THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS 22 Armenians have always placed particular emphasis on education, which - in conjunction with the Church - is the foundation of their national and cultural heritage. As of 1972, Armenian Elementary Schools in Cyprus are called “Nareg”, in memory of the monk, theologian and philosopher Krikor Naregatsi. They have a single Headmistress and are supervised by an autonomous 11-member School Committee. The Nicosia school is located on land granted by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. All three schools are adjacent to the local churches and have over 200 students in total; as of 2005, there is also the Nareg Gymnasium, which operates in Nicosia with about 15 students. The education they provide is tri-lingual Educational Institutions (Armenian, Greek, English) and their curriculum is equivalent to the public schools’ curriculum of the Greek-Cypriot community, with additional lessons in the Armenian language, history and religion, as well as activities that cultivate and promote Armenology. Their budget is covered entirely by the Ministry of Education and Culture. By initiative of the Armenian Representative, Vartkes Mahdessian, the “Nanor” Armenian Childcare Centre has been operating as of 2013 next to the Nicosia Nareg School; currently it caters for about 18 infants/children aged between 4 months and 3 years old. Armenian schools have been operating in Nicosia since 1870, in Larnaka since 1909, while in Limassol since l Larnaka’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard with the adjoining church of Saint Stephen (2013). l Limassol’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard with the adjoining church of Saint George (2016). l Nicosia’s Nareg Armenian School. It shares its yard with the adjoining cathedral of the Virgin Mary (2016).