. Inside the Hall, there is a large painting by John Guevherian and Sebouh Abcarian, celebrating the 1700 years of Christianity in Armenia. On top of the shelter covering the entrance to the “Vahram Utidjian” Hall, there is a reddish tuff stone inscription in Armenian reading:

Իւթիւճեան Սրահ 1998 Utidjian Hall

Present organisations

Currently, the following Armenian clubs operate in Cyprus:

• AYMA [Armenian Young Men’s Association/Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն (Hay Yeridasartats Mioutiun)]. Established by a group of young Armenian men in Nicosia in October 1934, it is the leading Armenian-Cypriot club and the centre of the social, sports and cultural life of the Armenian-Cypriot community. After it was housed in various rented places, it acquired its own club house in 1961 in Tanzimat street, purchased for the sum of £6,000. As the club house was taken over during the 1963–1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny, AYMA became a victim to the Turks, as was the rest of the historical Armenian Quarter of Nicosia. It was then housed in various rented places. Its own premises, built between 1985–1986 by architects Marios & Nicos Santamas, are located at the corner of Alasia and Valtetsi streets, near the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia, on land leased by the government (Decision of the Council of Ministers 21.188/17–12–1981), and were inaugurated on 30 May 1987 by President Spyros Kyprianou. There is a well-organised library room at the club house. Its renovated and expanded functions hall was inaugurated on 28 February 2010 by Representative Vartkes Mahdessian. AYMA is affiliated with the Homenetmen Panarmenian organisation.

In front of AYMA's club house, there is a white marble tomb-ossuary containing some Armenian Genocide martyrs' remains brought to Cyprus by an Armenian Youth Federation mission from the Der Zor desert in Syria in 2001; it was constructed by members of the Armenian Youth Federation and was unveiled on 28 April 2002 by Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian.

To the left of the wall before the clubs entrance, there is a composition of tiles with AYMA's emblem bearing the following dedication in Armenian:

Յիշատակ Պետրոսեան ընտանիքի կողմէ 1991 (In memory of Bedrossian family 1991)

• AGBU [Armenian General Benevolent Union/Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն (Haygagan Parekordzagan Enthanour Mioutiun)], with chapters in Nicosia (1913), Larnaca (1912) and Limassol (1936). The Nicosia AGBU acquired its own premises in 1957, when entrepreneur Movses Soultanian donated a 3-storey building in Victoria street. As the club house was taken over during the 1963–1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny, the Nicosia AGBU became a victim to the Turks, as was the rest of the historical Armenian Quarter of Nicosia. It was then housed in various rented places, until its club house was built between 1987–1988 by architects Iacovos & Andreas Philippou next to the Melkonian Educational Institute. The Larnaca AGBU is one of the oldest chapters in the world; as of 1972, it was housed in various rented places, until it built its own premises in 1975, located opposite the District Archaeological Museum. Between 2010–2011 a new club house was built by architect Meroujan Sarkissian. The Limassol chapter currently has no club house; as of 1959 and until 2002, it was housed at the Limassol Armenian church hall. There was also a chapter in Famagusta (1949–1974), with no club house. Both the Nicosia and the Larnaca AGBU have got big libraries and they are branches of the AGBU Panarmenian organisation. As of 1955, there is also AGBU's auxiliary body, the Women's Union [Տիկնանց Մարմին (Dignants Marmin)].

The Nicosia premises, in Limassol Avenue in Aglandjia, were inaugurated on 22 October 1989 by AGBU President Alec Manougian, while the new Larnaca premises, built between 2010–2011 in Kilkis street, were inaugurated on 5 May 2011 by President Demetris Christofias. To the side of the Nicosia club house, the sandstone bust of AGBU's founder Boghos Noubar Pasha was placed in 1991. Inside the Nicosia AGBU functions' hall, there is a white marble commemorative plaque in Armenian reading:

Ի յիշատակ Կարապետ եւ Եղիա Գըրպըյըքեաններու նուիրատուութեամբ Պօղոս Գըրպըյըքեանի Մարտ 1998 (In memory of Garabed and Yeghia Kerbeykian by donation of Boghos Kerbeykian March 1998)

Inside the Larnaca AGBU, there is a black granite commemorative plaque in Greek reading:

Η τελετή εγκαινίων του Αρμενικού Πολιτιστικού Κέντρου έγινε στις 5 Μαΐου 2011 από τον Εξοχότατο Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας κ. Δημήτρη Χριστόφια επί δημαρχίας Ανδρέα Μωϋσέως (The inaugural ceremony of the Armenian Cultural Centre took place on 5 May 2011 by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias during the mayorship of Andreas Moyseos)

• Armenian Club [Հայ Ակումբ (Hay Agoump)], which was established in Larnaca in 1931. It has had an important contribution to Armenian cultural life in Larnaca. As of 2010, it is housed in rented premises at Holy Bishopric square, opposite the Prelature of Citium. It is affiliated with AYMA.
• LHEM [Limassol Armenian Young Men’s Association/Լիմասոլի Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն (Limasoli Hay Yeridasartats Mioutiun)]. Established in Limassol in 1996, Since 2005, it has no club house. It is affiliated with AYMA.
• “Nor Serount” Cultural Association [“Նոր Սերունդ” Մշակութային Միոեթիւն (“Nor Serount” Mshagoutayin Mioutiun)]. Established in Nicosia in 2005, it has no club house since the summer of 2013. It is affiliated with the Homenmen Panarmenian organisation.
• Cypriot Armenian Progressive Movement [Կիպրահայ Յառաջդիմական Շարժում (Gibrahay Harachtimagan Sharjoum)]. It was established in Nicosia in 2010 and it is more like a movement than an association, with no club house. Its members have a communist ideology and the movement is considered a wing of the AKEL party.

The following associations operate within AYMA’s club house and are affiliated organisations to ARF Dashnaktsoutiun:

• Armenian National Committee of Cyprus [Կիպրոսի Հայ Դատի Յանձնախումբ (Gibrosi Hay Tadi Hantsnakhoump), 1965]. It provides general enlightenment regarding the Armenian Genocide and other matters regarding Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
• Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus [Կիպրոսի Երիտասարդական Միութիւն (Gibrosi Yeridasartagan Mioutiun), 1977]. It edifies children, teenagers and young adults.
• “Azadamard” Armenian Youth Centre [Ազատամարտ Երիտասարդակամ Կեդրոն (Azadamard Yeridasartagan Getron), 1985]. It is responsible for the publication of the “Artsakank” newspaper.
• Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus [Հայ Օգնութեան Միութիւն (Hay Oknoutian Mioutiun), also known as HOM (ՀՕՄ), “Sosse” chapter, 1988]. It is a women's charity organization, which sends help to Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian Diaspora and local charity organisations.
• Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus [Համազգային Հայ Կրթական եւ Մշակութային Միութիւն (Hamazkayin Hay Grtagan yev Mshagoutayin Mioutiun), “Oshagan” chapter, 1999]. It organizes various cultural events, such as dance and theatre performances, art exhibitions, lectures etc.

AYMA used to have a widely-known football team (1945-2011), which between 2002-2011 played in the second category of the amateur league. It currently has a football academy (2011), a bowling team (2011) and a ping-pong academy (2012). AYF has the “Koyamard” (Գոյամարտ) youth group and the “Artsakh” (Արցախ) teenage group (both in 1977). Hamazkayin has the well-known “Sipan” dancing group (Սիփան: 2000), the “Timag” theatre company (Դիմակ: 2000) and the “Ardoudig” junior choir (Արտուտիկ: 2011); Sipan's annual dance performance has become very popular during the last years. The AGBU has the strong futsal team AGBU-Ararat (1999), which since 2002 has been leading the first league, as well as an U–17 team (2010) and an U–21 team (2011). The Nor Serount Cultural Association used to have the Homenmen futsal team (2006-2013).

In Nicosia, there is also the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church choir (Սուրբ Աստւոածածին եկեղեցւոյ երգչախումբ: 1921), under the auspices of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, and the “Nanor” junior dancing group (Նանոր: 2008), under the auspices of the Office of the Armenian MP.

Finally, the following foundations operate within the Armenian-Cypriot community:

• Kalaydjian Foundation [Գալայճեան Հիմնարկութիւն (Kalaydjian Himnargoutiun), Larnaca: 1984].
• “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund [“Հայաստան” Համահայկական Հիմնադրամ (“Hayastan” Hamahaygagan Himnatram), Nicosia: 1995].
• Pharos Arts Foundation [Ίδρυμα Τεχνών Φάρος (Idryma Technon Pharos), Nicosia: 1998].
• Arev Benevolent Foundation [Արեւ Բարեսիրական Հիմնարկութիւն (Arev Paresiragan Himnargoutiun), Nicosia: 2008].

The Kalaydjian Foundation manages the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly [Գալայճեան Հանգստեան Տուն (Kalaydjian Hanksdian Doun)] (Nicosia: 1988), which also houses Greek-Cypriot elderly. The Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly was built on land leased by the government in Corinth street in Strovolos, Nicosia and it is one of the few purposely-built nursing homes in Cyprus. Its foundation stone was laid on 1 August 1987 by brothers Aram and Bedros Kalaydjian in memory of their parents, Roupen and Marie Kalaydjian, and its inauguration took place on 6 March 1988 by Minister of Interior Christodoulos Veniamin. The architects of the building were Athos Dikaios & Alkis Dikaios.

By initiative of the two brothers and in order to address the spiritual needs of its residents, on 15 December 1995 Catholicos Aram I laid the foundation stone for the Holy Saviour of All chapel; Catholicos Aram I consecrated the chapel on 16 February 1997. In 2005 the Rest Home underwent a major renovation and expansion with a second floor. The official inauguration of the new floor took place on 28 June 2006 by President Tassos Papadopoulos. The new floor is called “Arousiag and Alice Raphaelian” wing, after the sisters Arousiag and Alice Raphaelian, who bequeathed their house in Armenia street to the Kalaydjian Foundation.

The Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly originally consisted of 12 rooms that surrounded a central courtyard. There was also a large dining area and a sitting room with a library. After the renovation, ten more rooms were added, as well as a large sitting room. The government contributed €170,000 to the project, against a total cost of about €700,000.

To the left outside the main entrance there is a black granite plaque reading:

Μέλαθρον Ευγηρίας Καλαϊτζιάν (in Greek) Գալայճեան Հանգստեան Տուն (in Armenian) Kalaydjian Rest Home (in English)

On the left of the lobby inside the main entrance there is another black granite commemorative plaque featuring a khachkar (cross-stone) and bearing the following inscription in Armenian:

Գալայճեան Հանգստեան Տուն ի յիշատակ Ռուբէն եւ Մարի Գալայճեաններու իրենց զաւակաց Պետրոսի եւ Արամի կողմէ – 1 օգոստոս (sic) 1987 (Kalaydjian Rest Home in memory of Roupen and Marie Kalaydjian by their children Bedros and Aram – 1 August 1987)

On the entrance to the second floor, under the framed photographs of Arousiag and Alice Raphaelian, there is the following plexiglas inscription:

Πτέρυγα Αρουσιάκ και Αλίς Ραφαελιάν (in Greek) Արուսեակ եւ Ալիս Ռաֆայէլեան Յարկաբաժին (in Armenian) Arousiag and Alice Raphaelian Wing (in English)

There is also the Middle East/Near East Armenian Research Centre, established in 1996 by Vartan Malian, located in Germanos Patron street, within the walled city of Nicosia, it houses a reference library and archival material in various languages. The Centre has undertaken the translation, in English and Greek, of books about the Armenian Genocide.

