Medieval and Manuscripts

Armenian Cypriots

Armenian Cypriots (Armenian: Կիպրահայեր, romanized: Gibrahayer; Greek: Αρμένιοι της Κύπρου, romanized: Arménioi tis Kýprou; Turkish: Kıbrıs Ermenileri) are ethnic Armenians native to Cyprus. The Armenian Cypriot community has had a significant impact upon the Armenian people as a whole despite its small numbers. During the Middle Ages, Cyprus had an extensive connection with the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, while the Ganchvor Monastery had an important presence in Famagusta. During the Ottoman era, the Virgin Mary church and the Magaravank were prominent. Certain Armenian Cypriots have been prominent on a Pan-Armenian or international level and survivors of the Armenian genocide have co-operated and co-existed peacefully with Turkish Cypriots. Currently, there are around 4,000 Armenians on the island (including about 1,500 non-Cypriot Armenians), mostly centred on the capital Nicosia, but also with communities in Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos. The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus is located in Nicosia. According to the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus, Armenians, together with the Maronites and the Latins, are recognised as a "religious group" and have opted to belong to the Greek Cypriot community and Armenian Cypriots are represented by an elected Representative in the House of Representatives. The representative has been Vartkes Mahdessian since May 2006. Since July 2024, the religious leader of the community, has been Catholicosal Vicar Archbishop Gomidas Ohanian, accountable to the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Church of All Hallows, Allerton
• ▸Dorćol
• ▸Abbey of Saint-Martin-aux-Bois

Uncatalogued shelf

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