THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS 11 number of Armenians in Cyprus increased significantly after the massive deportations, the horrific massacres and the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans and the Young Turks (1894-1896, 1909 & 1915-1923). Cyprus widely opened its arms to welcome over 10.000 refugees from Cilicia, Smyrna and Constantinople, who arrived in Larnaka and all the other harbours, some by chance, others by intent; about 1.500 of them made Cyprus their new home. Industrious, cultivated and l The students of Vahan Kurkjian’s orphanage (1899). l Post-card showing the then newly-built Melkonian Educational Institute (1926). l The famous Melikian School Band (1930), founded by renowned musician Vahan Bedelian in 1926. The exiled King of Arabia, Hussein bin Ali, donated new musical instruments to it in 1927. progressive, they brought a new life into the old community and did not need long to thrive and establish themselves as people of the arts, letters and sciences, capable entrepreneurs and formidable merchants, unsurpassed craftsmen and photographers, as well as pioneering professionals who introduced new crafts, dishes and sweets to the island, thus significantly contributing to Cyprus’ socioeconomic and cultural development.