Armenians in Cyprus - Timeline

Timeline

  • 578 AD: The first documented presence of Armenians in Cyprus.
  • 610–641: Some Armenians arrive during the reign of Armenian-descended Byzantine Emperor Heraclius for political reasons.
  • 717–728: Some Armenians arrive during the pontificate of Catholicos Hovhannes Odznetsi for commercial reasons.
  • 965: More Armenians arrive after the liberation of Cyprus from the Arab raids by patrician Niketas Chalkoutzes for military reasons.
  • 973: Catholicos Khatchig I establishes the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus in Nicosia.
  • 1136–1138: Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus moves the entire population of the Armenian city of Tell Hamdun to Cyprus.
  • 1185: Byzantine Duke Isaac Comnenus brings with him Armenian warriors after his wedding to the daughter of Prince Thoros II.
  • 1267: Several Armenians flee to Cyprus after the Fall of Jerusalem.
  • 1291: Many Armenians arrive in Cyprus after the Fall of Acre.
  • 1309: King Oshin exiles to Cyprus a large number of Armenians who were against the decision of the Latinophile Council of Sis.
  • 1322: 30.000 Armenians escape to Cyprus after the Saracen attacks on Cilicia.
  • 1335 and 1346: A new wave of Armenian refugees arrives in Cyprus after the Mameluke attacks on Cilicia.
  • 1403 and 1421: Thousands of Armenians arrive in Cyprus after the Ottoman conquest of Cilicia.
  • 1441: Some Armenians from Cilicia are encouraged to settle in Famagusta.
  • December 1467: After a prolonged drought and a Litany offered by Armenian Archbishop Sarkis, rains immediately fall and the inhabitants of Nicosia rejoice.
  • May 1571: The Notre Dame de Tyre or Tortosa church is officially granted to the Armenians of Nicosia by a firman.
  • 3 January 1814: Official inauguration of Saint Macarius' chapel at the Magaravank.
  • July 1821: Amongst the 470 executions by the Ottomans is the Armenian priest of Nicosia, der Bedros.
  • 1860: The belfry of the Virgin Mary church in Nicosia is constructed, by donation of Hapetig Nevrouzian, one of the first in Ottoman Cyprus.
  • 1894–1896: The Hamidian massacres take place in Ottoman Turkey, resulting in 300.000 deaths. About 1.000 Armenians find refuge in Cyprus, of whom only about 100 stay. These refugees hailed mainly from Dikranagerd, Aintab and Kilis.
  • 8 September 1901: The students of Vahan Kurkjian's Orphanage erect the heap monument for Abbot Mekhitar of Sebaste.
  • 1909: The Adana massacre takes place in the Adana province, resulting in 30.000 deaths. About 2.000 Armenians flee to Cyprus; almost all of them return within the year.
  • 20 May 1914: Senior Archimandrite Serovpe Samvelian inaugurates Saint Stepen's church in Larnaca.
  • 1915–1923: Ottomans and Young Turks perpetrate the Armenian Genocide, causing over 1.500.000 deaths. About 8.000 Armenian refugees arrive in Cyprus, of whom about 1.300 settle permanently. These refugees mainly hailed from Adana, Silifke, Sis, Marash, Tarsus, Caesarea, Hadjin and Aintab.
  • 1916–1918: The Armenian Legion is formed and trained in Monarga, near Boghazi, consisting of over 4.000 Diasporan Armenians, who later heroically fought the Ottoman Empire.
  • 30 June 1918: Archbishop Taniel Hagopian consecrates Saint Stephen’s church in Larnaca.
  • 15 February 1924: High Commissioner Sir Malcolm Stevenson lays the foundation stone for the Melkonian Educational Institute.
  • 13 February 1926: Archbishop Zaven der Yeghiayian inaugurates the Melkonian Educational Institute.
  • 2 August 1931: Catholicos Sahag II and Archbishop Bedros Saradjian unveil the mortar obelisk on top of Mekhitar’s Hill at the Magaravank.
  • 24 April 1932: Archbishop Bedros Saradjian unveils the mortar Genocide monument in old Nicosia.
  • 8 September 1933: Catholicos Sahag II unveils the stone column at the square of the Magaravank.
  • 14 January 1945: Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni celebrates the first Liturgy in almost four centuries at the Ganchvor church in Famagusta.
  • 28 July 1946: Pastor Yohanna Der Megerditchian lays the foundation stone of the Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia.
  • 1 July 1947: Pastor Yohanna Der Megerditchian dedicates the Armenian Evangelical church in Nicosia.
  • 11 April 1948: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan consecrates Saint George’s church in Limassol.
  • 2 May 1948: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan blesses the Archangels' artesian fountain near the Magaravank.
  • 17 November 1951: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan inaugurates the old Limassol Armenian school.
  • 17 November 1953: Transmission of the first Armenian broadcast on CyBC radio.
  • 24 April 1954: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan lays the foundation stone for the marble Mausoleum of the Melkonian Brothers.
  • 15 January 1956: Bishop Ghevont Chebeyan unveils the marble Mausoleum of the Melkonian Brothers.
  • 8 March 1957: Arson of the Ganchvor church by extremist Turkish-Cypriots.
  • 5 August 1960: Berge Tilbian is voted Armenian Representative at the Greek Communal Chamber, securing 60,49% of the votes.
  • 16 August 1960: Cyprus gains its Independence; Armenians are recognised as a “religious group” by the Constitution.
  • 13 November 1960: Armenian-Cypriots opt in the referendum to belong to the Greek-Cypriot community.
  • 15 July 1961: Limassol's Mayor Costas Partasides delivers the golden key of the Limassol Armenian cemetery to Mihran Bastadjian, Chairman of Limassol's Armenian church committee.
  • 21 December 1963 – 26 March 1964: Intercommunal troubles; extremist Turkish-Cypriots take over the Armenian Quarter of Nicosia and the Ganchvor church in Famagusta.
  • 19 July 1970: Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 56,30% of the votes.
  • 16 April 1972: Chief Scout Demetris Demetriou unveils the cement monument, built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Melkonian Educational Institute's 7th Scout Group.
  • 12 November 1972: Archbishop Makarios III and Catholicos Khoren I inaugurate the new Nareg School in Nicosia.
  • 24 April 1975: Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the House of Representatives.
  • 25 September 1976: Archbishop Makarios III and Bishop Nerses Pakhdigian lay the foundation stone for the new Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 3 October 1976: Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 50,96% of the votes.