Previous organisations

From the various old, defunct clubs and associations, the following are notable:

• Armenian Club [Հայ Ակումբ (Hay Agoump), Nicosia: 1902–1963]. This club was established by local Armenian-Cypriots and was one of the oldest social clubs in Nicosia. It had a large library and functions' hall. As it became a victim to the Turks, its members mostly joined the AGBU club in Nicosia.
• Armenian Readers' Association [Հայ Ընթերցասիրաց Միութիւն (Hay Entertsasirats Mioutiun), Nicosia: 1903–1963]. This was an auxiliary section of the Armenian Club.
• Armenian Women's Association [Հայուհեաց Միութիւն (Hayouhiats Mioutiun), Nicosia: 1916–1963]. This was an auxiliary section of the Armenian Club.
• Armenian Bibliophiles' Association [Հայ Գրասիրաց Միութիւն (Hay Krasirats Mioutiun), Larnaca: 1923–1931]. This association was established by Armenian Genocide refugees and was subsequently transformed into the Larnaca Armenian Club.
• Armenophony Association [Հայախօս Միութիւն (Hayakhos Mioutiun), Larnaca: 1923–1929]. This association was established by Manuel Kassouni, a teacher at the American Academy, in order to promote Armenophony amongst its students. Subsequently, its members joined the Armenian Bibliophiles' Association.
• Armenian Women's Association [Հայուհեաց Միութիւն (Hayouhiats Mioutiun), Larnaca: 1925–1931]. This was an auxiliary section of the Armenian Bibliophiles' Association.
• Armenian Ladies' Association [Հայ Տիկնանց Միութիւն (Hay Dignangts Mioutiun), Limassol: 1934–1951]. This club was dissolved due to the small number of members.
• Cilician Women's Association [Կիլիկիոյ Տիկնանց Միութիւն (Giligio Dignants Mioutiun), Nicosia: 1938–1949]. This association was established by a group of Armenian-Cypriot women and was subsequently transformed into the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association, at the instigation of Peglar Navasartian.
• Friends of Armenian Association [Հայաստանի Բարեկամաց Միութիւն (Hayastani Paregamats Mioutiun), Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Famagusta: 1944–1948]. This very active association was formed by AGBU supporters sympathetic to the cause of the nerkaght (ներգամթ – repatriation) movement. During the years it operated, it had its own sports teams, choir/band and newspapers, organising a variety of events. After it was decided that Cyprus would not be part of the nerkaght movement, the association died out and its members mostly joined the AGBU clubs in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta.
• Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association [Համազգային Հայ Կրթական եւ Մշակութային Միութիւն (Hamazkayin Hay Grtagan yev Mshagoutayin Mioutiun), Nicosia: 1949–1997]. This association, affiliated with AYMA, was dissolved because of internal disputes and was re-organised in 1999.
• New Armenian Club [Նոր Հայկական Ակումբ (Nor Haygagan Agoump), Larnaca: 1959–1972]. This club was formed by a group of AGBU supporters. Subsequently, it was absorbed by the Larnaca AGBU.
• “Azadamard” Youth Centre [“Ազատամարտ” Երիտասարդական Կեդրոն (“Azadamard” Yeridasartagan Getron), Nicosia: 1985–1997]. This association, which sprang off from AYMA, due to internal disputes, returned back to AYMA, as a distinct entity.
• “Stepan Shahoumian” Progressive Movement [“Ստեփան Շահումեան” Յառաջդիմական Շարժում (“Sdepan Shahoumian” Harachtimagan Sharjoum), Nicosia: 1994–2010]. This movement started at the instigation of Sergey Badalyan. Subsequently, it was transformed into the Cypriot Armenian Progressive Movement.
• Cyprus-Armenia Friendship Association [Σύνδεσμος Φιλίας Κύπρου-Αρμενίας (Syndesmos Philias Kyprou-Armenias), Nicosia: 1997–2006]. This association started at the instigation of Bedros Kalaydjian and its members were equally Armenian-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots.

Until 1998, the Armenian Ethnarchy of Cyprus used to have the Armenian Charity Board [Հայ Աղքատախնամ Մարմին (Hay Aghkadakhnam Marmin)] in Nicosia and the Women's Charity Association [Տիկնանց Աղքատախնամ Միութիւն (Dignants Aghkadakhnam Mioutiun)] in Larnaca and Limassol.

Past and present fields of activity

Armenian-Cypriots have also been active in the following fields, especially in the past:

Music: The Melkonian Educational Institute was known for its choir and band, both founded by musician and composer Vahan Bedelian. Their recitals were often attended by the High Commissioner/Governor or the President; in later years, Sebouh Abcarian became its conductor. The Melikian-Ouzounian National School also had a band founded and conducted by Vahan Bedelian (1926–1941); in 1927, the exile “King of Arabia”, Shariff of Mecca Hussein bin Ali, purchased new musical instruments for it. In the mid–1940s, AYMA had the “Gomidas” church choir, founded and conducted by Sdepan Darakdjian, later archpriest Vazken Sandrouni. AYMA, AGBU and the Friends of Armenia Association (Paregamats) also had their amateur dance, choir and/or band ensembles. Other than Vahan Bedelian and Sebouh Abcarian, amongst well-known Armenian-Cypriot musicians were cellist Hayrabed Torossian (†) and violinist Ara Vorsganian, both veterans of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, violinist Manoug Parikian (†) (United Kingdom) and the violinists Haroutune Bedelian (California) and Levon Chilingirian (United Kingdom), as well as singers Hovig Demirjian and Gore Melian, and pianist and soprano Sona Gargaloyan (all in Nicosia).

Scouting: The Melkonian Educational Institute had the 7th Cyprus Scout Group (1931/1932–2006), established by Headmaster Krikor Giragossian, Chief Scouts Major Onnig Cowan and Hagop Palamoudian and professors Levon Apkarian, Kersam Aharonian, Parounag Tovmassian and Vahan Bedelian. AYMA had the 77th Cyprus Scout Group (1959–1974 and 1986–1990), established by AYMA's Chairman Anania Mahdessian and Chief Scouts Hagop Palamoudian and Artin Anmahouni. The Nicosia Armenian school had the 4th Cyprus Scout Group (1937–1963, 1966–1982 and 1996–2000), while the Larnaca Armenian school had the 11th Cyprus Scout Group (1938–1959 and 1997–2001). Previously, there were other Scout groups [e.g. Homenetmen Scouts, (Larnaca: 1920–1922 and Nicosia: 1925–1930)], the Larnaca Armenian school Scouts (1927–1930) and the 12th Cyprus Scout Group (Nicosia: 1936–1947), founded by Chief Scout Hagop Palamoudian. As most Scout groups were mixed, there were only two guide groups: 8th Cyprus Guide Group (Melikian-Ouzounian: 1949–1963) and 9th Cyprus Guide Group (Melkonian: 1950–2005). Three distinguished Armenian-Cypriot Scouts and Guides are worth special mention^[why?]: Hagop Palamoudian, the first General Commissioner of the Cyprus Scouts Association (1960–1962); Takouhy Devledian, amongst the founders of the Girl Guides Association of Cyprus, served as its General Commissioner (1987–1990); Artin Anmahouni, currently the oldest active Scout in Cyprus, is as of 1965 Honorary Commissioner of Armenian Scouts in Cyprus.

Football: The Gaydzak (Կայծակ=Lightning) team (Nicosia: 1930–1931) became Cyprus’ first cup holder in 1931. AYMA’s football team (established in 1945 and suspended in 2011) was well-known amongst Cypriots, as it played in the first category (1947–1956 and 1960–1962); among its players were Armenian Archbishop of Greece, Sahag Ayvazian (†), and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marios Garoyian. Other Armenian-Cypriot football teams were the ones of the Melkonian Educational Institute (1926–2005), of Homenetmen (1927–1928), Ararat (Արարատ) (1938–1940), Gaydzak (1943–1944 and 1960–1962, affiliated with the Armenian Club in Nicosia) and Nor Gaydzak (Նոր Կայծակ=New Gaydzak) (1944–1948, affiliated with the Friends of Armenia Association); after Nor Gaydzak stopped, some of its players found themselves in the first team of Omonia, such as Sarkis Bedigian (known by his nickname “Kilis”) and Dickran Missirian. A notable Armenian-Cypriot football coach was Aram Chaderdjian, who served as coach to Anorthosis and Nea Salamina.

Other sports: The Melkonian Educational Institute used to have volleyball and basketball teams (the latter won the first basketball championship in Cyprus, 1949–1950). The Friends of Armenia Association had a volleyball team. AYMA at times had ping-pong, darts, hockey and basketball teams; AYMA’s hockey team was established in 1945 and was for three consecutive years champion (1951–1954). The AGBU used to have women’s basketball and ping-pong teams. Of the various Armenian-Cypriot sportsmen in Cyprus, the most distinguished are rally driver Vahan Terzian (†), veteran tennis umpire Kevork Palandjian and tennis player Haig Ashdjian.

Printing: As with photography, there was also an increased number of Armenian printers, in Nicosia and Larnaca. Historically, the first Armenian printer in Cyprus was Vahan Kurkjian (Pagouran). Pagouran set up his printing press in Nicosia as part of the National Educational Orphanage (1897–1904) and printed, amongst others, “Կիպրոս Կղզի” [(Gibros Geghzi) Island of Cyprus]: 1903]; the book is the first of many books dealing with the history of the Armenian-Cypriot community. Later on came Mardiros Mosditchian (Larnaca), Manuel Kassouni (Larnaca), Messia Ohanian (Larnaca), Maxoud Maxoudian (Nicosia), Setrak Guebenlian (Nicosia), Haig Mosditchian (Larnaca) and Garabed Papazian (Larnaca), while during the 1940s–1950s there was a small printing press at the Melkonian Educational Institute. Some of the aforementioned printed their own newspapers, such as Arax (Արաքս by Mardiros Mosditchian), Lousarpi (Լուսարփի by Manuel Kassouni), Ovasis (Ովասիս by Maxoud Maxoudian), Nor Arax (Նոր Արաքս by Haig Mosditchian), Henaran (Յենարան by Setrak Guebenlian) and Deghegadou (Տեղեկատու by Garabed Papazian). It should also be mentioned that Armenians were the first ones to introduce zincography in Cyprus.

Photography: Even though Armenians did not introduce photography in Cyprus, they improved the craft significantly and were the first ones to massively use retouching to produce coloured photos at a time where photographic lenses could record images only in black and white. There was a disproportionately large number of Armenian amateur and professional photographers active in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Famagusta. The most significant of these were Artin Anmahouni (Nicosia), Vahan Avedissian (Nicosia), Ardashes Bastadjian (Limassol), Diran der Avedissian (Nicosia), Georges der Parthogh (Nicosia), Hovhannes Gulian (Famagusta), Souren Keshishian (Larnaca), Hagop Kozalian (Famagusta), Haigaz Mangoian (Nicosia), Mardiros Mosditchian (Larnaca), Mateos Papazian (Nicosia), Minas Tilbian (Larnaca), Edward Voskeritchian (Limassol) and Giragos Zartarian (Nicosia). Their photographs are an indelible witness to the beauty of yesterday's Cyprus and constitute a window to times long gone. Today, only the descendants of the Mangoian and Voskeritchian families continue the photographic trade, in Nicosia and Limassol, respectively.

