THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS 23 1928. In the past, Armenian schools also operated at the Magaravank, in Famagusta, in Amiandos and elsewhere. Between 1897-1904, the renowned scholar Vahan Kurkjian (Pagouran) also operated the “National Educational Orphanage” in Nicosia. The famous Melkonian Educational Institute was built between 1924 and 1926 after the generous and benevolent donation of tobacco trading brothers Krikor and Garabed Melkonian, initially to house about 500 orphans of the Armenian Genocide. The grove in front of it was planted by those first orphans, in memory of their perished relatives. It evolved from an orphanage (1926-1940) to a renowned secondary school (1934-2005) with a boarding section. A unique and unparalleled achievement, the Melkonian was a beacon of hope and culture for Armenianism and Armenophony across the world, boasting an international membership of Armenian students from all over the globe and rightly called an ambassador of Cyprus to the world. In addition to its rich library and well-equipped laboratories, the Melkonian had a theatre and a dance group, a choir, a band, football, basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the historically important 7th Cyprus Boy Scouts Group and 9th Cyprus Girl Guides Company. Also known as “an island within an island”, it had a great educational and cultural impact on the Armenian-Cypriot community, organising various events and publishing, amongst others, the famous “Ayk” magazine, the oldest Armenian secondary school magazine (1937-2006). The school was administered by the New York-based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), which unilaterally closed it down in June 2005, notwithstanding Panarmenian and Pancyprian reactions. Thanks to the efforts of the Office of the Armenian Representative and the assistance of the Melkonian Alumni leaders, a permanent ministerial decree was issued by the government of Cyprus on 23 February 2007, declaring 60% of its total area (12,4 hectares) as having a “special architectural, historical and social character and natural beauty”. l The 4th Cyprus Boy Scouts’ Group of the Nicosia Nareg School (1976). l Lesson at the “Nanor” Armenian Childcare Centre (2015)