CYPRUS
Ara: Parents’ Origin
Born 1947, Jaffa, Mandatory Palestine, his maternal home. Describes centuries-long paternal family history in Jerusalem (Armenian Quarter). Mentions grandfather, a cobbler, who built family home outside Armenian Quarter/Jerusalem walls (1901-05). Describes move to Cyprus: Nakba (1948); Remarks on family’s original consideration for and decision against relocating to Armenia. Notes Cyprus was home until his move to a British boarding school aged 12, and his family’s permanent settlement in the United Kingdom (aged 15).
(Interviewed by Pete and Kersty, June 2024)
Arda: Mother and Father’s Stories
Parents are Armenian: mother from Jordan, father from Cyprus. They met in London. Grandfather was a tailor for the royal family in Jordan. After the Six-Day war, grandfather sent children to school in England. Great-grandfather a lovely man, liked to entertain others. Father was born in 1949, before division. Grew up speaking Greek, Turkish, Armenian and English. Family had to escape during the civil war from Turkish side. Father won scholarship to study in the United Kingdom when 14 and then stayed there. Became a pharmacist.
(Interviewed by Kenan, March 2025)
Belinda: Origins of Displacement
Parents are first generation Cypriot Armenian. Describes herself as second generation. Describes grandparents orphaned in the genocide. Describes coming to England as an overseas student to boarding school in Kent and her experience as an immigrant. Discussion of the legacy of the British empire on her identity. Identifies as a displaced person. Describes 1960s Cypriot-Turkish war and how her mother’s mother was displaced again. Recalls as a child living in North Cyprus invaded by Turkey in 1974. The last 3-4 generations of her family have been physically displaced by Turkey. Memories of war in Cyprus as a child.
(Interviewed by Pete, November 2024)
Dalila: From Cyprus to England
Story of her journey from Cyprus to England, accompanied by a Greek family. Story of her family’s journey from Cyprus to England nine years later, around the 1980s.
(Interviewed by Georgy, October 2024)
Garo: About Cyprus, the Invasion and Turkey
Mentions Cyprus’s importance. Describes his relationships from Cyprus. Remarks having difficulties processing the invasion of Cyprus. Mentions his fearful experiences during the invasion. Mentions his mother and grandmother recalling the events of 1915, and their fear of rape and torture during the invasion. Describes his hardships leaving Cyprus. Recalls his friend’s experiences living in North Cyprus during the time. Mentions a photograph of his family being on the front page of the Daily Express, waiting to be evacuated. Mentions being frightened of Turkish fighter jets. Mentions being heartbroken to see the homeless Greek refugees after the invasion. Comments on history being repeated after 1915. Comments on Turkish people and their government. Story of deciding to visit Turkey. Remarks feeling at home in Turkey and feels guilty about saying it.
(Interviewed by Ben and Phoebe, May 2024)
Justin: Ancestors’ Displacement and Family Diaspora
Story of arrival in the United Kingdom: great-grandfather left Marash in the 1890s due to Hamidian massacres. Tipped off due to his influence in government around 1855-6. Cyprus was one of the places you fled to if you were fortunate enough to afford it. Big Armenian community there to this day. One branch of the family went to America and another branch to Cyprus.
(Interviewed by Max and Melanie, June 2024)
Nouritza: A Childhood in Cyprus
Nouritza was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. Spent childhood in Cyprus before division of the island. Happy childhood and warm social life. Turkish and Armenian neighbours. Went to an English School, the Junior School. Importance of English language. Happy times at school until troubles. Curfews and bombings. Independence fighting of Greek Cypriots against British formed background to her childhood. Memories of those turbulent times. Parents brought up in Muslim environment in Turkey, as told by grandparents. Maternal grandmother from Kayseri, Turkey. Father’s side from Antep. Use of tunnels between houses for women’s protection. Nevertheless she felt free as a child.
(Interviewed by Sharo and Georgia, June 2024)
Nouritza: Armenian Education in Cyprus
Missionaries as very important to the Armenian community, protected and educated them. Armenian colleges, higher education in cosmopolitan cities.
(Interviewed by Sharo and Georgia, June 2024)
Nouritza: Armenian Culture in Cyprus
Nouritza grew up with Armenian culture. Mentions music, church, church choir. Anecdote about neighbour who made hats for church. Mentions that the Armenians practically brought classical music to Cyprus. Mentions music teacher Bedelian. A headmaster with a printing press made a newspaper, he taught them the Armenian language.
(Interviewed by Sharo and Georgia, June 2024)
Nouritza: How Cyprus Feels
Connection with Cyprus once in London: not homesickness but a feeling of belonging. Describes how she physically feels when she goes to Cyprus.
(Interviewed by Sharo and Georgia, June 2024)
Susan: Anthropological Study of Cypriot Armenians
Susan’s PhD and first book were dedicated to the Armenian Cypriots who rebuilt the community after losing their home. She witnessed that the new generation had lost their linguistic heritage, especially Turkish, and become trilingual— Armenian, Greek, and English.
(Interviewed by Elvira, October 2024)
Vazken: Holiday Traditions and Early Memories in Cyprus
Description of New Year traditions; preparation of Anushabur (sweet soup with dried fruits); year formed in nuts and eaten at midnight. Mention of family rivalry over preparation; Vazken and his partner exchange gifts on New Year, not Christmas. Story about January 5th (Khetum); Armenian schoolchildren carolling door-to-door, offering chocolates. Description of church ritual; distribution of holy light into homes. His father built their family home in 1974 near Melkonian Institute and Armenian Elementary School. Recollections of Armenian neighbourhood in Nicosia. Description of elderly women carrying holy light into homes in silence; belief that speaking would transfer good fortune to someone else. Remarks on role of superstition; presence of nazar (evil eye), practices to ward off bad luck. Description of community of elderly genocide survivors; formed generational link to Armenian identity.
(Interviewed by Max and Melanie, September 2024)