Painting: Generally speaking, Armenian-Cypriot painters have not been recognised outside the community, with the exception of world-renowned John Guevherian and Vartan Tashdjian, both based in Nicosia. Well-known Armenian-Cypriot painters, based either in Cyprus or abroad, include Garbis Bezdigian (†) and Manoug Mangaldjian (†), as well as Sebouh Abcarian (Gyumri), Manouk Baghdjian (London), Sossee Eskidjian-Nikolaides (Nicosia), Tatiana Ferahian (Limassol), Therese Kasparian-Petridou (Nicosia), Sevan Malikyan (Larnaca and London), Aznive Papazian (Nicosia), Anahid Nassibian-Sarkissian (Nicosia), Alidz Sarkissian (Nicosia), Hovsep Sarkissian (California), Hourig Torossian (Nicosia) and Nanor Tashdjian (Cardiff). By initiative of the Armenian Representative, Vartkes Mahdessian, a unique painting and photography exhibition was organised within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The exhibition, at the "Castelliotissa" Mediaeval Hall in Nicosia, was inaugurated by President Demetris Christofias on 16 July 2012 and it remained open until 31 July 2012.^[14]

Armenian cuisine: As previously mentioned, it was Armenians who first introduced Armenian bastourma, baklava, dried apricots, gassosa, gyros, halva, ice cubes, koubes, lahmadjoun, lokmadhes and pompes into the Cypriot cuisine – all very popular today. Between the 1920s and the 1960s, two Armenian-Cypriots were well-known in Nicosia for their Armenian delicacies: Moushegh Betchakdjian (also known as Moushegh Ashdji) and Krikor Kouyoumdjian (also known as Krikor Lokmadji). Betchakdjian was the first to introduce gyros, lokmadhes and baklava in Cyprus, and his restaurant was the first to serve Armenian and other Oriental foods in Cyprus. Kouyoumdjian, on the other hand, serving exclusively lokmadhes for nearly 4 decades, gave his name to the Lokmadji area, off Ledra street. After 1963, many Armenian tavernas and fast-food places opened, mainly in Nicosia and Larnaca. Presently, the most significant ones are “Ararat” (Mihran Dzaghigian, 1970s - Nicosia), “Το Αρμενάκι” (Garabed Manougian, 1970s - Nicosia), “Armenian Food” (Mgrditch and Karekin Gosdanian, 1970s - Nicosia), “Maklavs Food Industry” (Movses Makamian, 1990s - Larnaca, also an Oriental food factory) and “Avo Lahmajoun” (Avo Bahdjedjian, 2000s - Nicosia).

Legal status and representation

With the Independence of Cyprus, on 16 August 1960, under Article 2 § 3 of the Constitution, the Armenians, the Latins and the Maronites were recognised as “religious groups”. In the referendum held on 13 November 1960, all three religious groups opted to belong to the co-religious Greek-Cypriot community (as it was expected), something which consequently defined their political options in the game of inter-communal controversy and somewhat affected their relations with the Turkish-Cypriots, who in turn viewed them as an extension of the Greek-Cypriot political choices. This is why the religious groups were treated similarly or even worse during the inter-communal troubles (1963–1964) and the brutal and unlawful Turkish invasion (1974).

Article 110 § 3 recognises the administrative autonomy of the religious groups’ Churches, as it was established with the Hatt-ı Hümayun in 1856. According to Article 111, the three Churches retain their powers regarding matters of personal status. Law 95/1989 transferred the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts to the family courts, the configuration of which was defined by Law 87(I)/1994; of the three religious groups, only the Armenians participate in their workings.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 109 of the Constitution, Armenian-Cypriots were given political representation: as a result of their choice to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community, an Armenian and a Latin participated in the Nicosia members of the Greek Communal Chamber, while a Maronite participated in the Kyrenia members (Colonial Law 36/1959, Colonial Law 6/1960 and Greek Communal Chamber Law 8/1960). The two Communal Chambers, which acted as a Lower Parliament, had jurisdiction over all religious, educational, cultural and other affairs of communal nature (Article 87).

With the secession of the Turkish-Cypriots from the common state in 1963 and the self-dissolution of the Greek Communal Chamber in 1965, it was decided to transfer the executive powers of the Greek Communal Chamber to the newly-formed Ministry of Education and its legislative powers to the House of Representatives (Law 12/1965). According to the Decision of the Council of Ministers 4.907/29–07–1965, it was decided that the three Representatives would provisionally continue to represent their communities in the House on issues pertaining to the jurisdiction of their Chamber and that the House was to request their opinion before legislating on pertinent matters (Law 12/1965). In order to approximate the tenure of the other MPs, the term of the three Representatives was annually extended (Law 45/1965, Law 49/1966, Law 50/1967, Law 87/1968 and Law 58/1969). The status of the three Representatives in the House of Representatives was confirmed with Law 58/1970 and furthermore specified with Law 38/1976, Law 41/1981 and Law 66(I)/2011. As of 1991, the elections for the three Representatives are held simultaneously and in parallel with the general parliamentary elections and the Representatives’ term is identical with that of the proper MPs (Law 70/1986).

The Representatives act as liaisons between their communities and the state and they are par excellence competent to bring before the state all issues relating to their group. Their participation has a 5-year duration and a consultative character, as although they can express their views on matters relating to their group, they do not have the right to vote. Especially in the case of the Armenians, the Representative delivers a speech about the Armenian Genocide during the plenary session of the House convened on or near the 24 April each year. So far, six (6) Armenian Representatives have served: Berge Tilbian from Nicosia (1960–1970), Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian from Nicosia (1970–1982), Aram Kalaydjian from Larnaca (1982–1995), Bedros Kalaydjian from Larnaca (1995–2005), Dr. Vahakn Atamyan from Nicosia (2005–2006) and Vartkes Mahdessian from Nicosia (2006–today).

The Representatives enjoy the same privileges as the other MPs (non-liability, immunity, remuneration, tax exemptions etc.), they attend the plenary sessions of the House, they participate in the Parliamentary Committee for Education and the Consultative Committee for Private Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture (since 1970), while as of 1999 they appoint the Elder MP of their group. Additionally, the Armenian and the Maronite Representatives consult with the Minister of Education and Culture, in relation to the latter's suggestion to the Council of Ministers regarding the appointment of the Armenian Schools' Committee and the Maronite Schools' Committee [Law 103(I)/1999].

As of 1998, the elected Representative is ex officio member of the Diocesan Council (Թեմական Ժողով) of the Armenian Ethnarchy (Ազգային Իշխանութիւն).

Elections

The first elections for the Armenian member of the Greek Communal Chamber took place on 5 August 1960 between Vahram Levonian and Berge Tilbian, who was elected after receiving 60,49% (1,364 votes). Between 1965–1970, the term of office for the Armenian, the Maronite and the Latin Representatives was extended by special laws, until Law 58/1970 was enacted, properly including them in the House of Representatives. The second elections were held on 19 July 1970 between Berge Tilbian and Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian, who was elected after receiving 56,30% (590 votes); Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian was re-elected on 3 October 1976, with Aram Kalaydjian as his opponent, after receiving 50,96% (612 votes).

The next elections were held on 14 March 1982 between Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian and Aram Kalaydjian, who secured 58.36% (771 votes); Aram Kalaydjian was re-elected on 13 July 1986, with Anna Ashdjian as his opponent, after securing 65,08% (792 votes), and again on 19 May 1991, again winning over Anna Ashdjian and receiving 67,00% (875 votes). Because of Aram Kalaydjian's death on 10 September 1995, a by-election was held on 22 October 1995, between Kevork Mahdessian and Bedros Kalaydjian, who won with 60,34% (849 votes). Bedros Kalaydjian was re-elected on 26 May 1996, securing 73,91% (997 votes) against Anna Ashdjian and again on 27 May 2001, receiving 57,13% (857 votes) against Dr. Garabed Khatcho-Kazandjian.

Because of Bedros Kalaydjian's death on 1 September 2005, a by-election was held on 9 October 2005, with Dr. Vahakn Atamyan receiving 52,03% (769 votes) against Dr. Antranik Ashdjian (43,91%) and Parsegh Zartarian (4,12%). The next elections took place on 21 May 2006, with Vartkes Mahdessian receiving 52,60% (899 votes) against Dr. Vahakn Atamyan. The most recent elections were held on 22 May 2011, with Vartkes Mahdessian securing 67,67% (1.105 votes) against Dr. Antranik Ashdjian.

Although not elected, the Armenians in Nicosia also have a mukhtar, appointed by the Ministry of Interior. The first mukhtar was Melik Melikian (1927–1949), succeeded by Kasbar Delyfer (1949–1956) and Vahe Kouyoumdjian (1956–2009). As of 1 January 2011, the current Armenian mukhtar is Mgo Kouyoumdjian.

Religion

Like most communities of the Armenian Diaspora, the Armenian-Cypriot community is predominantly Armenian Apostolic (about 95%). Some 5% belong either to the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Latin Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Anglican Church, the Plymouth Brethren Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church or they are Jehovah's Witnesses; of this 5%, historically the most significant groups have been Armenian Evangelicals, who in the 1940s and 1950s comprised about 10% of the Armenian-Cypriot community, and Armenian-Catholics, who have been on the island since the time of the Crusades.

Armenian Prelature of Cyprus

The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus (Առաջնորդարան Հայոց Կիպրոսի) was established in 973 by Catholicos Khatchig I and ever since it has maintained a continuous presence on the island. In the years that followed, some of its Prelates participated in important church synods, such as Tateos (who participated in the Council of Hromkla in 1179), Nigoghaos (who participated in the Synod of Sis in 1307) and Krikor (who participated in a conference of Greek Orthodox Bishops in Cyprus in 1340). The antiquity of the Armenian Church in Cyprus was confirmed by a bull of Pope Leo X, which was issued in 1519 after multiple discords, according to which the Armenian Prelate would be senior to and take precedence over the Maronite, Jacobite and Coptic Prelates.

Historically, the Prelature has been under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, while today it is the oldest theme that falls under its jurisdiction. In the past, for various reasons, it was at times under the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (1775–1799, 1812–1837, 1848–1861, 1865–1877, 1888–1897, 1898–1908), the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (1799–1812, 1861–1864, 1877–1888, 1897–1898, 1908–1921), even the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin (1864–1865). Cyprus was the place of refuge for two exile Patriarchs of Constantinople, Archbishop Tavit Areveltsi (1644-1648) and Senior Archimandrite Krikor Basmadjian (1773-1775). The current Prelate, a Catholicosal Vicar General, is as of 1997 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian. The parish priest in Nicosia is Fr. Momik Habeshian (since 2000), while the parish priest in Larnaca and Limassol is Fr. Mashdots Ashkarian (since 1992).

For centuries, the Prelature building was located within the Armenian compound in Victoria street in walled Nicosia; when that area was taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists in 1963–1964, the Prelature was temporarily housed in Aram Ouzounian street (1964–1968) and, later on, in Kyriakos Matsis street in Ayios Dhometios (1968–1984). Thanks to the efforts of Bishop Zareh Aznavorian and with financial aid from the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, the new Prelature building was erected in 1983, next to the Virgin Mary church and the Nareg school in Nicosia, by architects Athos Dikaios & Alkis Dikaios; it was officially inaugurated on 4 March 1984, during the pastoral visit of Catholicos Karekin II. By initiative of Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, in 1998 the basement of the building was renovated and the “Vahram Utidjian” Hall was formed; previously a store room, it became a reality from the proceeds of the auction in 1994 of the art collection that Vahram Utidjian had donated to the Prelature in 1954. It was inaugurated on 3 February 1999 by Catholicos Aram I; numerous charity, communal and cultural events take place there. The Prelature’s consistory houses a collection of ecclesiastical relics, some of which were previously in the old Virgin Mary church or the Magaravank.

The current Charter of the Prelature, first drafted in 1945 and ratified in 1950, consists of 102 articles and, in its present form, applies as of 3 September 2010. The administration is exercised by the Armenian Ethnarchy (Ազգային Իշխանութիւն) through the Diocesan Council [Թեմական Ժողով (Temagan Joghov), consisting of the Prelate, two priests and twelve elected lay persons] and the Administrative Council [Վարչական Ժողով (Varchagan Joghov), consisting of the Prelate and seven appointed lay persons], currently chaired by Sebouh Tavitian (as of 2007) and John Guevherian (as of 2011), respectively. As of 1998, the elected Representative is ex officio a member of the Diocesan Council. There are also the local parish committees (թաղական հոգաբարձութիւններ, one in Nicosia, one in Larnaca and one in Limassol), the committee for Christian instruction (Քրիստոնէական դաստիարակութեան յանձնախումբ) and the Ladies’ committee (Տիկնանց յանձնախումբ). Under the committee for Christian instruction are the Sunday schools (Կիրակնօրեայ վարժարաններ) and the youth committee (երիտասարդական յանձնախումբ).

