Nicosia Armenian school
Encyclopedia
The Armenian school in Nicosia
, as of 1972 called "Nareg", after Saint Krikor Naregatsi
, is located on 47, Armenia street in Strovolos
, Nicosia, between the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus building and the Sourp Asdvadzadzin
church. The current building was built between 1971-1972 by the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and was inaugurated on 12 November 1972 by Archbishop Makarios III
and Catholicos Khoren I
of Cilicia. Currently, the school has about 110 students. As all other Nareg Schools (Nicosia, Larnaca
, Limassol
), it is under a single principal, as of 2009 Vera Tahmazian, and under the tutelage of the Nareg Armenian Schools Committee. Additionally, since 2005, following the unjust closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute, there are about 15 students at the Nareg Gymnasium (Junior High School).
The first Armenian school in Nicosia was established on Victoria street in 1870 by Archimandrite Vartan Mamigonian. In 1886, priest Hovhannes Shahinian renovated the building and called it "Vartanants Boys' School". In 1902 Archimandrite Bedros Saradjian
erected the "Shoushanian Girls' School". The two schools operated simultaneously, until in 1921, following the death of local landowner Artin Bey Melikian, his children respected his will for the erection of the co-educational "Melikian National School". Initially, the school building was considered too big, but a year later it was full of Armenian Genocide
survivors. In 1938 Dickran Ouzounian erected the also co-educational "Ouzounian National School". As of 1939, the two schools assumed the name "Melikian-Ouzounian National School", under which they operated until 1963. In 1950 the new kindergarten building was built. The school premises were taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists during the 1963-1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny. For a month no classes took place, but as of February 1964 the school was housed at the Mitsis building on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue
until June 1964. From September 1964 until June 1972, school life continued in two pre-fabricated buildings on the grounds of the Melkonian Educational Institute stadium, until the current premises were erected, thanks to the initiative of Representative Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian, on land that was given to the community in 1966, thanks to the efforts of Representative Berge Tilbian.
The new auditorium was built between 2008–2010 and was inaugurated on 17 May 2011 by Minister of Education and Culture Dr Andreas Demetriou
.
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...
, as of 1972 called "Nareg", after Saint Krikor Naregatsi
Gregory of Narek
Grigor Narekatsi is a canonized saint. He was an Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher and theologian, born into a family of writers. His father, Khosrov, was an archbishop...
, is located on 47, Armenia street in Strovolos
Strovolos
Strovolos is a municipality of Nicosia. With a population of near 70,000, it is the second biggest municipality of Cyprus, after Limassol, and the biggest municipality of Nicosia...
, Nicosia, between the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus building and the Sourp Asdvadzadzin
Sourp Asdvadzadzin
Sourp Asdvadzadzin is the Armenian Apostolic cathedral in Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus.Following the 1963-1964 inter-communal troubles, the Armenian-Cypriot community of Nicosia lost its mediaeval church Notre Dame de Tyre to extremist Turkish-Cypriots. As a result, President Makarios granted them...
church. The current building was built between 1971-1972 by the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and was inaugurated on 12 November 1972 by Archbishop Makarios III
Makarios III
Makarios III , born Andreas Christodolou Mouskos , was the archbishop and primate of the autocephalous Cypriot Orthodox Church and the first President of the Republic of Cyprus ....
and Catholicos Khoren I
Khoren I
Khoren I Mesrop Paroyan was the Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, from 1963 to 1983.He was preceded by Zareh I...
of Cilicia. Currently, the school has about 110 students. As all other Nareg Schools (Nicosia, Larnaca
Larnaca Armenian school
The Armenian school in Larnaca, as of 1972 called "Nareg", after Saint Krikor Naregatsi, is located on 21, Armenian church street in central Larnaca, next to the Sourp Stepanos church. The current building was built between 1993-1995 by the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and was...
, Limassol
Limassol Armenian school
The Armenian school in Limassol, as of 1972 called "Nareg", after Saint Krikor Naregatsi, is located on 16, Vassilis Michaelides street in central Limassol, next to Sourp Kevork church. The current building was built between 2006-2007 by the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and...
), it is under a single principal, as of 2009 Vera Tahmazian, and under the tutelage of the Nareg Armenian Schools Committee. Additionally, since 2005, following the unjust closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute, there are about 15 students at the Nareg Gymnasium (Junior High School).
The first Armenian school in Nicosia was established on Victoria street in 1870 by Archimandrite Vartan Mamigonian. In 1886, priest Hovhannes Shahinian renovated the building and called it "Vartanants Boys' School". In 1902 Archimandrite Bedros Saradjian
Bedros IV of Cilicia
His Holiness Bedros IV Sarajian was Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church for only six months during 1940...
erected the "Shoushanian Girls' School". The two schools operated simultaneously, until in 1921, following the death of local landowner Artin Bey Melikian, his children respected his will for the erection of the co-educational "Melikian National School". Initially, the school building was considered too big, but a year later it was full of Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
survivors. In 1938 Dickran Ouzounian erected the also co-educational "Ouzounian National School". As of 1939, the two schools assumed the name "Melikian-Ouzounian National School", under which they operated until 1963. In 1950 the new kindergarten building was built. The school premises were taken over by Turkish-Cypriot extremists during the 1963-1964 Turkish-Cypriot mutiny. For a month no classes took place, but as of February 1964 the school was housed at the Mitsis building on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue
Makarios Avenue
Makarios Avenue is an avenue in the centre of Nicosia, Cyprus which covers a distance of 2 km. The Street starts from the Junction of Evagoras Avenue until Aglandjia Avenue and is named after the first President of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III. In Colonial times Makarios Avenue was named...
until June 1964. From September 1964 until June 1972, school life continued in two pre-fabricated buildings on the grounds of the Melkonian Educational Institute stadium, until the current premises were erected, thanks to the initiative of Representative Dr. Antranik L. Ashdjian, on land that was given to the community in 1966, thanks to the efforts of Representative Berge Tilbian.
The new auditorium was built between 2008–2010 and was inaugurated on 17 May 2011 by Minister of Education and Culture Dr Andreas Demetriou
Andreas Demetriou
Andreas Demetriou is a well known Greek Cypriot developmental psychologist and a former Minister of Education and Culture of Cyprus.- Life :...
.