THE
ARMENIANS
OF CYPRUS
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-Cypriots participated in the 1897 Greco-Turkish War,
the two World Wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945) and the
EOKA liberation struggle (1955-1959) against British
colonial rule in Cyprus. Also, the Eastern Legion (later
called Armenian Legion) was formed and trained
between 1916-1918 in Monarga village. Some Armenian
l
AYMA’s football team upon entering the
Cyprus Football Federation (1955).
l
The strong “Gaydzak” (Lightning) football team (1931).
Established in 1930, in March 1931 it became the first
cup-holder team of Cyprus.
l
Victoria street (now in the Turkish-occupied sector of walled Nicosia) used to be the centre of Armenian-Cypriot life until 1963.
refugees arrived from Palestine (1947-1949) and Egypt
(1956-1957). 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.
