Armenian education in Cyprus

Nicosia's first Armenian school was established in 1870 by newly arrived Archimandrite Vartan Mamigonian: the National Armenian School (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան) was housed in a small building in the courtyard of the Armenian church in Victoria street. In 1886 it was repaired by locum tenens priest Hovhannes Shahinian, who called it Vartanants Boys' School (Վարդանանց Մանչերու Վարժարան), while in 1902 Archimandrite Bedros Saradjian founded the Shoushanian Girls' School (Շուշանեան Աղջկանց Վարժարան), at which a kindergarten started operating in 1907.

In 1921, by the will and testament of wealthy local landowner Artin Bey Melikian (1858–1921), the Melikian National School (Մելիքեան Ազգային Վարժարան) 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 (Ուզունեան Ազգային Վարժարան) was added to it, after the donation of successful businessman Dickran Ouzounian (1870–1957); subsequently, the school operated under the name Melikian-Ouzounian National School (Մելիգեան-Ուզունեան Ազգային Վարժարան). In 1950 a new building was built for the kindergarten using proceeds from school functions.

On top of the entrance of the Melikian National School there was the following marble commemorative inscription:

Մելիքեան Վարժարան շինեալ արդեամբք ժառանգորդաց Արթին Պէյ Մելիքեանի 1921 (Melikian School built by commission of Artin Bey Melikian's heirs 1921)

On top of the entrance of the Ouzounian National School there was the following marble commemorative inscription:

Ուզունեան Վարժարան շինեալ արդեամբ Տիար Տիգրան Ուզոընեանի ի յիշատակ իւր եւ իւր տիկնոջ Թ. Ուզունեանի 1938 (Ouzounian school built by commission of Mr Dickran Ouzounian in memory of him and his wife Touma Ouzounian 1938)

As the entire Armenian quarter of Nicosia was taken over by Turkish Cypriots during the Cyprus crisis of 1963–64, 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 in 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 (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան).

With the community feeling the need for a permanent school, government land was granted on 16 December 1966 in trust, thanks to appeals by Representative Berge Tilbian. 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.

Just before the entrance of the school, there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek reading:

"Το Δημοτικόν Σχολείον Ναρέκ εκτίσθη επί χώρου δωρηθέντος υπό της κυπριακής κυβερνήσεως και ενεκαινιάσθη υπό της Α. Μ. του Προέδρου της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ' την 12ην Νοεμβρίου 1972 παρουσία του Καθόλικου Χορέν Α' της Κιλικίας. Η ανέγερσις του σχολείου έγινε με την φροντίδα του Αντιπροσώπου της αρμενικής κοινότητος εις την Βουλήν Δρος Αντρανίκ Αστζιάν" (The Nareg Elementary School was built on ground donated by the government of Cyprus and was inaugurated by H. B. the President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III on the 12th November 1972 in the presence of Catholicos Khoren I of Cilicia. The erection of the school was made under the care of the Representative of the Armenian community in the House Dr Antranik Ashdjian)

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. Also, thanks to the efforts of Representative Aram Kalaydjian, a freehold title deed on the land was given on 31 March 1983 in the name of the Virgin Mary church.

In front of the school's entrance is the sandstone statue of Saint Gregory of Nareg, the work of Armenian sculptor Levon Tokmadjian; it was unveiled by Representative Aram Kalaydjian on 24 March 1991. Under the statue the following inscription is inscribed in Armenian:

Գրիգոր Նարեկացի Gregory of Nareg

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 2008–2010, 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. On the side of the entrance, there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek and Armenian reading:

Η αίθουσα αυτή εγκαινιάσθηκε από τον έντιμο Υπουργό Παιδείας και Πολιτισμού Δρ. Ανδρέα Δημητρίου την 17η Μαΐου 2011 επί θητείας του Εκπροσώπου της αρμενικής κοινότητας στη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων κ. Βαρτκές Μαχτεσιάν - Սրահի բացումը կատարուեցաւ ձեռամբ Կիպրոսի Կրթութեան եւ Մշակոյթի Նախարար Դոկտ. Անտրէաս Տիմիթրիույի Հայ համայնքի Պետական Ներկայացուցիչ Պրն. Վարդգէս Մահտեսեանի պաշտօնավարութեան շրջանին (This hall was inaugurated by the honourable Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Andreas Demetriou on the 17th May 2011 during the term of the Representative of the Armenian community in the House of Representatives Mr Vartkes Mahdessian)

Finally, in 2010 the school was completely renovated, thanks to the initiative of the current School Committee. Currently, the school has about 135 students.

