Armenians in Cyprus

The Armenians in Cyprus are ethnic Armenians living in Cyprus. Armenians maintain a notable presence of about 2000 in Cyprus, mostly centered in Nicosia, but also with communities in Limassol and Larnaca.

History

Armenians have had a presence in Cyprus since the Kingdom of Cilicia established itself on the Anatolian coast north of Cyprus around 1078 AD. The Kingdom, formed from Armenian refugees fleeing the Seljuk invasion to the north, remaining an ally with Byzantium, including Cyprus. Relations between Cilicia and Cyprus remained strong through the Crusader period, peaking when Leo II of Armenia married into the Lusignans of the Crusader Kingdom of Cyprus.

While small numbers of Armenians moved to Cyprus and other Mediterranean islands while Armenia and most of Southeast Europe was under Ottoman Rule, the majority of Armenians in Cyprus immigrated there following the Armenian Genocide in the 1915-23 period. [ [http://www.hayem.org/index.htm?p=72 Armenians Cypriot ] ] .

The traditional Armenian quarter part of medieval Nicosia has been left abandoned since 1974 [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Nicosia’s Armenian quarter being returned to Armenian community of Cyprus | date=02.04.2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=25575 | work =PanARMENIAN | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-02 | language = ] .

There is also the Armenoghori village in the Limassol region, which used to have a big Armenian population.

Politics

Like the Latins and the Cypriot Maronites of Lebanese and Syrian descent, Armenian-Cypriots have special minority status in Cyprus and are exempt from the military, though some elements of the community have been vocal about removing this exemption.

Marios Garoyian (Greek: Μάριος Καρογιάν) born in 1961 is a Cypriot politician and was the President of the Democratic Party since 2006. After the election of Dimitris Christofias as President of the Republic of Cyprus in 2008, Garoyian was elected to the position of the President of the House of Representatives in Cyprus, the second highest political position in Cyprus.

The Armenian community is guaranteed a seat in the House of Parliament elected by the Armenians themselves.

Mr. Mahdessian Vartkes is the present Armenian Representative at the Cypriot House of Representatives.
He was elected Member of the House of Representatives standing as an Armenian Religious Group candidate during the parliamentary elections of 21 May 2006
Mr.Mahdessian received 52.6 percent (899) of the total votes against rival candidate Dr Vahakn N. Atamian who received 47.4 percent (810) of the total votes.

Education

Armenian schools can be found in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol and run undr the auspices of the Armenian churches active in those cities.

Nicosia also had the long-running private school, the renowned Melkonian Educational Institution in the heart of the capital Nicosia. The school belonged to the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Melkonian School boasted an international membership of Armenian students from all over the world and great educational and cultural impact. But it was closed because of financial difficulty and after great many years of litigation in the Cypriot courts.

Religion

Cyprus has six Armenian churches, four in Nicosia and one each in Limassol and Larnaca.

Armenian Prelacy and the main church of Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church are in the capital Nicosia. There are also the Armenian Apostolic Church (in Larnaca) and the Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church (in Limassol).

There are also three abandoned Armenian Churches in Northern Cyprus, currently inaccessible by Armenian communities who fled the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, including the ancient Sourp Magar Monastery [ [http://www.hayem.org/index.htm?p=76 Armenians Cypriot ] ] . There have been attempts to renovate parts of these churches, including most notably the historic Armenian Evangelical Church.

The Armenian Apostolic churces in Cyprus are under the jursidiction of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The traditional Armenian cemetery is also in the occupied North part of the city, but special permission is granted for Armenians to pass for burial of their dead.

ee also

*Armenians in Greece
*Armenians in Turkey

References

External Links

* [http://www.cyprusarmenians.com/ cyprusarmenians.com The official Cyprus Armenians Site]
* [http://www.hayem.org/ Hayem.org The first and oldest Cyprus Armenians Site]