  • 12 April 1977: Headmistress Sosse Bedigian and School Committee Vice-Chairman Hovhannes Sheohmelian unveil the stone monument, erected to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Melkonian Educational Institute's 7th Scout Group.
  • 16 April 1978: Co-adjutor Catholicos Karekin II blesses the 16 columns of the Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 10 December 1979: Strovolos Improvement Board renames Cyclops street into Armenia street. The street sign is officially placed on 15 January 1980.
  • 8 May 1981: AGBU President Alec Manougian unveils the twin monument for the Armenian Alphabet and Mother Armenia at the Melkonian.
  • 22 November 1981: Catholicos Khoren I and Co-adjutor Catholicos Karekin II inaugurate and consecrate the new Virgin Mary church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 14 March 1982: Aram Kalaydjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 58,36% of the votes.
  • 24 April 1982: Bishop Zareh Aznavorian and Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian unveil the marble plaque placed at Acropolis Park in memory of the Armenian Genocide.
  • 4 March 1984: Catholicos Karekin II inaugurates the new building of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus.
  • 13 July 1986: Aram Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 65,08% of the votes.
  • 24 May 1987: President Spyros Kyprianou lays the foundation stone for the new boarding section of the Melkonian.
  • 30 May 1987: President Spyros Kyprianou inaugurates the new AYMA club.
  • 1 August 1987: The foundation stone of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly is laid.
  • 6 March 1988: Minister of Interior Christodoulos Veniamin inaugurates the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 21 October 1989: Acting President Vassos Lyssarides inaugurates the new boarding section of the Melkonian.
  • 22 October 1989: AGBU President Alec Manougian inaugurates the new Nicosia AGBU club.
  • 19 April 1990: The House of Representatives recognises 24 April as National Remembrance Day for the Armenian Genocide.
  • 24 March 1991: Representative Aram Kalaydjian unveils the sandstone statue of Saint Gregory of Nareg in front of the Nicosia Armenian school.
  • 24 April 1991: Official presentation of the new Armenian Genocide Monument in Nicosia, in the courtyard of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 19 May 1991: Aram Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 67,00% of the votes.
  • 22 October 1995: Bedros Kalaydjian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives in a by-election, securing 60,34% of the votes.
  • 15 December 1995: Catholicos Aram I lays the foundation stone for the Holy Saviour of All chapel at the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
  • 18 May 1996: President Glafcos Clerides inaugurates the new Nareg School in Larnaca.
  • 26 May 1996: Bedros Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 73,91% of the votes.
  • 16 February 1997: Catholicos Aram I consecrates the Holy Saviour of All chapel at the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
  • 3 February 1999: Catholicos Aram I inaugurates the “Vahram Utidjian” Hall at the basement of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus.
  • 23 March 2001: Aglandjia Municipality renames Ephesus street into Melkonian street. The street sign is officially unveiled on 7 April 2001 by Mayor Andreas Petrou.
  • 27 May 2001: Bedros Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 57,13% of the votes.
  • 21 October 2001: Presidential Commissioner Manolis Christophides unveils the marble khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the eternal friendship of Armenians and Greeks in Cyprus in front of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 28 April 2002: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the marble tomb-ossuary in front of the AYMA club.
  • 1 December 2002: Armenian is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus.
  • 1 May 2005: Donator Aleco Bezigian unveils the bronze bust of Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian in the courtyard of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church in Strovolos, Nicosia.
  • 9 October 2005: Dr. Vahakn Atamyan is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives in a by-election, securing 52,03% of the votes.
  • 21 May 2006: Vartkes Mahdessian is elected Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 52,60% of the votes.
  • 28 June 2006: President Tassos Papadopoulos inaugurates the “Alice and Arousiag Raphaelian” wing of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly.
  • 24 November 2006: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan lays the foundation stone for the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaca.
  • 28 May 2008: President Demetris Christofias unveils the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaca.
  • 28 September 2008: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) in front of the Sourp Kevork church in Limassol.
  • 5 November 2008: President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Nareg School in Limassol.
  • 28 February 2010: Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurates the new AYMA hall.
  • 11 April 2010: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian re-consecrates the chapel of Saint Paul at the old Armenian cemetery in Nicosia and celebrates the first Liturgy since 1963. Official presentation of the plaque containing the names of the 419 people buried there.
  • 8 May 2010: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurate the renovated functions’ hall next to the Saint George church in Limassol.
  • 5 May 2011: President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Larnaca AGBU club.
  • 17 May 2011: Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Andreas Demetriou inaugurates the new Nicosia Nareg auditorium.
  • 22 May 2011: Vartkes Mahdessian is re-elected as Armenian Representative in the House of Representatives, securing 67,67% of the votes.
  • 25 December 2011: Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian consecrates the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the centennial of the Adana massacre and the myriads of Armenian martyrs, located in front of Sourp Stepanos church in Larnaca.

Read more about this topic:  Armenians In Cyprus