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The educational life of the Armenian-Cypriot community

(brief history)
Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
Armenians have always attached particular emphasis in education, which in
combination with the Church is the foundation for the preservation of their national
and cultural heritage. Armenian schools teach and cultivate Armenophony, Armenology,
the age-old Armenian history and the rich Armenian traditions, thus ensuring the
perpetuation of Armenianism from generation to generation.
The very existence of Armenian educational institutions in the countries of the Armenian
Diaspora shows exactly the importance, the perseverance and the tireless efforts that
the numerous Armenian communities make to avoid the white massacre, the
assimilation and peaceful disintegration of the Armenian nation. Therefore, in a way,
the continuance of Armenian education up to our days is a sign of victory against the
red massacre, the Genocide.
Armenian education in Cyprus appears in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, within
the framework of the Tanzimat reformations and the Ottoman and Young Turks
persecutions. The first Armenian school in Cyprus was opened in Nicosia (1870), followed
by Larnaca (1909), Famagusta (1927) and Limassol (1928). Small Armenian schools also
used to operate at the Armenian Monastery (1897-1914), the Attalou settlement near
Kharcha (1910-1922), Amiandos (1928-1939 & 1942-1948), as well as in various villages
during the World War II evacuation. It is also worth mentioning the short-lived but
significant National Educational Orphanage (1897-1904), established in Nicosia by
Vahan M. Kurkjian (Pagouran), and naturally the world-renowned Melkonian
Educational Institute (1926-2005), established in Nicosia by brothers Krikor and
Garabed Melkonian and administered by the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
Over time, the academic curricula of these schools have kept pace with the needs and
challenges of the communitys fluctuating population and the governments
requirements. Today, the schools are tri-lingual and their syllabus is equivalent to that
of public schools, enhanced with lessons of Armenian language, history and geography,
as well as activities that cultivate Armenology and the Armenian culture. One cannot
overlook the fact that all Armenian schools are adjacent to the local churches, with the
active participation of Church leaders, a vivid proof of the traditional school-church
bond that has existed for centuries in Armenian reality.
Currently, Armenian schools in Cyprus have about 205 students (Nicosia: 135, Larnaca:
30, Limassol: 40). Their administering body is the 11-member Armenian Schools
Committee, which - according to Law 103(I)/1999 - has a 5-year tenure and is
appointed by the Council of Ministers after the suggestion of the Minister of Education
and Culture, who consults with the Armenian Representative; as of 2009, the School
Committee is presided by Vartan Tashdjian. Since 1961, all Armenian schools in Cyprus
are under the directorship of a single Headmaster, with two senior teachers, one for
Larnaca and one for Limassol; as of 2009, the Headmistress is Vera Tahmazian.
As of 1960, the annual budget of the schools is covered by the Ministry of Education and
Culture and education is provided for free; previously, the budget was covered partly by
the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus (mainly out of the exploitation of the Armenian
Monasterys carob and oil trees production) and partly by tuition fees. The schools are
open to all children of Armenian descent. The teaching and administrative staff is

appointed by the School Committee, with the exception of the Greek language and
history teachers, who are provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture. In 1998 the
government approved the pension scheme for the staff of Nareg Schools, with the terms
and conditions that their Greek-Cypriot colleagues benefit.
Below follows a brief history of each of the Nareg Schools:
Nicosia
Nicosias first Armenian school was established in 1870 by newly-arrived Archimandrite
Vartan Mamigonian: the National Armenian School was housed in a small building in
the courtyard of the Armenian church on Victoria street. In 1886 locum tenens priest
Hovhannes Shahinian repaired it and called it Vartanants Boys School, while in 1902
Archimandrite Bedros Saradjian founded the Shoushanian Girls School, at which a
kindergarten started operating in 1907.
In 1921, by the will and testament of wealthy local landowner Artin Bey Melikian (18581921), the Melikian National School was founded, thus replacing the previous two
schools with a co-educational one; it was initially considered too big, but only a year
later it was full of Armenian children of the Genocide. In 1938 the Ouzounian National
School was built, after the donation of successful businessman Dickran Ouzounian
(1870-1957); subsequently, the school operated under the name Melikian-Ouzounian
National School. In 1950 a new building was built for the kindergarten using proceeds
from school functions.
As the entire Armenian quarter of Nicosia was taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists
during the 19631964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny, the educational work suffered a temporary
halt. Despite the uncertain political situation in the island, between February and July
1964 the school was housed at the Mitsis School for Girls on Archbishop Makarios III
Avenue. Thanks to arrangements made by Representative Berge Tilbian and with full
government aid, between September 1964 and July 1972 school life was re-organised in
two pre-fabricated buildings on the grounds of the Melkonian Educational Institute under
the name Armenian National School.
With the community feeling the need for a permanent school, government land was
granted on 16 December 1966. The purposely-built three-storey school building with its
open amphitheatre was eventually erected between 1971-1972 thanks to the efforts of
Representative Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian by the Technical Services of the Ministry of
Education, with Pefkios Georghiades as its architect. The school premises were
inaugurated on 12 November 1972 by Archbishop Makarios III and Catholicos Khoren I,
thus opening a bright new page in the educational and cultural life of the community.
Also as of 1972, all four Armenian Elementary Schools in Cyprus were called Nareg
National Schools, in memory of monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian Saint
Gregory of Nareg (951-1003), whose sandstone statue was sculpted in 1991 by the
famous Armenian sculptor Levon Tokmadjian and placed in front of the Nicosia Nareg.
Also as of 1991, the three Armenian Elementary Schools have assumed their current
name: Nareg Armenian Schools.
In the past, the school had a band and a scout group. It is worth mentioning that on 10
December 1979 Strovolos Improvement Board decided to rename the road in front of the
school from Cyclops street to Armenia street, as a gesture of solidarity to the
brotherly Armenian people. This decision was taken after the suggestion of Bishop Zareh
Aznavorian and community members.

