page_title: Armenian education in Cyprus
section_title: Larnaca
hierarchical_section_title: Armenian education in Cyprus / Locations / Larnaca
caption_attribution_description: English: Larnaca's Armenian school Ελληνικά: Το αρμενικό σχολείο της Λάρνακας
context_page_description: Education is the foundation for the preservation of Armenian national and cultural heritage. Armenian schools teach and cultivate Armenophony, Armenology, the age-old Armenian history and the rich Armenian traditions, thus ensuring the perpetuation of Armenianism from generation to generation. The very existence of Armenian educational institutions in the countries of the Armenian Diaspora shows exactly the importance, the perseverance and the tireless efforts that the numerous Armenian communities make to avoid the "white massacre", the assimilation and peaceful disintegration of the Armenian nation. Therefore, in a way, the continuance of Armenian education up to our days is a sign of victory against the "red massacre", the Genocide.
context_section_description: 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.
caption: Nareg Armenian school in Larnaca
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