According to the Decision of the Council of Ministers 66,589/19–12–2007, the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus receives an annual grant of €59,800 by the Republic of Cyprus; the Republic also pays the salaries of the Prelature's clergy and covers their medical and health care (Decision of the Council of Ministers 48.166/22–07–1998). The same arrangements apply for the Maronite Archbishopric of Cyprus and the Latin Vicariate of Cyprus (the latter, however, receives an annual grant of €51,260).

Armenian Evangelical Church

The first Armenian Evangelicals in Cyprus came after the arrival of the British in July 1878. As they were not committed, and very few, they quickly became associated with the Mother Church (Armenian Apostolic Church), such as Apisoghom Utidjian, the official state documents translator - and the son of Stepan Utidjian, one the original founders of the Armenian Evangelical Church -, who served as Chairman of the Nicosia parish council for 30 years.

With the influx of more Protestants, Armenian Evangelicals became affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church as early as 1887. Although the main centres were Nicosia and Larnaca, gatherings were occasionally held in Limassol, Famagusta and Amiandos. In Larnaca, gatherings were held at the Reformed Presbyterian Mission church (built in 1892 and re-built in 1901–1902). In Nicosia, gatherings were initially held at the Reformed Presbyterian Mission church (built in 1906–1907), until Armenian Evangelicals built their own church in 1946–1947 behind the old American Academy building, near the Arab Ahmed Pasha mosque; its foundation stone was laid on 28 July 1946 by pastor Yohanna der Megerditchian, who dedicated it on 1 June 1947. The building was renovated in 1955, while a kitchen was added in 1959.

In 1933, the newly-formed Cyprus Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church divided its congregations into Armenian and Greek councils. Armenian Evangelicals were granted provisional autonomy from the Reformed Presbyterian Mission in 1954, which was formalised in 1962. In Larnaca, as Armenian Evangelicals dwindled after the inter-communal troubles of 1963–1964, services were no longer held; in Nicosia, the Armenian Evangelical church was taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists during the 1963–1964 inter-communal troubles and so services were then held at the American Academy chapel (built in 1955) until 1973.

After nearly 30 years of inactivity, by initiative of Nevart Kassouni-Panayiotides and Lydia Gulesserian (†) and with the help of Hrayr Jebejian, Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf, Armenian Evangelicals were re-organised at the Greek Evangelical church in Larnaca in 2002. Since 2005, when Hrayr Jebejian moved to Cyprus, services are held every few months at the Greek Evangelical church in Nicosia. Also, the Armenian Evangelical Church organizes a few lectures in Nicosia.

Armenian Catholic Church

Armenian-Catholics first came to the island during the Frankish Era from the nearby Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. It is unclear whether they had their own structure during the Latin Era or if they were under the Latin Church of Cyprus, as has been the case since the Ottoman Era. What we do know is that Armenian-Catholics used Saint Lazarus' basilica in Larnaca, the Holy Cross church in Nicosia (probably Arablar Djami/Stavros tou Missirikou) and the Virgin Mary of the Green (de Vert) in Famagusta, which was built between 1311-1317. Armenian-Catholic monks and nuns also served at the Premonstratensian Bellapais Abbey and the Benedictine Notre Dame de Tyre convent in Nicosia, respectively. The only Armenian-Catholic Bishops' names which have survived until today are George Noreghes, appointed by Latin Archbishop of Cyprus Elias de Nabineaux circa 1340, and the Dominican Julio or Julian Stavriano, who served as Bishop of the Armenians (1561-1567) and later became Bishop of the Maronites (1567-1570); he started as Armenian Orthodox and later he embraced Catholicism. The latter's flock included about 1,000 Armenians and he used Saint Sergius' church in Famagusta.

During the Ottoman Era, there was a very limited conversion of Armenian Orthodox to Catholicism, mainly due to the proselytising activities of the Franciscan mission in Nicosia and Larnaca, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries; however, these must have been temporary apostasies and their number never exceeded 50 at any given time. In 1794 the small (and perhaps newly-formed) Armenian Catholic community of Larnaca was granted some holy chalices from the auction of the belongings of the old Capuchin monastery of the town.

It was during the British Era that the Armenian-Catholic community increased in number, due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923). In 1931, there were about 200 Armenian-Catholics in Cyprus, rather poor, and many of them were middle-aged. Most of them became attached to the Latin places of worship, especially the Holy Cross cathedral in Nicosia and Saint Joseph's convent in Larnaca; between 1921-1923, the latter housed a small Armenian-Catholic school, run by Abbot Jean Kouyoumdjian - who served at the convent between 1921-1928. There was also another Armenian-Catholic cleric, Archimandrite Arsène Khorassandjian, who also served in Larnaca (and, at times, at the Holy Cross cathedral and the Terra Santa school in Nicosia), between 1931-1959.

In 1960, there were less than 100 Armenian-Catholics. However, their number decreased in the following years, due to emigration to other countries and assimilation with the Armenian-Cypriot, the Latin-Cypriot and/or the Greek-Cypriot community. However, due to the influx of Lebanese-Armenians to Cyprus since the mid-1970s, there has been a small increase in the number of Armenian-Catholics on the island. Currently, local Armenian-Catholics are less than 20, in addition to about 30 foreign Armenians.

Places of worship

There are five Armenian Orthodox churches in Cyprus, two in the capital Nicosia (one under Turkish occupation since 1964) and one in each Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta; the latter has been occupied by the Turks since 1964. Additionally, there are three Armenian chapels in the vicinity of Nicosia and one within the Magaravank complex, the latter under Turkish occupation since 1974. There is also an Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia (under Turkish occupation since 1964). Finally, there is the renowned Magaravank, under Turkish occupation since 1974.

Education

Armenians have always attached particular emphasis in education, which – in conjunction with the Church – is the foundation for the preservation of their national and cultural heritage. Armenian schools teach Armenology, which includes Armenian history and traditions, ensuring the perpetuation of Armenianism from generation to generation.

Monuments

The Armenian-Cypriot community has several historical monuments, including the Armenian Genocide Monument in Nicosia and a mortar obelisk dedicated to Abbot Mekhitar.

Cemeteries

Armenian-Cypriots have their own cemeteries:

Nicosia

There are three Armenian cemeteries in Nicosia. The Ayp cemetery (near Ledra Palace hotel) was established probably around 1810, if not earlier. The records of burials kept at the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus start from late 1877. In 1860, a fire at the Armenian Prelature deprived us of the register information. This task was performed by the new priest Hovhannes Shahinian, since 1 November 1877. The Ayp cemetery was used as a burial ground until 1931, when the Pen cemetery was established. The overwhelming influx of refugees from the Armenian Genocide made this cemetery too small for the increased number of burials; this, coupled with health concerns over cemeteries near the Nicosia city centre, were the reasons why it became no longer operation. Within the cemetery there is Saint Paul's chapel, built in 1892 by the will and testament of government translator Boghos Odadjian.

On top of the iron-gate entrance there is the following marble plaque in Armenian:

“Խաչն փայլի † յարեւելից ե˝օ” – ՚Ի հիմանց կառուցաւ շրջապատ Գերեզմանատանս Լուսաւրչ՟կ՟ն Հայոց արդեամբք ժողովրդեան. յամին 1888։ (“The cross shone † from the East” – The surrounding wall of this Gregorian Cemetery was constructed from its foundations by popular commission, in the Year 1888.)

Until 1963, from time to time memorial services were performed at the chapel in memory of the ones buried there. After the 1963–1964 inter-communal troubles and due to its proximity to the UN Buffer Zone, the cemetery was somehow neglected and no Liturgies were held there. After decades of neglect and the incidents that transpired in 2005, the cemetery and its chapel was restored between 2008–2009 thanks to the initiative and efforts of the Armenian Ethnarchy and Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian, who secured a substantial amount of money for its restoration from the Ministry of Interior. There is also a commemorative aluminium plate, which was placed 2010 and contains the names of the 419 people buried there.^[15] The Ayp Cemetery is featured in the pages of William Hurrell Mallock's book In an Enchanted Island: or, A Winter's Retreat in Cyprus, who visited Cyprus during the 1887/1888 winter.

The Pen cemetery was established in 1931 on the west of Ayios Dhometios, near the Nicosia Commonwealth War cemetery, and it was the only Armenian cemetery in use in Nicosia until 1998. In 1938 the Holy Resurrection chapel was built within the cemetery, by the donation of Haroutiun Bohdjalian; it was consecrated in 1949. In 1963 the remains of about 100 people buried in the Ayp cemetery were transferred there, because of the demolition of a small part of the Ayp cemetery. Since the Turkish invasion of 1974, the Pen cemetery is very near the Turkish-occupied areas; as it is located within the UN Buffer Zone, visits there are allowed only on Sunday noons. A special permit by the UNFICYP is required for burials there. There are 1630 people buried in this cemetery.

At the centre of the cemetery there is a fountain. It bears the following marble inscriptions in language:

Դուստր նոցա Նուարդ (Their daughter Nvart)

† Ի յիշատակ հանգուցեալ Աբիսողոմ եւ Վերժինէ Իւթիւճեաններու 1952 († In memory of the deceased Apisoghom and Verjine Utidjian 1952)

In 1998, the Kim cemetery was established to the south of the road between Lakatamia and Ayii Trimithias. The cemetery has no chapel and administratively belongs in Kato Dheftera. There are 150 people buried in this cemetery.

On the southern side of the cemetery there is a fountain. Behind it is the following marble inscription in Armenian:

Կառուցաւ աղբիւրս արդեամբ Փերուզ Տէլիֆէրի Մկրտիչեամ եւ Տէլիֆէր գերդաստանի յիշատակին – 2000 (This fountain was constructed by commission of Perouz Delyfer in memory of the Mgrditchian and Delyfer family – 2000)

On top of the fountain a shelter was constructed; to the side of the shelter there is the following Plexiglas inscription in Armenian, placed on top of a stone column:

Այս ամպհովանին կառուցուեցաւ նուիրատուութեամբ՝ Ռօզ Օղասապեանի, Անահիտ Զարդարեանի եւ Պետրոս Նահապեսեանի իրենց ծնողքին՝ Նահապետ եւ Վերժին Նահապետեաններու յիշատակին – Հոկտեմբեր 2010 (This baldachin was constructed by donation of Rose Oghassabian, Anahid Zartarian and Bedros Nahabedian in memory of their parents, Nahabed and Verjin Nahabedian – October 2010)

Larnaca

The Armenian cemetery in Larnaca was established in 1897, as a temporary place of repose on land given by the Prelature of Citium. It was officially granted to the community in 1923 and was expanded southwards in the early 1930s. It is located next to the Latin cemetery. There are 635 people buried in this cemetery.

Amongst the tombs and graves of that cemetery is a common grave for 9 gamavorner (volunteers) of the Armenian Legion, which was formed and trained in Monarga, Cyprus, between December 1916 and May 1918. Their names are: Movses Aprahamian, Hagop Bozayian, Hovhannes Hovhannessian, Kaloust Hovhannessian, Parsegh Klendjian, Levon Saradjian, Hovhannes Silahlian, Artin Soghomonian and Khatchig Tchoukourian. Their grave and tombstone were commissioned by the French consulate in Cyprus.

Opposite the khachkar (cross-stone), on the eastern side of the cemetery, there is a fountain, donated by Mihran and Jacqueline Boyadjian. On its top side, there is a brown tuff stone commemorative plaque bearing the Armenian symbol for eternity, the initials of its sculptor Grisha Avedissian [Գ (upper left-hand side) and Ա (upper right-hand side)] and the year it was constructed 2011 [20 (lower left-hand side) and 11 (lower right-hand side)]. At eye level, there an aluminium inscription in Armenian:

Յիսուս ըսաւ - Ով որ այս ջուրէն խմէ` դարձեալ պիտի ծարաւնայ բայց ով որ իմ տալիք ջուրէն խմէ` յաւիտեան պիտի չծարաւնայ: Ընդհակառակը, ջուրը որ ես պիտի տամ անոր մէջ պիտի վերածուի աղբիւրի մը որ ջուր կը ցայտէ եւ յաւիտեան կեանք կու տայ: Յովհաննէս (Դ. 13–14) [Jesus said - Whoever drinks from this water shall be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water I will offer shall not be thirsty eternally. On the contrary, the water I shall give to him shall be turned into a fountain, whose water gushes out and gives eternal life. (John 4:13–14)]

Finally, on the bottom, there is the following aluminium inscription in Armenian:

Ի Յիշատակ Լէւոն եւ Զարուհի Պօյաճեաններու 2007 (In memory of Levon and Zarouhi Boyadjian 2007)

On top of the northern entrance, there is a white marble Armenian cross, donated in 2000 by Jean-Jacques Guvlekdjian.