In September 2005, following the unfair closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute,
Nareg Nicosia started operating a Gymnasium section, fully funded and staffed by the
Ministry of Education and Culture. Between 20082010, a new auditorium was built by
the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, with Joanna Christou as
its architect. The new auditorium was inaugurated on 17 May 2011 by Minister of
Education and Culture, Dr. Andreas Demetriou. Finally, in 2010 the school was
completely renovated thanks to the initiative of the current School Committee.
Larnaca
With the arrival of a number of Armenian refugees who escaped the Adana massacre
(1909), the local parish council established a small school under Miss Rebecca
Gomidassian. The school was soon visited by Adana Bishop, Moushegh Seropian, who
secured part of the necessary funding from the AGBU for a permanent school: thus, the
Mousheghian National School was erected next to Saint Stephens church. In 1917 a
second room was added, by donation of Miss Hanemie Eramian.
With the influx of a large number of Armenian Genocide refugees (1915-1923), the
school was considered insufficient for the local needs. Thus, with financial support from
the Adana Educational Association of Watertown, Massachusetts, a larger school building
was constructed in 1923 and called National Armenian School; a second floor was
added in 1926, by donation of the late Garabed Melkonian. In the early 1940s, Larnaca
Municipality decided to rename the street in front of the school from Hadjistavrou
street to Armenian Church street. Also, in the past the school had a scout group.
The schools playground hosted many Lebanese-Armenian refugees during the Lebanese
civil war (1975-1990). However, over time and after an earthquake in 1991, the school
building exhibited structural weaknesses, raising serious concerns. Thus, the Technical
Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture built a new two-storey school building
between 1993-1995, in what used to be the school yard, with Androulla Demetriou as its
architect. The new school was inaugurated on 18 May 1996 by President Glafcos
Clerides. The old school was used as a store room until it was demolished in November
2007.
Limassol
The first Armenian school in Limassol operated in 1928, by initiative of Archbishop
Bedros Saradjian, at the house of Siranoush Avedikian on Zena Gunther street (at the
time Nikephoros Phocas street). After Saint Georges church was built (19391940) on
Plato street (it was later renamed to Vassilis Michaelides street), lessons were held at
the repository. Thanks to the encouragement of priest Shah Semerdjian, expenditure
from the Prelature and a donation by Roupen Babigian from Ethiopia, in 1951 the initial
building of the National Armenian School was erected next to the church, which
Metropolitan Ghevont Chebeyan inaugurated on 17 November 1951. In 1954, after a
fund-raising by the Limassol Armenian youth, the building was expanded and as of then
all lessons were held inside the school building.
Between 1995-1996, a pre-fabricated kindergarten was built. However, to enjoy
facilities equal to that of the Nicosia and Larnaca schools, the Technical Services of the
Ministry of Education and Culture built between 2006-2007 a modern two-storey school
on the same grounds, with Aristos Christodoulides as its architect; during the
construction period, the educational work was carried out at a rented house on
Philoctetes street. The new school was inaugurated on 5 November 2008 by President
Demetris Christofias.

Famagusta
The smallest member of Nareg Schools family, with no more than 15 students, it has
been under Turkish occupation since August 1974. It started operating in late 1927 under
the name National Armenian School with financial aid by the Reformed Presbyterian
Mission at the house of Miss Hayarpi Der Kevorkian, opposite the Holy Girdle church. As
the school was never fortunate to have its own building, over the years it changed
various locations at Varosha, with its last premises located on 28 October street. Divine
Liturgies were also held at these rented houses.

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