The multicultural character of Cyprus In 1191 Cyprus was seized by the crusader King of

England, Richard the Lionheart. In 1192 it was

Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra
purchased by the titular King of Jerusalem, Guy de
katoomba@cytanet.com.cy
Lusignan. During the Frankish Era (1192-1489),
yprus, located in the eastern corner of the considerable numbers of Christians and Jews of the

C Mediterranean Sea with an area of 9.251 km²

and a population of about a million, looks
from above like a golden-green leaf tossed into the
Levant settled in Cyprus, ultimately resulting to a
fusion of culture, the arts, education, language and
religion. After a series of machinations, the last
sea. Due to its strategic geographical position, at the Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, was forced in
crossroads of three continents, its history has been 1489 to cede her Kingdom to the Republic of Venice, in the hands of which it remained until July
marked indelibly. The first traces of civilisation 1570; the Ottomans eventually occupied the entire island by August 1571.
(10.000-6.000 BC) can be found primarily at
During the Ottoman Era (1571-1878), many
Aetokremmos, Khirokitia, Kalavasos-Tenta and also
Christians were coerced into Islamisation or became
elsewhere (Kastros, Petra tou Limniti, Phrenaros, Shillourokambos, Troulli); a plethora of settlements
Linobambaki (crypto-Christians). The Latins and the
dates back to the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic periods. Between 1400-1050 BC Mycenaean and
Maronites who were not expelled from Cyprus were
Achaean Greeks settled here, establishing city-Kingdoms that flourished from the Late Bronze age
forced either to become Orthodox or to embrace
onwards. By the 4th century BC the indigenous Eteocypriots had gradually adopted the religion, civic
Islam; many opted to become Linobambaki. At the
organisation, culture and arts of the Greek colonists, as well as their language and alphabet.
same time, many Ottoman families arrived. The only
Cyprus was consecutively occupied by the consolation for the Catholic community were the
Phoenicians (950-850 BC), the Assyrians (709-669 foreign consulates in the coastal town of Larnaca, as
BC), the Egyptians (565-546 BC) and the Persians their presence attracted European bankers, doctors, merchants and some Roman Catholic monks.
(546-332 BC). In 332 BC, it was conquered by
On 8 July 1878, as a result of the Congress of Berlin
Alexander the Great. Upon his death it was passed to
and an agreement to pay an annual lease of £92.800,
the Ptolemies. It became a Roman province in 58
the British became governors of the island. Their
BC; during the Roman period some Jewish refugees
improved administration, infrastructure works and
settled here. In 45 AD Cyprus was visited by
religious tolerance allowed all Cypriots to prosper
Apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark, who arrived at
throughout the British Era (1878-1960). Thousands
Salamis and then Paphos, where they converted the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, after Saint Paul
of Armenians fleeing the Genocide and the horrific
blinded his sorcerer, Elymas (Acts 13:4-12). Thus, Cyprus became the first country in the world to be
massacres found refuge in Cyprus. The Latin
governed by a Christian ruler. Apostle Barnabas is considered to be the founder of the Church of
community was also enlarged with Britons, Europeans
Cyprus, which became officially autocephalous from the Patriarchate of Antioch at the First Council
and some Maronites, while small Anglican, Protestant and Jewish communities were formed.
of Ephesus in 431, and has been represented in all seven Ecumenical Synods. Rightly, Cyprus has
been called “the isle of Saints”, due to large number of Saints who martyred here. After a 4-year liberating war led by EOKA (1955-
1959), Cyprus gained its Independence on 16 August
In 330 Cyprus became a Byzantine theme (province).
1960. The new Constitution recognised two
This period saw the first Armenians and Maronites
communities (Greeks and Turks) and three religious
(Eastern Christians of Syrian origin) settle here, as
groups (Armenians, Maronites and Latins). Inter-
well as some Jewish merchants (they had been
communal violence broke out in December 1963,
banned by the Romans after a bloody revolt in 116
resulting in the seizure of 39 land pockets by
AD). Between 632-965, several Arab raids took place
extremist T/C and the formation of a UN contingent
and a condominium was established, however the
to prevent further bloodshed. Using the Junta-
raiders did not found permanent settlements. During
orchestrated coup d’état against President Makarios as a pretext, Turkey savagely and unlawfully
the 647-649 raid by Muawiyah, Umm Haram
invaded Cyprus in two phases in the summer of 1974, occupying 34,85% of its soil and displacing
(Mohammed’s wet-nurse), fell from her mule, broke her spine and died near the Salt Lake just outside
210.000 people from their homes. To-date, over 160.000 settlers from Anatolia have illegally settled
Larnaca, where the famed Hala Sultan tekke was built in 1760. In 965, after the liberation of the
in occupied Cyprus, dramatically altering its character and demography. The financial boom of free
island by patrician Niketas Chalkoutzes, Nicosia became the capital of Cyprus (earlier the capital had
Cyprus over the last 30 years has attracted a large number of immigrants from all corners of the
been Constantia and before that Paphos and Salamis). The first origins of the Latin community
planet, especially from south-east Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caucasus.
(Roman Catholics of European or Levantine descent) can be traced back to the Late Byzantine period.