Limassol

The Armenian cemetery in Limassol was granted to the community in 1946, but it was not until 1960 that it started its operation, when the Mayor of Limassol Costas Partassides constructed its wall. On 15 July 1961, Mayor Partassides delivered the golden key of the cemetery to Mihran Bastadjian, Chairman of Limassol's Armenian church committee.^[16] The cemetery is located to the west of the Limassol-Platres road and it is the beginning of the Garyllis river linear park. Administratively, it belongs in Kato Polemidhia. There are 150 people buried in this cemetery.

At the centre of the cemetery, there is a dark purple granite fountain, covered with beige stone. On its top, it bears the following stone inscription in Armenian:

Ի յիշատակ Կարապետ Կարապետեանի Աղբարիկ 2001 (In memory of Garabed Garabedian Aghparig 2001)

Famagusta

There was also a small Armenian cemetery in the Turkish-occupied city of Famagusta, in the Ayios Memnon area. It was established in 1967, but has been inaccessible since 1974, as it is currently located within the fenced area of Varosha. There were 8 people buried in this cemetery.

Between 1951–1966, the community in Famagusta used a different place of repose, near Stavros cemetery, which was however given to the Greek community to expand its own cemetery area; that too is currently located within the fenced area of Varosha.^[6]

The Armenian Quarter

There is some evidence suggesting that the original Armenian quarter (13th - late 15th/early 16th century) was located in the eastern part of Frankish Nicosia and that Armenians acquired their new quarter within the 16th century. What we do know for certain is that, after the conquest of the city in 1570, the Ottomans renamed the extant Armenian quarter to “Karamanzade mahallesi” (literally: quarter of the son of Karaman), in honour of one of the Generals who took part in the conquest of Cyprus and came from Karaman Eyalet.

Since the Mediaeval Era and until December 1963, the western part of walled Nicosia formed what was known as the Armenian Quarter [Αρμενομαχαλλάς (in Greek), Հայկական թաղ (in Armenian) or Ermeni mahallesi (in Turkish)], which could be defined as follows: to the north of Paphos Gate, to the east of the moat, to the south of the fountain of Zahra street and to the west of the virtual line that formed the extension of Athanasios Diakos street towards Mula bastion. Administratively, the Armenian Quarter included both the Karaman Zade quarter and the Arab Ahmed Pasha quarter.

After the British took over Cyprus, this part of the city housed several British officers. Their presence, together with that of the Latins (because of the existence of the Holy Cross cathedral and the Terra Santa school, and later on Saint Joseph's school and convent), gave it the unofficial name “Φραγκομαχαλλάς” (Greek for Levantine Quarter), while it was in Victoria street that the first hotels of Nicosia opened (as opposed to the various existing inns), the “Armenian Hotel” (c. 1875- c. 1925) and the “Army and Navy Hotel” (1878 - c. 1890). Therefore, the first cutting in the Venetian walls was made at the end of Victoria street at Paphos Gate in 1879. Similarly, not very far from there, the Anglicans built their cathedral, dedicated to Saint Paul, in 1885. Finally, for a period of time, in Victoria street were the “Nicosia Club” - also known as “English Club” - (1884-1896), the Catholic “Concordia Club” (1903-1954), as well as the Cyprus Museum (1889-1909).

Traditionally, the Armenian Quarter had the largest concentration of Armenians in Nicosia, as it encompassed the Armenian compound (Virgin Mary church, Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, Melikian-Ouzounian School and Armenian Genocide monument), the club houses for the Armenian Club, the AGBU and AYMA, as well as a large number of Armenian homes and shops. On top of Roccas bastion there was a small forest (in Armenian: անտառ), which was a place of recreation for the area.

Although the majority of its residents were Armenian-Cypriots, the Armenian Quarter was far from “monochrome”, as many Turkish-Cypriots, as well as some Greek-Cypriots, Maronite-Cypriots, Latin-Cypriots and British used to live there. In fact, until the first years of the British Era, the area was also known as the Latin Quarter; later on, it was split between the Karaman Zade and Arab Ahmed Pasha quarters. However, as the majority of residents were Armenian-Cypriots, as of 1927 the mukhtars of Karaman Zade quarter have been Armenian-Cypriots: Melik Melikian (1927–1949), Kasbar Delyfer (1949–1956), Vahe Kouyoumdjian (1956–2009) and Mgo Kouyoumdjian (2011–today).

The heart of the Armenian quarter was Victoria street (Վիքթորիա փողոց/οδός Βικτωρίας/Viktorya sokağı), in which the Armenian compound was located, as well as many houses and, at a later time, the AGBU club house; at times, AYMA's club house was there as well. Victoria street was the road that every Armenian-Cypriot would walk on to go to church, to school, to the clubs, to visit family, relatives and friends etc. One could see all the time Armenian-Cypriots walking around the narrow streets amidst a profusion of Oriental smells and a chatter in Armenian. The street, full of beautiful ashlar buildings, started from the Latin church of the Holy Cross and ended at the Arab Ahmed Pasha mosque, having Mahmoud Pasha street as its extension (where the American Academy Nicosia was between 1922-1955 and the Armenian Evangelical church since 1946). As it was a one-way street, traffic was only allowed from the north to the south.

The other main road of the Armenian Quarter was Tanzimat street (Թանզիմաթ փողոց/οδός Τανζιμάτ/Tanzimât sokağı). As it was facing the moat (in Armenian: պարիսպ), football matches between Armenian-Cypriot and other teams would attract a large number of Armenian-Cypriot spectators on it. At a later stage, the AYMA club house was located here. As this was also a one-way street, traffic was only allowed from the south to the north. Various byroads linked Tanzimat street to Victoria street. After the occupation of the area by the Turkish-Cypriot paramilitary organisations, even though Tanzimat street retained its name, Victoria street was illegally re-named into Şehit Salahi Şevket street.

During the 1963–1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny, a large part of the Armenian Quarter of Nicosia was gradually taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists between 21 December 1963 and 19 January 1964. Ten days later, they pillaged the Virgin Mary church and held captives for a few hours the Prelate, Senior Archimandrite Yervant Apelian, the parish priest, der Vazken Sandrouni, the Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Armenian Ethnarchy, Vahram Toundjian (Tountayian), and deacon Hrant Mamigonian.

Most Armenian-Cypriots left their houses out of fear and terror: some families fled for 2–3 days to the grounds of the Melikian-Ouzounian school and the church, until these places were also captured, while other families stayed for a longer period in tents at the grounds of the Melkonian Educational Institute. Even though some returned, this was temporary, as on 4 March 1964 extremist Turkish-Cypriots drove them out of their houses, after presenting them with threatening ultimata in their post boxes. In total, 231 Armenian-Cypriot families became victims to the Turks.

The loss of the Armenian Quarter had a significant impact on the cohesion of the Armenian community of Nicosia: even though, already since the 1950s, a growing number of Armenian-Cypriots resided outside the Armenian Quarter [mainly in Ayios Dhometios and the Keushklu Chiftlik (around the Ledra Palace hotel), Neapolis and Constantia areas], the once concentrated Armenian-speaking population in such a small distance from the church, the school and the clubs suddenly found itself scattered across Greek-speaking Nicosia, away from the aforementioned Armenian entities.

Today the Armenian Quarter has changed completely: most houses, if not all, are inhabited by illegal Turkish settlers from Anatolia, just like the majority of Turkish-occupied walled city of Nicosia. Despite the rehabilitation of the area between 1987-1998 (by UNHCR) and 1998-2004 (by UNDP and UNOPS), as part of the Nicosia Master Plan, the residents' neglect is obvious. The only things remaining to remind a visitor that the area used to be inhabited by Armenians in the past are the existence of the Armenian compound in Victoria street, which was extensively renovated between 2009-2012, the dedicatory inscription on the Armenian Evangelical church in Mahmoud Pasha street and a commemorative plaque on top of the entrance of the old Sinanian house on the corner of Tanzimat street and Dervish Pasha street.

The Armenian Legion

During the Armenian Genocide and World War I and following negotiations in September and October 1916, between Boghos Noubar Pasha (Chairman of the Armenian National Delegation) and French military and political authorities (represented by diplomat François Georges-Picot, the Eastern Legion (Légion d'Orient/Արեւելեան Լէգէոն) was officially established in Cairo on 26 November 1916, by a special charter signed by the French Minister of War, General Pierre August Roques. According to the charter, it was to be an auxiliary unit of the French Army, consisting mainly of Armenian volunteers, whose aim was to liberate Cilicia from the Ottoman Empire, for the purpose of creating an independent Armenian state in that region. After negotiations with the British authorities, within the framework of the Anglo-French intelligence co-operation, it was decided that the training of the volunteers (կամաւորներ=gamavorner) would take place at Monarga, in the Carpass peninsula of Cyprus, near Boghaz. The Legion would be administered by French officers, detached by the Foreign Legion.^[17]

The camp was built in December 1916 by Armenian Genocide refugees and the arrival of the first volunteers - refugees from Musa Dagh - started in January 1917. Throughout 1917 and 1918, volunteers arrived at Famagusta harbor from the harbours of Marseilles and Port Said and thereafter they were transferred to Monarga, about 25 Km to the north, away from any residential areas. Other than the French officers, there were also some Armenian junior officers.

Several Armenian organisations in the Middle East, Europe and North America supported the Legion, either with financial contributions or by drafting Diasporan Armenians to form companies of the Legion. The selection and training were rather strict, while the exceeding difficulties and large transportation costs hindered the arrival of more volunteers from the New World (in total, only about 1.200 American-Armenians came, out of the nearly 6.000 who registered in the lists). The volunteers were especially impatient to perform their patriotic duty.

The camp consisted of the headquarters, the barracks, various auxiliary installations (including a water basin) and a small chapel. In total, there were 4.124 volunteers, who formed 3 Armenian battalions, as well as 2 Syrian companies (consisting of about 300 men). The camp's commander was Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Louis Romieu, while its spiritual shepherd was Archbishop Taniel Hagopian, assisted by Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni, who later became known as “Topal Vartabed” (Թոփալ Վարդապետ=Lame Archimandrite), because of an injury he suffered during his military service. Both clergymen came to Cyprus from the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, even though at the time the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus was under the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.

During their stay in Cyprus, the volunteers visited the Magaravank in Halevga, both in 1917 and in 1918, as well as various other places in Mesaoria, Pentadhaktylos and the Carpass; at times, they visited Egypt. For recreation, they frequented at the neighbouring Boghazi, while they often organised various events within the camp. The owner of the camp’s canteen, for over a year, was Dickran Ouzounian. On a hill, at a small distance from the Legion’s camp, there were the ruins of a castle, said to be built by Leo V, King of Armenia, creating relevant connotations…

Basic training was completed by May 1918. Until then, the 1st battalion had about a year and a half of training, the 2nd battalion about eight months and the third battalion was being formed. Then, the largest part of the Legion was moved to Egypt and thence it was deployed to Palestine, where it marked the Battle of Arara on 19 September 1918. The 3rd battalion, which remained in Cyprus, was assigned the defence of Castellorizo island (to the east of Rhodes and Ruad island (near Syria). The 3rd battalion, together with the two supply companies, left Cyprus in October 1918 for Beirut. In December 1918, the Legion - now consisting of 4 battalions, 4.368 soldiers and 66 officers - settled in the Cilicia region (with its headquarters located in Adana) as part of the French Mandate, where it remained until it was dissolved in August 1920. In February 1919 it was officially called “Armenian Legion” (Légion Arménienne/Հայկական Լէգէոն). In mid-1919, General Antranik Ozanian came to Cyprus, wanting to go to Cilicia in order to head the Legion, but this was denied by the French. After its dissolution, only a very small number of legionnaires returned to Cyprus.

