 Places of Armenian interest in Cyprus | |
| Total population | |
| c. 3,500 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (Predominantly Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical minorities) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Armenians in Greece, Armenians in Turkey, Armenians in the United Kingdom |
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Armenian diaspora |
| Subgroups |
| Religion |
| Languages and dialects |
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Armenian: Eastern (Zok) • Western (Homshetsi) Sign languages: Armenian Sign • Caucasian Sign Persian: Armeno-Tat Cuman: Armeno-Kipchak Armenian–Lom: Lomavren |
| Persecution |
Armenian Cypriots (Armenian: Կիպրահայեր, romanized: Kiprahayer; Greek: Αρμένιοι της Κύπρου, romanized: Arménioi tis Kýprou; Turkish: Kıbrıs Ermenileri) are the ethnic Armenian population native to Cyprus. The Armenian Cypriot community has had a significant impact upon the Armenian people as a whole despite its low 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 very prominent. Certain Armenian Cypriots were or are very prominent on a Panarmenian or international level and the survivors of the Armenian genocide have co-operated and co-existed peacefully with the Turkish Cypriots.
Currently, Armenian Cypriots maintain a notable presence of about 3,500 on the island (including about 1,000 non-Cypriot Armenians),[1] mostly centred on the capital Nicosia, but also with communities in Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.[2][3] The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus is located in Nicosia. According to the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus, together with the Maronites and the Latins, they 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. Since May 2006, the Representative is Vartkes Mahdessian.[4] The religious leader of the community, since March 2017, is Catholicosal Vicar Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, accountable to the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
- ^ "Lesser-used Languages in States Applying for EU Membership" (PDF). European Parliament. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Mirbagheri, Farid (2010). Historical dictionary of Cyprus. Scarecrow Press. p. 16. ISBN 9780810862982.
- ^ Hadjilyra, Alexander-Michael (2009). The Armenians of Cyprus. p. 17.
- ^ "Vartkes Mahdessian takes more than 2/3 of the vote winning by 68%". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.