Neoclis Kyriazis
Encyclopedia
Neoklis Kyriazis b.1877 Nicosia
, Cyprus
– d. August 1956 was a historian
and member of the National Council of Cyprus
who made significant contributions to the history
of Cyprus
. He was also a medical doctor.
. His father was George Kyriazis , one of five Greek
brothers from Thessaly
, who founded the cigarette
empire Kyriazi Freres
. His mother was Zafiro Odyssea Chasapoglou great granddaughter of Tselepis Hadji-Petrakis Kytherios (1770-1830), one of the richest landowners in Cyprus
. Neoklis’ maternal grandmother, Maritsa Tano, was a descendant of the Tano family, belonging to the Italian nobility . He married Maria Pieridi (1871-1953), herself a descendant of another Italian nobility family (Cariddi
) .
. As a member of the St Lazarus Committee he founded the Museum of St Lazarus church in Larnaca
. One of his greatest achievements was the salvage and subsequent publication of many historical details concerning Cyprus
through the ages . He started publishing articles on this subject from 1909, and over a period of 47 years he published several books and over 370 articles and studies. He participated in the publication of the monumental ‘Cyprus Chronicles’ (Kypriaka Chronica) a scientific/historical magazine (1923-1937) consisting of 4200 pages . These Chronicles were under the auspices of a four-member committee (the Bishop
of Kition Nikodemos Mylonas, prof. Ioannis Sykoutris, Loukis Z Pieridis, and Neoklis Kyriazis), and covered every aspect of the history of Cyprus from the ancient times through to the Turkish
and subsequently British
occupation. Kyriazis was the only, or nearly only, author of this periodical from 1929-1937.
. As a doctor he was credited with the founding of a quarantine facility to prevent the spread of communicable diseases from sailors visiting Larnaca. His medical library, instruments and other memorabilia are now exhibited at the Larnaca
Municipality Historical Archive (http://www.larnaka.com).
Historical Pages, 1929
Bibliography of Cyprus (Kypriaki Bibliographia), 1935
Cypriot Proverbs (Kypriakai Paroimiai), 1940
Social Activities of Larnaca, 1947
Historical News of the Holy Stavrovouni Monastery, 1948
History of the Holy Kykkos Monastery
, 1949
Monasteries in Cyprus, 1950
Names of the Holy Mother (Eponymiai tis Panagias), 1950
The Villages of Cyprus, 1952
History of Larnaca Municipality (published posthumously in 1995)
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
– d. August 1956 was a historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and member of the National Council of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
who made significant contributions to the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He was also a medical doctor.
Family
Neoklis Kyriazis was born in 1877 in NicosiaNicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
. His father was George Kyriazis , one of five Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
brothers from Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
, who founded the cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
empire Kyriazi Freres
Kyriazi freres
Kyriazi Freres was a cigarette manufacturing company established in 1873 in Egypt...
. His mother was Zafiro Odyssea Chasapoglou great granddaughter of Tselepis Hadji-Petrakis Kytherios (1770-1830), one of the richest landowners in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. Neoklis’ maternal grandmother, Maritsa Tano, was a descendant of the Tano family, belonging to the Italian nobility . He married Maria Pieridi (1871-1953), herself a descendant of another Italian nobility family (Cariddi
Cariddi
The Cariddi family surname is believed to have its roots deep into antiquity. Julius Caesar refers to the Caridi family in his ‘Commentaries’...
) .
Historical Work
Kyriazis was a member of the National Council of CyprusCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. As a member of the St Lazarus Committee he founded the Museum of St Lazarus church in Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
. One of his greatest achievements was the salvage and subsequent publication of many historical details concerning Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
through the ages . He started publishing articles on this subject from 1909, and over a period of 47 years he published several books and over 370 articles and studies. He participated in the publication of the monumental ‘Cyprus Chronicles’ (Kypriaka Chronica) a scientific/historical magazine (1923-1937) consisting of 4200 pages . These Chronicles were under the auspices of a four-member committee (the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Kition Nikodemos Mylonas, prof. Ioannis Sykoutris, Loukis Z Pieridis, and Neoklis Kyriazis), and covered every aspect of the history of Cyprus from the ancient times through to the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and subsequently British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
occupation. Kyriazis was the only, or nearly only, author of this periodical from 1929-1937.
Medical doctor
He worked as medical doctor in Larnaca and wrote both scientific and popular papers on the Cypriot Medical History, a subject continued by his grandson Dr Marios KyriazisMarios Kyriazis
Marios Kyriazis is a medical doctor and gerontologist who helped launch and formalise the concept of ‘Anti-aging medicine’ worldwide...
. As a doctor he was credited with the founding of a quarantine facility to prevent the spread of communicable diseases from sailors visiting Larnaca. His medical library, instruments and other memorabilia are now exhibited at the Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
Municipality Historical Archive (http://www.larnaka.com).
Books
Popular Medicine (Dimodis Iatriki), 1926Historical Pages, 1929
Bibliography of Cyprus (Kypriaki Bibliographia), 1935
Cypriot Proverbs (Kypriakai Paroimiai), 1940
Social Activities of Larnaca, 1947
Historical News of the Holy Stavrovouni Monastery, 1948
History of the Holy Kykkos Monastery
Kykkos Monastery
The Holy, Royal and Stavropegic Monastery of Kykkos , which lies 20 km west of Pedoulas, is one of the wealthiest and best-known monasteries in Cyprus....
, 1949
Monasteries in Cyprus, 1950
Names of the Holy Mother (Eponymiai tis Panagias), 1950
The Villages of Cyprus, 1952
History of Larnaca Municipality (published posthumously in 1995)
Honours
The Bishop of Kition said: Kyriazis was a rare and constructive personality with live national consciousness and selfless love for this island. . Larnaca Municipality honoured Kyriazis by naming a street after him. The Society of Cypriot Studies dedicated a commemorative plaque in the courtyard of St Lazarus church. This roughly translates as:
Of the same craft as Aesculapius - Neoklis Kyriazis - Humble pride of Larnaca -
Lover of honourable letters - And sailor of the manuscripts - We salute you.