THE
ARMENIANS
OF CYPRUS
14
Independence Era:
The 1960 Independence brought a new era for the Armenians in Cyprus, who were
recognised as a religious group, opted to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community and were now also
represented in Parliament by an elected Armenian Representative. However, the population of the community
had been reduced due to the emigration of about 900 Armenian-Cypriots to the United Kingdom, because of
the emergency situation at the time of the EOKA anti-colonial liberation struggle (1955–1959). A second factor
that contributed to the reduction of the community’s population 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).
During the 1963-1964 inter-communal troubles, the Armenian-Cypriot community suffered major losses, as the
Armenian quarter of Nicosia and the Virgin Mary of Ganchvor church in Famagusta were captured by extremist
Turkish-Cypriots; in total, 231 Armenian-Cypriot families became victims to the Turks and hundreds of
Armenian-Cypriots left for Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States. As a result of the 1974
military invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, the Armenian-Cypriot community suffered additional losses: about
75-80 families became refugees, while an Armenian-Cypriot lady has been missing since then; the renowned
Sourp Magar monastery was taken by the Turkish troops, the Melkonian Institute boys building was bombed
by the Turkish Air Force, while the Ayios Dhometios cemetery fell within the buffer zone. Consequently, many
Armenian-Cypriots emigrated, mainly to Great Britain.
Despite its losses and with the unfailing support of the government, the small yet industrious Armenian
community of Cyprus continued to prosper in the remaining urban areas, contributing culturally and
l
The numerous faithful outside the old
Virgin Mary cathedral on Victoria street,
Nicosia (1960).