Nareg Armenian school in 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 (Մուշեղեան Ազգային Վարժարան) was erected next to Saint Stephen’s 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 (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան); a second floor was added in 1926, by donation of the late Garabed Melkonian. In the early 1940s, Larnaca Municipality decided to rename the road in front of the school from "Hadjistavrou street" to "Armenian Church street". Also, in the past the school had a scout group.

On top of the entrance, there used to be a marble commemorative plaque in Armenian reading:

ՀԱՅ ԱԶԳ. ՎԱՐԺԱՐԱՆ Հիմնուած 1923 օժանդակութեամբ Ատանայի Հայ Ուսումն. Միութեան - Ուօթրթաուն, Մէսս (NATIONAL ARMENIAN SCHOOL Built in 1923 with the succour of Adana's Armenian Educational Association - Watertown, Massacchussetts)

On the right-hand side of the entrance door, there used to be another marble commemorative plaque in Armenian reading:

Ի'հիմանց կառուցաւ խուցս ծախիւք Օր. Հանըմի Պ. Երամեան յ'ամի 1917 (This room was constructed from its foundations with expenses of Miss Hanemie B. Eramian in the year 1917)

The school’s playground temporarily 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. Thanks to the efforts of Representative Aram Kalaydjian, 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.

On the left-hand side of the entrance door, there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek reading:

Το Αρμενικό Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ναρέκ κτίστηκε από την κυπριακή κυβέρνηση σε χώρο που δωρήθηκε από την Αρμενική Εκκλησία και εγκαινιάστηκε από την Αυτού Εξοχότητα τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας κ. Γλαύκο Κληρίδη στις 18 Μαΐου 1996 - Η ανέγερση του σχολείου έγινε με φροντίδα του Αντιπροσώπου της Αρμενικής Κοινότητας στη Βουλή κ. Αράμ Καλαϊτζιάν (The Nareg Armenian Elementary School was built by the government of Cyprus on a ground donated by the Armenian Church and was inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Glafcos Clerides on 18 May 1996 - The construction of the school was made with the care of the Representative of the Armenian Community in the House Mr Aram Kalaydjian)

Finally, in 2012 the school was partially renovated, thanks to the initiative of the current School Committee. Currently, it has about 30 students.

Nareg Armenian school in Limassol

The old Nareg Armenian school in Limassol

The first Armenian school in Limassol was established in 1928, by initiative of Archbishop Bedros Saradjian, at the house of Siranoush Avedikian in Zena Gunther street (at the time Nikephoros Phocas street). After Saint George’s church was built (1939–1940) in Platon street (it was later renamed to Vassilis Michaelides street), lessons were held at the church’s repository. Thanks to the encouragement of priest Shahé Semerdjian, expenditure from the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus and a donation by Ethiopian Armenian Roupen Babigian, in 1951 a proper school building was erected for the National Armenian School (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան) next to the church, which Prelate Ghevont Chebeyan inaugurated on 17 November 1951. In 1954, with contributions from 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 in Philoctetes street. The new school was inaugurated on 5 November 2008 by President Demetris Christofias. Currently, it has about 40 students.[4]

To the right hand side of the main entrance there is a marble commemorative plaque in Greek reading:

Το Αρμενικό Δημοτικό Σχολείο Ναρέκ ανεγέρθη από την κυπριακή κυβέρνηση σε χώρο που εκχωρήθηκε από την Αρμενική Εκκλησία και εγκαινιάστηκε από την Αυτού Εξοχότητα τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας κ. Δημήτρη Χριστόφια την 5η Νοεμβρίου 2008 - Επί θητείας του Εκπροσώπου της Αρμενικής Κοινότητας στη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων κ. Βαρτκές Μαχτεσιάν (The Nareg Armenian Elementary School was constructed by the government of Cyprus on a ground ceded by the Armenian Church and was inaugurated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias on the 5th of November 2008 - During the term of the Representative of the Armenian Community in the House of Representatives Mr Vartkes Mahdessian)

