The History of Armenians in Cyprus from Antiquity to this Day

Nicosia, 22 September 2017

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
katoomba@cytanet.com.cy

Distinguished guests, fellow Cypriots, ladies and gentlemen,

There is a long link between the Armenians and Cyprus, possibly dating back to the 1st or even the
5th century BC. However, Armenians have had a continuous documented presence on the island
since 578 AD: during his campaign against the Persian King Chosroes I, Byzantine General
Maurice the Cappadocian captured 10.090 Armenians as prisoners in Arzanene (Aghdznik), of
whom about a third were deported to Cyprus. 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.

Throughout the Byzantine period (330-1191), more Armenians arrived for political, commercial
and military reasons. The Armenian Bishopric in Nicosia was established in 973 AD. Some
Armenians served as generals and governors of Cyprus, such as Alexios Mousere (868-874), Basil
Haigaz (958), Vahram (965), Elpidios Brachamios (1075-1085) and Leo of Symbatices (910-911),
who undertook the construction of Saint Lazarus basilica in Larnaca, reportedly an Armenian
Apostolic church in the 10th century, which was later used by Armenian Catholics.

More Armenians arrived after the purchase of Cyprus by the King of Jerusalem, Guy de Lusignan,
in 1192. Along with the other Christian bourgeois, noblemen, knights and warriors who came, they
were bounteously granted fiefs, manors, lands, offices and various privileges. Because of their
proximity, their commercial ties and a series of marriages, the Frankish Kingdom of Cyprus and the
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia became inextricably linked. Following the fall of the latter, the title
and privileges of the King of Armenia were transferred in 1396 to his Lusignan cousin in Nicosia.
Throughout the Frankish Era (1192-1489), thousands of Armenians sought refuge in Cyprus
fleeing the Muslim attacks on Cilicia and the Holy Land and the Ottoman occupation of Cilicia. By
the late 15th century, Cyprus had become the easternmost bulwark of Christianity and it remained so
throughout the Venetian Era (1489-1570). During those times, Armenians were amongst the seven
most important religious groups in Cyprus, with a significant church presence and in possession of
shops and stores in the capital, Nicosia, as well as at the harbours of Famagusta, Limassol and
Paphos, thus contributing greatly to the islands commercial development.

Following the Ottoman conquest (1570-1571), a number of Ottoman Armenians who had been
drafted earlier settled in Nicosia, where the Prelature was recognised as an Ethnarchy, on the basis
of the millet institution. Conversely, the Bishopric in Famagusta was abolished, as its population
was slaughtered or expelled and the entire walled city became forbidden for non-Muslims until the
late 19th century. Gifted with the acumen of industry, Armenian-Cypriots practised lucrative
professions throughout the Ottoman Era (1571-1878); additionally, in the beginning of the 17th
century Persian Armenians settled in Cyprus as silk traders. However, the harsh oppression and
onerous taxation decreased the number of Armenians and other Christians dramatically, compelling
many 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. Some
Ottoman Armenian families settled here throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with a few
becoming prominent land owners, especially in Kythrea and Dheftera. Further administrative
improvements were observed during the Tanzimat period (1839-1876).
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,
translators and public servants at the consulates and the British administration.

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 Asia Minor, Cilicia and Anatolia, who
arrived in Larnaca and all its other harbours, some by chance, others by intent; about 1.500 of them
made our 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, capable entrepreneurs and formidable merchants, unsurpassed craftsmen
and pioneering photographers; Armenian refugees also introduced new crafts, professions, dishes
and sweets to the island, thus contributing to Cyprus socioeconomic and cultural development.

Special mention should be made to the little-known Eastern Legion (later called Armenian
Legion), which was formed and trained between December 1916 and May 1918 at Monarga
village, in the Carpass peninsula. Consisting of over 4.000 Diasporan Armenian volunteers, the
Legion fought against the Ottoman Empire and occupied Cilicia between 1920-1921.

The Armenian community prospered throughout the British Era (1878-1960), by establishing
associations, choirs, scout groups, sports teams, musical ensembles, churches, cemeteries and
schools in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Famagusta, Amiandos and elsewhere, including the famous
Melkonian Educational Institute (1926-2005). Law-abiding by nature, 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.

The 1960 Independence brought a new era for the Armenians of Cyprus, who - together with the
Maronites and the Latins - were recognised as religious groups by the Constitution (Article 2 3)
and opted to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community in the 1960 referendum. They were also given
political representation with an elected Representative - initially a full member of the Greek
Communal Chamber (Article 109) and, since 1965, a non-voting 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 mainly 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; additionally, about 600 Armenian-Cypriots emigrated to Soviet Armenia, as part of
the Panarmenian movement for repatriation between 1962-1964 (nerkaght).

During the 1963-1964 inter-communal troubles, the community suffered major losses, as the
Armenian quarter of Nicosia was captured by Turkish-Cypriot extremists; also taken was the
Ganchvor church in Famagusta. Overall, 231 Armenian-Cypriot families became victims to the
Turks and/or lost their shops. As a result, hundreds of Armenian-Cypriots left for Great Britain,
Canada, Australia and the United States. A further blow came with the 1974 Turkish invasion: the
entire community of Famagusta and some families in Kyrenia and Nicosia became refugees, the
Melkonian boys dormitory was bombed by the Turkish Air Force and the renowned Magaravank
monastery in Pentadhaktylos was seized by the Turkish troops. As a result, dozens more emigrated,
mainly to Great Britain - in total, about 1.300 Armenian-Cypriots left in the 1960s and 1970s.

Despite its losses and with the unfailing support of the government, the small yet industrious
Armenian community of Cyprus has managed to recover from its losses and continues to prosper in
the remaining urban areas, contributing culturally and socioeconomically to the development of our
homeland. In 1975, Cyprus became the first European country (and the second one in the world,
after Uruguay) to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

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 35-40 years of hundreds of Armenian political and economic immigrants from the Middle
East and the former Soviet Union, some of whom have settled permanently in Cyprus.

Today, the 3.500-strong community has its own Representative (Vartkes Mahdessian) and
Archbishop (Khoren Toghramadjian). The Prelature and the rest home for the elderly are located in
Nicosia; there are churches, schools, clubs/associations/foundations, monuments and cemeteries in
Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos. The community has a football academy, a bowling team,
three dancing groups, a theatre company, a scout group, two choirs, as well as a daily radio
programme, a monthly newspaper and two monthly online e-magazines. Various charity, cultural,
educational, social, and youth events are organised. As of 2002, Western Armenian - the mother
tongue of Armenian-Cypriots - is a minority language of the Republic of Cyprus.

In the Turkish-occupied areas, there is the recently-restored Armenian church compound, the
misused Armenian Evangelical church (the only one in the island) and the also misused buildings of
the three clubs (Armenian Club, AGBU, AYMA) in walled Nicosia; in Famagusta, there is the
mediaeval church of the Virgin Mary of Ganchvor and a cemetery; last, but not least, is the
renowned Saint Macarius monastery near Halevga on Pentadhaktylos, also known as Magaravank
or Sourp Magar, which is - unfortunately - completely derelict and in danger of collapse

Armenian-Cypriots are an integral part of the mosaic of the Cyprus culture, society and texture,
feeling equally Armenians and equally Cypriots.

Thank you for your attention.