In the Armenian cemetery of Larnaca there is a group grave of 9 volunteers of the Armenian Legion, commissioned by the French consulate in the late 1940s. In the location where the Legion's camp once was, presently in the Turkish-occupied areas, very few vestiges remain.^[18]

Nerkaght

The nerkaght [ներգաղթ=repatriation, also known as հայրենադարձութիւն (hayrenatartsoutiun=home-coming)] movement was a Panarmenian migration movement of Diasporan Armenians to Soviet Armenia, within the framework of a co-ordinated attempt of the Armenian SSR and the Church of Armenia to strengthen their claims on historical Armenia's territory, appealing to the patriotic sentiments of Armenians in the Diaspora; especially after World War II, nerkaght was also a way to partially replace the large number of Armenians who perished during the War. Massive propaganda took place, in co-operation with the AGBU and the Ramgavar party, arousing a storm of enthusiasm in the Armenian communities of the Diaspora and creating high expectations for their settling in the “homeland”, which they perceived as their ultimate destination. In retrospect, nerkaght could also be considered as Soviet manoeuvre in the Cold War era.

Nerkaght's waves took place between 1921–1925 (19.688 people), 1926–1929, 1932–1933, 1936 (22.598), 1946–1949 (the largest wave, with 89.780 repatriates) and 1962–1982 (31.920 people), when 163.986 Armenians in total migrated to Soviet Armenia from Iran, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, France, Bulgaria, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, the United States, Great Britain, Argentina, China, Israel and elsewhere.^[19]

Between 1944-1948, there was the Friends of Armenia Association [Հայաստանի Բարեկամաց Միութիւն (Hayastani Paregamats Mioutiun)], which was established by AGBU and Ramgavar party supporters, with the purpose of promoting love for the Soviet “homeland” and the acquaintance with its culture. Other than the various other sports, cultural, social, charity and other events, there was massive propaganda in favour of the nerkaght movement, including articles in the Association’s “Nor Arax” newspaper, as well as in the Greek-Cypriot communist “Dimokratis” newspaper, lectures and other events. Despite the opposition of the Dashnaktsoutiun party and the colonial government, about 2.000 Armenian-Cypriots had registered; in the end, however, Armenians from poorer countries of the Middle East and the Balkans were preferred. However, there were 4-5 individual Armenian-Cypriot families who emigrated to Soviet Armenia on their own in 1947.

With the announcement of the new wave of nerkaght in 1961, the AGBU and the Ramgavar party started over an even more massive propaganda in favour of “repatriation”. Lectures, film screenings and radio broadcasts were organised, speakers from Soviet Armenia were hosted, which was visited by an Armenian-Cypriot delegation - which later on presented its impressions both in speeches and in the “Henaran” newspaper. Propaganda in favour of nerkaght was also in the left-wing Greek-Cypriot “Haravgi” newspaper, as well at the Melkonian Educational Institute. On the other hand, there was strong opposition on the part of the Dashnaktsoutiun party, for both ideological and pragmatic reasons. As a result, 576 Armenian-Cypriots in total were repatriated to Soviet Armenia between 1962–1964 (amounting to about 15% of the community at the time). From Famagusta's harbour 20 left on 19 September 1962 (with the “Felix Dzerzhinsky” steamship), 373 on 3 October 1962 (with the “Gruzia” steamship), 168 on 19 October 1963 (with the “Litva” steamship) and 15 on 4 September 1964 (with the “Odessa” steamship). Most of them settled in Girovagan (Vanatsor), with a smaller number settling in Leninagan (Guymri). Over the years, some of them managed to re-settle in Yerevan.

Coupled with the exodus of about 900 Armenian-Cypriots to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States during the EOKA emergency (1955-1959), the further emigration of about 600 Armenian-Cypriots to Soviet Armenia brought about a significant reduction to the size of the community, by about a third. Families were divided (not simply ideologically - but also physically), important members of the community were no longer part of it, while unrest was hovering over the future of the community - especially after the 1963–1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny and the ousting of Armenian-Cypriots from their ancient quarter in Nicosia.

Additionally, as news of the emigrants' bad living and financial conditions finally arrived in Cyprus (through coded letters or photographs - due to Soviet censorship -, as well as from visitors to/from Soviet Armenia), there was a sense of bitterness over the whole situation, as well as further rivalry between Dashnaktsoutiun (favouring a free and an independent Armenia) and anti-Dashnaktsoutiun organisations (supporting or, at least, settling with a Soviet Armenia). The latter also lost a number of supporters, as most of the emigrants were affiliated with AGBU and/or Ramgavar. Finally, Dashnaktsoutiun gained more sympathisers in some disillusioned AGBU and/or Ramgavar supporters.

Disappointed by what they saw and lived through, almost all of the ones who went to Soviet Armenia wanted to return to Cyprus from the start, as they were not accustomed to that kind of life. Due to restrictions from the Soviet regime, in order to come back, a large number of them moved to Baku, Azerbaijan. The adventurous return started in 1967 and continued until 2005, although most of them came during the late 1980s (after the Spitak earthquake) and the early 1990s (after the dissolution of the Soviet Union). In fact, the first wave of Armenians from Armenia who came to Cyprus after 1991 were mostly Armenian-Cypriots who had migrated to Soviet Armenia in the 1960s and their spouses/descendants.^[9] Their lives have been indelibly marked, also creating a sort of “identity crisis”: in Cyprus they are considered “Hayastantsi” (Armenians from Armenia), while in Armenia they were considered “Gibratsi” (Cypriots) or “Gibrahay” (Armenians from Cyprus).

• “2 thousand people registered: The delegations are arriving soon”, front-page article from “Nor Arax” (1947)
  “2 thousand people registered: The delegations are arriving soon”, front-page article from “Nor Arax” (1947)
• “1000 Armenians of Cyprus are repatriating”, front-page article from “Dimokratis” (1947)
  “1000 Armenians of Cyprus are repatriating”, front-page article from “Dimokratis” (1947)
• “The repatriated Armenians of Cyprus will settle in three new-built towns”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1962)
  “The repatriated Armenians of Cyprus will settle in three new-built towns”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1962)
• “En route to repatriation”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1962)
  “En route to repatriation”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1962)
• “Home-coming of the Armenian-Cypriots”, front-page article from “Henaran” (1962)
  “Home-coming of the Armenian-Cypriots”, front-page article from “Henaran” (1962)
• “153 more Armenians began for the journey of repatriation”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1963)
  “153 more Armenians began for the journey of repatriation”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1963)
• “A new group of Cypriot Armenians has repatriated”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1964)
  “A new group of Cypriot Armenians has repatriated”, front-page article from “Haravgi” (1964)

Information media

Despite its small size, the Armenian-Cypriot community has a long list of newspapers and magazines to show.

Current situation

Currently, the Armenian-Cypriot community has the following printed, electronic and online information media:

• The Armenian radio programme has been broadcast since November 1953 on CyBC. Initially, it was broadcast on CyBC's first programme (CyBC 1, 1953–1955), while later (1955–1963) it was broadcast on both CyBC's programmes; in 1964 it was broadcast only on CyBC 1, until in 1965 it moved to the second programme (CyBC 2). For many years, it was the only Middle Eastern broadcast in Armenian, with audiences from around the region. Initially broadcast on Tuesdays only (1953–1954), it was later on broadcast on Sundays only (1955–1970), on Sundays and Wednesdays (1970–1975) and then on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (1976–1977). Between 1978–1980, it was broadcast on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while - since 1981 - the programme has been broadcast daily; As of 1996, it airs every day between 17:00–18:00.
• Artsakank (Արձագանգ, Echo) was established in March 1995 (Artsakank website). It is a monthly newspaper in Armenian, published by the “Azadamard” Armenian Youth Centre, with Arto Tavitian as its editor-in-chief.
• Azad Tsayn (Ազատ Ձայն, Free Voice) was established in April 2003. It is a monthly newspaper in Armenian, published by Kevork Zeitountsian, who as of 2012 is also its editor-in-chief; previously, its editor-in-chief was Yeran Kouyoumdjian.
• Keghart (Գեղարդ, Lance), a monthly newsletter in Armenian, was established in October 1997 and it is published by the Armenian Prelature in Cyprus thanks to the initiative of Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, who is also its editor-in-chief.
• Lradou (Լրատու, Newsletter), a tri-monthly newsletter in Armenian, was established in October 2006 and it is published by the Office of the Armenian Representative. Its editor-in-chief is the Armenian MP's assistant, Nayiri Mouradian.(Lradou website).
• Gibrahayer (Armenian-Cypriots), established in September 1999, is an online newsletter circulating every Thursday since 2010 (between 1999–2010 it circulated every Wednesday) on a monthly basis since 2012 (between 1999–2012 it circulated on a weekly basis) (Gibrahayer website). The news site has most of its contents in English, but also carries some Armenian, Greek or Turkish articles. Its editor-in-chief and owner is Simon Aynedjian. In October 2010, the e-magazine won an International Media Award from the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora at the All-Armenian Media conference in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Azad Khosk (Ազատ Խօսք, Free Speech), established in April 2011, is a monthly online magazine in Armenian (Azad Khosk website). Its editor-in-chief is Yeran Kouyoumdjian.

Information media of the past

The following is a comprehensive list of Armenian-Cypriot newspapers and magazines printed in the past:^[17]

• Printed in Nicosia were the following media:
  • Kharazan [Խարազան (Whip), 1900 – publisher/editor-in-chief: Garabed Takvorian; a monthly newspaper],
  • Azad Gibrahay [Ազատ Կիպրահայ (Free Armenian-Cypriot), 1922–1923 – publisher/editor-in-chief: Haroutiun Arslanian; a weekly newspaper],
  • Ovasis [Ովասիս (Oasis), 1928–1930 – publisher: Maxoud Maxoudian, editors-in-chief: Samuel Toumayian and Dickran Luledjian; a monthly magazine]
  • Nshouil [Նշոյլ (Ray), 1936–1938 – publisher: Melikian National School, editor-in-chief: Setrak Guebenlian; a half-yearly newspaper],
  • Henaran [Յենարան (Support), 1959–1962 – publisher/editor-in-chief: Setrak Guebenlian; a weekly newspaper],
  • Gibrahay Deghegadou [Կիպրահայ Տեղեկատու (Armenian-Cypriot Informant), 1978–1993 – publisher: Armenian Prelature of Cyprus, editors-in-chief: Bishop Zareh Aznavorian and Senior Archimandrite Yeghishe Mandjikian; a monthly newsletter],
  • Haytoug [Հայդուկ (Guerilla), 1979–1982, publisher: ASALA supporters and sympathisers, editors-in-chief: Kevork Zeitountsian, Manoug Yildizian, Haig Indjirdjian and Sebouh Gorgorian; a bimonthly newspaper],
  • Artsakank [Արձագանգ (Echo), 1981–1982 – publisher: Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus, editor-in-chief: Arto Tavitian; a quarterly newspaper]
  • Artsakank [Արձագանգ (Echo), 1983–1987 – publishers: Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus/“Azadamard” Armenian Youth Centre, editor-in-chief: Arto Tavitian; an annual magazine] and
  • Paros [Փարոս (Pharos), 1997–2003 – publisher: Masis der Parthogh, editor-in-chief: Yeran Kouyoumdjian; a monthly newspaper].

