Armenians in Cyprus - Social Life

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, 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; the hall was originally built in 1959 and it was renovated in 2010.

The “Vahram Utidjian” Hall took shape in 1998 by initiative of Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, 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. 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

Currently, the following Armenian clubs operate in Cyprus:

• AYMA (Armenian Young Men’s Association/Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն). 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 on 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 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 Pan-Armenian 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 UK (In memory of Bedrossian family 1991 UK)

• AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union/Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն), 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 on 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 rented 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 recently, it was housed in 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 Pan-Armenian organisation.

The Nicosia premises were inaugurated on 22 October 1989 by AGBU President Alec Manougian, while the new Larnaca premises, built between 2010–2011, 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), which was established in Larnaca in 1931. It has had an important contribution to Armenian cultural life in Larnaca. Presently, it is housed in rented premises opposite the Prelature of Citium. It is affiliated with AYMA.
• LHEM (Limassol Armenian Young Men’s Association/Լիմասոլի Հայ Երիտասարդաց Միութիւն). Established in Limassol in 1996, it currently has no club house. It is affiliated with AYMA.
• “Nor Serount” Cultural Association (“Նոր Սերունդ” Մշակութային Միոեթիւն). Established in Nicosia in 2005, it is presently housed in rented premises on Aglandjia Avenue. It is affiliated with the Homenmen Pan-Armenian organisation.
• Cypriot Armenian Progressive Movement (Կիպրահայ Յառաջդիմական Շարժում). It was established in Nicosia in 2010 and it is more like a movement than an association, with no club house.

The following associations operate within AYMA’s club house:

• Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (Կիպրոսի Հայ Դատի Յանձնախումբ, 1965).
• Armenian Youth Federation of Cyprus (Կիպրոսի Երիտասարդական Միութիւն, 1977).
• “Azadamard” Armenian Youth Centre (Ազատամարտ Երիտասարդակամ Կեդրոն, 1985).
• Armenian Relief Society of Cyprus (Հայ Օգնութեան Միութիւն, also known as HOM, “Sosse” chapter, 1988).
• Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus (Համազգային Հայ Կրթական եւ Մշակութային Միութիւն, “Oshagan” chapter, 1999).

AYMA has its widely-known football team (1945), as of 2002 playing in the second category of the amateur league, 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 has got the Homenmen futsal team (2006), as of 2011 playing in the third league.

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 Հիմնարկոըթիւն, Larnaca: 1984).
• “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund (“Հայաստան” Համահայկական Հիմնադրամ, Nicosia: 1995).
• Pharos Arts Foundation (Ίδρυμα Τεχνών Φάρος, Nicosia: 1998).
• Arev Benevolent Foundation (Արեւ Բարեսիրական Հիմնարկութիւն, Nicosia: 2008).

The Kalaydjian Foundation manages the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly (Գալայճեան Հանգստեան Տուն) (Nicosia: 1988), which also houses Greek-Cypriot elderly. The Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly was built on land leased by the government 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 “Alice and Arousiag Raphaelian” wing, after the sisters Arousiag and Alice Rafaelian, who bequeathed their house on Armenia street to the Kalaydjian Foundation.

The Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly was originally comprised 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:

ΜΕΛΑΘΡΟΝ ΕΥΓΗΡΙΑΣ ΚΑΛΑΪΤΖΙΑΝ (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 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 Alice and Arousiag Raphaelian, there is the following plexiglass inscription:

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

It is also worth mentioning the Middle/Near East Armenian Research Centre, which was established in 1996 by Vartan Malian. Located in the walled city of Nicosia, the Centre 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.

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

• Armenian Club . 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 . This was an auxilliary section of the Armenian Club.
• Armenian Women's Association . This was an auxilliary section of the Armenian Club.
• Armenian Bibliophiles' Association . This association was established by Armenian Genocide refugees and was subsequently transformed into the Larnaca Armenian Club.
• Armenophony Association . 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 . This was an auxilliary section of the Armenian Bibliophiles' Association.
• Armenian Ladies' Association . This club was dissolved due to the small number of members.
• Cilician Women's Association . 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 . 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 . This association, affiliated with AYMA, was dissolved because of internal disputes and was re-organised in 1999.
• New Armenian Club . This club was formed by a group of AGBU supporters. Subsequently, it was absorbed by the Larnaca AGBU.
• “Azadamard” Youth Centre . This association, which sprang off from AYMA, due to internal disputes, returned back to AYMA, as a distinct entity.
• “Stepan Shahoumian” Progressive Movement . This movement started at the instigation of Sergey Badalyan. Subsequently, it was transformed into the Cypriot Armenian Progressive Movement.
• Cyprus-Armenia Friendship Association . 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 in Nicosia and the Women's Charity Association in Larnaca and Limassol.

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

Music: The Melkonian Educational Institute was famous for its choir and band, both founded by the famous 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 the famous Armenian-Cypriot musicians was the late cellist Hayrabed Torossianand the violinist Ara Vorsganian, both veterans of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, the late violinist Manoug Parikian (United Kingdom), the violinist Haroutune Bedelian California, pianist and soprano Sona Gargaloyan (Nicosia) and violinist Levon Chilingirian (United Kingdom).

Scouting: The Melkonian Educational Institute had the historical 7th Cyprus Scout Group (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 1999–2000), while the Larnaca Armenian school had the 11th Cyprus Scout Group (1938–1959 και 1999–2001). 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: 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) is well-known amongst Cypriots, as it played in the first category (1947–1956 and 1960–1962); among its famous players were the late 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 far-famed Sarkis Bedigian (known by his nickname “Kilis”) and Dickran Missirian. A very famous 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 distingused are the late rally driver Vahan Terzian and veteran tennis player Haig Asdjian.

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, the famous “Կիպրոս Կղզի” (Island of Cyprus: 1903); the book is the first out 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 (by Mardiros Mosditchian), Lousarpi (by Manuel Kassouni), Ovasis (by Maxoud Maxoudian), Nor Arax (by Haig Mosditchian), Henaran (by Setrak Guebenlian) and Deghegadou (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), Mateos Papazian (Nicosia), Minas Tilbian (Larnaca), Edward Voskeritchian (Limassol) and Giragos Zartarian (Nicosia). Their photographs are an idelible 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 very well-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 the late 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 exhibition featuring samples of the work of 9 Armenian-Cypriot painters and 6 Armenian-Cypriot photographers was organised within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The exhibition, which was inaugurated by President Demetris Christofias on 16 July 2012, remained open until 31 July 2012 at the superb "Castelliotissa" Mediaeval Hall in Nicosia.