To the side of the entrance, from the inside part of it, there is another marble commemorative plaque in Armenian reading:

Սոյն յուշաքարը զետեղուեցաւ առ ի ճանաչում Պետական Ներկայացուցիչներ Պետրոս Գալյճեանի (sic) եւ Տոքթ Վահագն Ադամեանի նախաձեռնութեան եւ ջանքերուն, որոնց շնորհիւ իրականացաւ դպրոցաշէնքին կառուցումը (This commemorative plaque was placed in acknowledgement of the initiative and the efforts of the State Representatives Bedros Kalaydjian and Dr. Vahakn Atamyan, thanks to whom the construction of the school building was realised)

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 (Հայ Ազգային Վարժարան) with financial aid by the Reformed Presbyterian Mission at the house of Miss Hayarpi Der Kevorkian, opposite the Ayia Zoni church. As the school was never fortunate to have its own building, over the years it operated in various rented houses at different locations of Varosha; Divine Liturgies were held at these rented houses. Its last premises were located in 28 October street. In 1972 it was called Nareg National School (Նարեկ Ազգային Վարժարան), just like the other three Armenian schools of the island and its last teacher was Marie Der Avedissian. It was taken over during the 1974 Turkish invasion and has since been in the fenced area of Varosha.

In the past, an Armenian school also operated in Pano Amiandos (1928–1939 and 1942–1948), under the auspices of Tunnel Asbestos Co., with Garabed Dzaghigian as its teacher; Garabed Dzaghigian was the teacher of the short-lived Armenian schools in Mavrovouni (1939–1942) and Prodhromos (1938–1942); the Mavrovouni Armenian School operated under the auspices of the Cyprus Mines Corporation. During the World War II evacuation (1941–1942), Armenian schools operated in the villages of Agros, Anaphotia, Pano Lefkara, Ormidhia, Pedhoulas, Pervolia, Prodhromos and Skouriotissa. The Pedhoulas school was the largest one, with Haigazoun Hagopian as its teacher.

There was also a small Armenian school at the Magaravank in Pentadhaktylos (1897–1914) and a small Armenian school at Attalou settlement (near Kharcha village, 1910–1922); during its last years, the latter had Archimandrite Krikor Bahlavouni as its teacher, also known as "Topal Vartabed". In Nicosia, there was a small Armenian kindergarten in (1900–1905), run by the Armenian Evangelical sisters Rachel and Hosanna Sarkissian.

The majority of the old Armenian schools were in Larnaca: chronologically, a small Armenian school for refugee children of the Hamidian massacres, under the auspices of Reformed Presbyterian missionary Susan Fluhart (1896–1899), a small Armenian school under the auspices of the American Academy of Larnaca (1916–1918, with Hagop Davidian as its teacher, and again between 1923–1936 as a 4–class Elementary School, with various teachers), a small Armenian Catholic school in Larnaca (1921–1923), run by Abbot Jean Kouyoumdjian at Saint Joseph's convent, and a small Armenian kindergarten under the auspices of the Reformed Presbyterian Mission (1923–1929), with Josephine Gulesserian as its teacher. There were also three short-lived Armenian schools in Larnaca in 1922–1923, as a result of the huge influx of refugees from the Armenian genocide; these were run by Haroutiun Kalaydjian, Verkin Abadjian and the Protestant Satenig Derderian.

Of particular importance was the National Educational Orphanage (Ազգային Կրթարան-Որբանոց), which was founded by Vahan Kurkjian (also known as Pagouran), in order to educate orphaned Armenian children from the Hamidian massacres. It operated in Nicosia and, during the summer months, at the Magaravank between 1897–1904. It was closed down because of financial difficulties and Kurkjian's loss of two of his children due to a whooping cough epidemic. Its students later became successful and influential, some in Cyprus, others in the Armenian Diaspora.[5]