• Printed in Larnaca were the following media:
  • Kraser [Գրասէր (Bibliophile), 1923–1925 – publisher: Armenian Bibliophiles' Association, editors-in-chief: Kevork Chakmakdjian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian and Giragos Geokbashian; a weekly newspaper],
  • Arax [Արաքս (Arax), 1924–1929 – publisher/editor-in-chief: Mardiros N. Mosditchian; initially a fortnightly newspaper (1924-1926), which later became monthly (1926-1929)]
  • Lousarpi [Լուսարփի (Sunlight), 1925–1929 – publisher: Armenophony Association, editor-in-chief: Manuel Kassouni; a monthly newspaper].
  • Artsakank [Արձագանգ (Echo), 1952–1956, 1958-1959 – publisher: AGBU Cyprus, editor-in-chief: Garabed Papazian; initially a quarterly magazine (1952-1954), which later came out every five months (1954-1956) and finally every year (1958-1959)] and
  • Deghegadou [Տեղեկատու (Informant), 1973–1995 – publisher: AGBU Cyprus, editor-in-chief: Garabed Papazian; a magazine which circulated three or four times a year].

• The Nor Arax [Նոր Արաքս (New Arax)] newspaper was initially printed in Larnaca (1945–1946) and later on in Nicosia (1946–1948). At first, it was published by Haig M. Mosditchian, who was also its editor-in-chief. When it was published in Nicosia, the publisher became the Friends of Armenia Association and Haig M. Mosditchian remained as its editor-in-chief. Originally, it was a fortnightly newspaper (1945-1946), which later became a weekly one (1946-1948).

• The Melkonian Educational Institute published the following information media:
  • Ayk magazine [Այգ (Dawn), 1937–1940, 1948–1956, 1959–1964, 1970–1976, 1978-1982, 1993–2006], the oldest Armenian secondary school magazine, with various editors-in-chief, amongst them Vahe Vahian (Sarkis Abdalian), Dr. Haroutiun Essegulian, Nerses Tamamian, Manuel Keosseyan, Assadour Devledian, Minas Kojayan, Violette Tashdjian and Yeghia Kayayan. In 1937 it came out every fortnight; in 1938 every three months, in 1939 every six months and it became annual in 1940; later on, two to four issues came out every year. As of 1971 it became an annual magazine.
  • Tsolk newspaper [Ցոլք (Gleam), 1968–1991], with Manuel Keosseyan and Minas Kojayan as its editors-in-chief. It originally started as a weekly and then fortnightly newspaper (1968–1973) and then it became a monthly and later on a bimonthly newspaper (1973–1991).
  • Hayatsk quarterly newspaper [Հայեագք (Glance), 1998–2000], which later on became the Hayatsk magazine (2000–2004), circulating three times a year, with Yeghia Kayayan as its editor-in-chief.

Notable personalities

Armenian-Cypriots have had a significant contribution in all walks of life in Cyprus: entrepreneurs, merchants, consuls, diplomats, lawyers, religious personalities, professors, journalists, doctors, musicians, painters, poets, photographers, sports personalities, researchers, Scouting/Guiding personalities and politicians.

In the late 18th century/early 19th century, Nicosia's leading citizen was an Armenian merchant called Sarkis Agha. Sarkis - the son of Avak - was originally the dragoman for the French Consul (at least since 1774 until 1798) and then he became the dragoman for the English Consul (from 1798 until his death in 1810) - as was his eldest son, Krikor (between 1799-1809). He was also a “beratli” (bearer of a privilege, issued in 1798) and used to pay the annual baksheesh to the Muhassil. His mansion had 80 rooms, richly and elegantly decorated, and resembled an Oriental palace: the finest carpets, numerous windows near the roof with carved wooden encasements, divans covered with satin and embroidered cushions, raised floors in some chambers, even a harem; it was known as “the house of many rooms” and was said to be as large as 100 ordinary houses - including a beautiful garden full of fruit trees and marble fountains. Sarkis had an annual income of 30-35 tons of wheat, farms and cattle. His wealth reached the enormous amount of 79.859 kuruş (piasters), together with 13 mules, 7 donkeys and 30 oxen, not to mention the valuable items contained within his mansion and the lands he owned. When he died in 1810, the Mufti, the Kadı, the Muhassil, the Armenian Bishop and Sarkis' son-in-law, Hadji Symeon Agha of Crimea, all co-operated to make the most of his great fortune - rousing even the interest of the central Ottoman government in Constantinople, contesting his wealth amounted to 90.844 kuruş (piasters). He was certainly a unique case. His children were Krikor, Avak (both merchants) and Anna (the wife of Hadji Symeon Agha).

19th century

From the old, local Armenian-Cypriots, who resided in Cyprus before the arrival of the Armenian refugees from the Armenian Genocide, as well as from the Ottoman Armenians who arrived in Cyprus after the British conquest, we could mention the following prominent personalities:

• Gaspard Amirayan (1859–1927), Assistant Crown Advocate.
• Mikael Assadourian (1837– c. 1890), interpreter and landowner in Kythrea.
• Vahan Bedelian (1894–1990), a renowned musician, conductor and music teacher who thrived in Nicosia, working with all the communities of the island. He is considered the “father” of classical music in Cyprus.
• Artin Boghos Eramian (c. 1800 – c. 1870), landowner and farmer from Dheftera.
• Boghos Eramian (1840–1918), landowner and farmer from Dheftera and also the Head Treasurer.
• Sdepan Eramian (1880–1937), landowner and farmer from Dheftera.
• Apkar Guvezian (1857–1922), landowner and farmer from Nicosia.
• Manuel Kassouni (1887-1974), an intellectual, professor, researcher and Evangelical missionary in Larnaca, Cyprus and Fresno, California. He wrote many school books, as well as the well-known “A note-book of home geography”.
• Aram Kevorkian (1888–1976), Postmaster-General of Cyprus.
• Vahram Levonian (1896–1976), Director of the Department of Water Works, Irrigation and Water Supply and first Director of the Water Board of Nicosia.
• Hayrabed Melikian (1809–1874), landowner and farmer from Kythrea.
• Artin Bey Melikian (1858–1921), landowner and farmer from Kythrea and the benefactor of the Melikian school.
• Dickran Ouzounian (1870–1957), entrepreneur in Nicosia and the benefactor of the Ouzounian school.
• Movses Soultanian (1884–1977), entrepreneur from Nicosia.
• Apisoghom Utidjian (1853–1929), Chief Translator and Interpreter for the British administration and the co-author of the book “The Imperial Ottoman Penal Code”.
• Vahram Utidjian (1888–1973), an avid art collector and the benefactor of the Martyrs' chapel on the grounds of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
• Vahram Yenovkian (1878-1965), a music composer, violinist and music teacher in Larnaca.

20th century (until 1923)

The arrival of refugees from the Armenian Genocide brought new talents and new crafts and arts in Cyprus. Many excelled in various fields, but the following is a short list of internationally and/or locally recognised Armenian-Cypriots, who excelled either in Cyprus or abroad:

• Vahan Avedissian (1902-1959), one of the most gifted photographer's of his time in Nicosia.
• Georges der Parthogh (1923–2008), a veteran journalist, the co-founder of the Cyprus Weekly newspaper and the “father” of photojournalism in Cyprus.
• Sempad Derounian (Devledian) (1923- ), a veteran lawyer, poet and the author of numerous poetry collections living in Nicosia.
• Takouhy Devledian (1923-2013), a former American Academy teacher and the author of the book “Guiding in Cyprus: Period 1945-1990” and her autobiography, she was amongst the founders of the Girl Guides Association of Cyprus, which she served as its General Commissioner (1987–1990).
• Keghdzin Guebenlian (1918-2003), a pianist and piano teacher in Nicosia.
• Shahe Guebenlian (1920–2007), a militant journalist and once the Editor-in-Chief of the Cyprus Mail newspaper (1948–1950). From 1953 until his retirement he was a correspondent and, later on, a manager of Reuters in London, United Kingdom.
• Dr. Vatche Kalbian (1923–1992), a top cardiologist, once the Head of the Department of Pathology and later Director of the Nicosia General Hospital.
• Hagop Keheyan (1922–2013), an entrepreneur and member of the consular corps, amongst the co-founders the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society (1971) and the “Arodhaphnousa” Hospice in Strovolos (1975). In the 1990s he also served as Chairman of the Cyprus Heart Association.
• Kevork K. Keshishian (1909–1996), a diligent researcher and the author of Cyprus best-selling tourist guide “Romantic Cyprus”, as well as of the books “Nicosia, Capital of Cyprus Then and Now” and “Famagusta Town and District”.
• Haigaz Mangoian (1907–1970), a photographer and the co-author of the reference book “The Island of Cyprus” who thrived in Nicosia.
• Hagop Palamoudian (1910-1996), a long-serving Chief Scout and first General Scout Commissioner of Cyprus (1960-1962).
• Manoug Parikian (1920–1987), a top-ranking world-class concert violinist and violin professor in the United Kingdom, with numerous concerts and recordings.
• Khoren Paroyian (1914–1983), the Catholicos of Cilicia between 1963–1983.
• Edward Voskeritchian (1902–1990), a photographer who thrived in Limassol.
• Sona Yeghiayian (1915-2007), a former Director of St. John Ambulance Brigade and amongst its longest-serving members.
• Siroun Yenovkian (1914-2010), a music composer and violinist in Nicosia.
• Giragos Zartarian (1915-1962), a photographer who thrived in Nicosia.

20th century (post-Genocide)

The descendants of the Armenian Genocide survivors have also excelled in various fields. The following is a list of internationally and/or locally recognised Armenian-Cypriots:

• Sahag Ayvazian (1929–2003), the Armenian Prelate of Greece between 1958–2003.
• Sebouh Abcarian (1930- ), a renowned artist (musician, painter, sculptor), who is the conductor of the KOHAR Symphony Orchestra and Choir. He mainly lives in Gyumri, Armenia.
• Haroutune Bedelian (1945- ), a concert violinist and currently a violin professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with numerous concerts and recordings.
• Levon Chilingirian (1948- ), a violinist, conductor and music professor at the Royal College of Music who thrives in London, United Kingdom.
• Sona Gargaloyan (1971- ), a pianist, soprano singer and phonetics professor living in Nicosia.
• Marios Garoyian (1961- ), the current Chairman of the DIKO party and the ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives of Cyprus (2008–2011).
• John Guevherian (1948- ), a painter and architect living in Nicosia.
• Diran Gureghian (1948- ), the Archbishop of Armenians in Russia and New Nakhichevan (1976–2001). He continues to be Archbishop for a group of non-Etchmiadzin followers in Moscow, Russia.
• Dr. Vartkes Kassouni (1931- ), a long-serving senior minister of the Armenian Evangelical Church (1957–present) who lives in California, United States.
• Nouritza Matossian (1948- ), a writer, actress, broadcaster and human rights activist who thrives in London, United Kingdom.
• Dr. Akabi Nassibian-Ekmekdjian (1929- ), former Headmistress of the Melkonian Educational Institute (1985–1988), a historian with a PhD from the University of Oxford and the author of the book “Great Britain and the Armenian Question”, who lives in Limassol.
• Benon Sevan (1937- ), once the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (1992–2005) and the Head of the Oil-for-Food Programme (1996–2005). He lives in Nicosia.
• Zaven V. Sinanian (1960- ), Judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court (2002–present) and previously Deputy Attorney-General of California (1989-2002).
• Dr. Manoug J. Somakian (1960- ), former diplomat, professor at the Webster University in Bangkok, Thailand, with a PhD from the University of London and the author of the book “Empires in Conflict: Armenia and the Great Powers 1895-1920”.
• Vartan Tashdjian (1941- ), former Headmaster of the Nareg Armenian Schools (1975–2001), current Chairman of the Armenian Schools' Committee and painter, poet and writer living in Nicosia.
• Vahan Terzian (1953-1998), several times Cyprus Rally champion and one of the most important rally drivers in Cyprus.
• Hayrabed Torossian (1938-2012), a Scoutmaster and veteran cellist in Nicosia.
• Shake Varsian (Varsenig Boyadjian) (1925–1996), a novelist and journalist who thrived in Yerevan, Armenia.
• Ara Vorsganian (1934- ), a violinist in Nicosia, once assistant conductor of the Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra.

Timeline

• 578 AD: The first documented presence of Armenians in Cyprus.
• 610–641: Some Armenians arrive during the reign of Armenian-descended Byzantine Emperor Heraclius for political reasons.
• 717–728: Some Armenians arrive during the pontificate of Catholicos Hovhannes Odznetsi for commercial reasons.
• 965: More Armenians arrive after the liberation of Cyprus from the Arab raids by patrician Niketas Chalkoutzes for military reasons.
• 973: Catholicos Khatchig I establishes the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus in Nicosia.
• 1136–1138: Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus moves the entire population of the Armenian city of Tell Hamdun to Cyprus.
• 1185: Byzantine Duke Isaac Comnenus brings with him Armenian warriors after his wedding to the daughter of Prince Thoros II.
• 1267: Several Armenians flee to Cyprus after the Fall of Jerusalem.
• 1291: Many Armenians arrive in Cyprus after the Fall of Acre.
• 1309: King Oshin exiles to Cyprus a large number of Armenians who were against the decision of the Latinophile Council of Sis.
• 1322: 30.000 Armenians escape to Cyprus after the Saracen attacks on Cilicia.
• 1335 and 1346: A new wave of Armenian refugees arrives in Cyprus after the Mameluke attacks on Cilicia.
• 1403 and 1421: Thousands of Armenians arrive in Cyprus after the Ottoman conquest of Cilicia.
• 1441: Some Armenians from Cilicia are encouraged to settle in Famagusta.
• December 1467: After a prolonged drought and a Litany offered by Armenian Archbishop Sarkis, rains immediately fall and the inhabitants of Nicosia rejoice.
• May 1571: The Notre Dame de Tyre or Tortosa church is officially granted to the Armenians of Nicosia by a firman.
• 3 January 1814: Official inauguration of Saint Macarius' chapel at the Magaravank.
• July 1821: Amongst the 470 executions by the Ottomans is the Armenian priest of Nicosia, der Bedros.
• 1860: The belfry of the Virgin Mary church in Nicosia is constructed, by donation of Hapetig Nevrouzian, one of the first in Ottoman Cyprus.
• 1894–1896: The Hamidian massacres take place in Ottoman Turkey, resulting in 300.000 deaths. About 1.000 Armenians find refuge in Cyprus, of whom only about 100 stay. These refugees hailed mainly from Dikranagerd, Aintab and Kilis.
• 8 September 1901: The students of Vahan Kurkjian's Orphanage erect the heap monument for Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste.
• 1909: The Adana massacre takes place in the Adana province, resulting in 30.000 deaths. About 2.000 Armenians flee to Cyprus; almost all of them return within the year.
• 20 May 1914: Senior Archimandrite Serovpe Samvelian inaugurates Saint Stepen's church in Larnaca.
• 1915–1923: Ottomans and Young Turks perpetrate the Armenian Genocide, causing over 1.500.000 deaths. About 8.000 Armenian refugees arrive in Cyprus, of whom about 1.300 settle permanently. These refugees mainly hailed from Adana, Silifke, Sis, Marash, Tarsus, Caesarea, Hadjin and Aintab.
• 1916–1918: The Armenian Legion is formed and trained in Monarga, near Boghazi, consisting of over 4.000 Diasporan Armenians, who later fought the Ottoman Empire.
• 30 June 1918: Archbishop Taniel Hagopian consecrates Saint Stephen’s church in Larnaca.
• 15 February 1924: High Commissioner Sir Malcolm Stevenson lays the foundation stone for the Melkonian Educational Institute.
• 13 February 1926: Archbishop Zaven der Yeghiayian inaugurates the Melkonian Educational Institute.
• 2 August 1931: Catholicos Sahag II and Archbishop Bedros Saradjian unveil the mortar obelisk on top of Mekhitar’s Hill at the Magaravank.
• 24 April 1932: Archbishop Bedros Saradjian unveils the mortar Genocide monument in old Nicosia.
• 8 September 1933: Catholicos Sahag II unveils the stone column at the square of the Magaravank.
• 14 January 1945: Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni celebrates the first Liturgy in almost four centuries at the Ganchvor church in Famagusta.
• 28 July 1946: Pastor Yohanna der Megerditchian lays the foundation stone of the Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia.
• 1 July 1947: Pastor Yohanna der Megerditchian dedicates the Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia.
• 11 April 1948: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan consecrates Saint George’s church in Limassol.
• 2 May 1948: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan blesses the Archangels' artesian fountain near the Magaravank.
• 17 November 1951: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan inaugurates the old Limassol Armenian School.
• 17 November 1953: Transmission of the first Armenian broadcast on CyBC radio.
• 24 April 1954: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan lays the foundation stone for the marble Mausoleum of the Melkonian Brothers.
• 15 January 1956: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan unveils the marble Mausoleum of the Melkonian Brothers.
• 8 March 1957: Arson of the Ganchvor church by extremist Turkish-Cypriots.
• 5 August 1960: Berge Tilbian is voted Armenian Representative at the Greek Communal Chamber, securing 60,49% of the votes.
• 16 August 1960: Cyprus gains its Independence; Armenians are recognised as a “religious group” by the Constitution.
• 13 November 1960: Armenian-Cypriots opt in the referendum to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community.
• 15 July 1961: Limassol's Mayor Costas Partassides delivers the golden key of the Limassol Armenian cemetery to Mihran Bastadjian, Chairman of Limassol's Armenian church committee
• 21 December 1963 – 26 March 1964: Intercommunal troubles; extremist Turkish-Cypriots take over the Armenian Quarter of Nicosia and the Ganchvor church in Famagusta
• 19 July 1970: Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 56,30% of the votes
• 16 April 1972: Chief Scout Commissioner Demetris Demetriou unveils the cement monument, built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Melkonian Educational Institute's 7th Scout Group.
• 12 November 1972: Archbishop Makarios III and Catholicos Khoren I inaugurate the new Nareg School in Nicosia
• 24 April 1975: Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the House of Representatives
• 25 September 1976: Archbishop Makarios III and Bishop Nerses Pakhdigian lay the foundation stone for the new Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia
• 3 October 1976: Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 50,96% of the votes
• 12 April 1977: Headmistress Sosse Bedigian and School Committee Vice-Chairman Hovhannes Sheohmelian unveil the stone monument, erected to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Melkonian Educational Institute's 7th Scout Group
• 16 April 1978: Co-adjutor Catholicos Karekin II blesses the 16 columns of the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 10 December 1979: Strovolos Improvement Board renames Cyclops street into Armenia street. The street sign is officially placed on 15 January 1980.
• 8 May 1981: AGBU President Alec Manougian unveils the twin monument for the Armenian Alphabet and Mother Armenia at the Melkonian.
• 22 November 1981: Catholicos Khoren I and Co-adjutor Catholicos Karekin II inaugurate and consecrate the new Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 14 March 1982: Aram Kalaydjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 58,36% of the votes.
• 24 April 1982: Bishop Zareh Aznavorian and Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian unveil the marble plaque placed at Acropolis Park in memory of the Armenian Genocide.
• 4 March 1984: Catholicos Karekin II inaugurates the new building of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus.
• 13 July 1986: Aram Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 65,08% of the votes.
• 24 May 1987: President Spyros Kyprianou lays the foundation stone for the new boarding section of the Melkonian.
• 30 May 1987: President Spyros Kyprianou inaugurates the new AYMA club house.
• 1 August 1987: The foundation stone of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly is laid.
• 6 March 1988: Minister of Interior Christodoulos Veniamin inaugurates the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 21 October 1989: Acting President Vassos Lyssarides inaugurates the new boarding section of the Melkonian.
• 22 October 1989: AGBU President Alec Manougian inaugurates the new Nicosia AGBU club house.
• 19 April 1990: The House of Representatives recognises 24 April as National Remembrance Day for the Armenian Genocide.
• 24 March 1991: Representative Aram Kalaydjian unveils the sandstone statue of Saint Gregory of Nareg in front of the Nicosia Armenian School.
• 24 April 1991: Official presentation of the new Armenian Genocide monument, in the courtyard of the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 19 May 1991: Aram Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 67,00% of the votes.
• 22 October 1995: Bedros Kalaydjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives in a by-election, securing 60,34% of the votes.
• 15 December 1995: Catholicos Aram I lays the foundation stone for the Holy Saviour of All chapel at the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
• 18 May 1996: President Glafcos Clerides inaugurates the new Nareg School in Larnaca.
• 26 May 1996: Bedros Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 73,91% of the votes.
• 16 February 1997: Catholicos Aram I consecrates the Holy Saviour of All chapel at the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
• 3 February 1999: Catholicos Aram I inaugurates the “Vahram Utidjian” Hall at the basement of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus.
• 23 March 2001: Aglandjia Municipality renames Ephesus street into Melkonian street. The street sign is officially unveiled on 7 April 2001 by Mayor Andreas Petrou.
• 27 May 2001: Bedros Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 57,13% of the votes.
• 21 October 2001: Presidential Commissioner Manolis Christophides unveils the marble khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the eternal friendship of Armenians and Greeks in Cyprus, in front of the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 28 April 2002: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the marble tomb-ossuary in front of the AYMA club house.
• 1 December 2002: Armenian is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus.
• 1 May 2005: Donator Alecco Bezikian unveils the bronze bust of Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian in the courtyard of the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
• 9 October 2005: Dr. Vahakn Atamyan is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives in a by-election, securing 52,03% of the votes.
• 21 May 2006: Vartkes Mahdessian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 52,60% of the votes.
• 28 June 2006: President Tassos Papadopoulos inaugurates the “Arousiag and Alice Raphaelian” wing of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
• 24 November 2006: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan lays the foundation stone for the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaca.
• 28 May 2008: President Demetris Christofias unveils the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaca.
• 28 September 2008: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) in front of the Saint George church in Limassol.
• 5 November 2008: President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Nareg School in Limassol.
• 28 February 2010: Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurates the new AYMA hall.
• 11 April 2010: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian re-consecrates Saint Paul's chapel at the old Armenian cemetery in Nicosia and celebrates the first Liturgy since 1963. Official presentation of the inscription containing the names of the 419 people buried there.
• 8 May 2010: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurate the renovated functions’ hall next to the Saint George church in Limassol.
• 5 May 2011: President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Larnaca AGBU club house.
• 17 May 2011: Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Andreas Demetriou inaugurates the new Nicosia Nareg auditorium.
• 22 May 2011: Vartkes Mahdessian is re-elected as Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 67,67% of the votes.
• 25 December 2011: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian consecrates the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the centennial of the Adana massacre and the myriads of martyrs of the Armenian nation, located in front of Saint Stephen church in Larnaca.
• 26 February 2012: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Fr. Mashdots Ashkarian consecrate the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to all deceased of the Armenian nation in Larnaca, located at the Armenian cemetery in Larnaca.

See also

• Armenia–Cyprus relations
• Armenians in Greece
• Armenians in Turkey
• Armenians in the United Kingdom
• Languages of Cyprus

Notes

• PIO Booklet "The Armenians of Cyprus"
• PIO Booklet "Οι Αρμένιοι της Κύπρου"
• Book on the Armenians of Cyprus
• Brochure on the Armenians of Cyprus
• The Armenian-Cypriot community (article in Greek)
• The Armenian education in Cyprus (CHRONICLE in Greek)
• The Republic of Cyprus and the Religious Groups (book in Greek)
• Presentation on the Armenian-Cypriot community (in Greek)
• Armenians in Cyprus (schools, churches, clubs)
• Information on the Armenians of Cyprus

References

External links

• cyprusarmenians.com Cyprus Armenians site
• Artsakank Armenian monthly and online publication English language section
• Gibrahayer site
• Azad Khosk site
• AGBU Cyprus site
• Kalaydjian Foundation site
• AGBU-Ararat futsal site
• Sourp Stepanos site
• Pharos Arts Foundation site
• Nareg Gymnasium

Video documentaries

• The Armenians in Cyprus (English)
• Οι Αρμένιοι στην Κύπρο (Greek)

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