Kyprianos | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Cyprus | |
 Kyprianos' bust in Lefkosia | |
| Church | Orthodox |
| Installed | 1810 |
| Term ended | 1821 |
| Predecessor | Chrysanthos |
| Successor | Ioakim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1756 (1756) Strovolos |
| Died | 1821 (aged 64–65) Nicosia |
Archbishop Kyprianos ofCyprus (Greek:Κυπριανός) was the head of theCypriot Orthodox Church in the early 19th century at the time that theGreek War of Independence broke out.
Kyprianos was born in (the then village of)Strovolos in 1756. He served as a monk inMachairas monastery until 1783 when he left forWallachia for further theological studies returning to Cyprus in 1802. He became archbishop of Cyprus in 1810. He founded thePancyprian Gymnasium (originally called theHellenic School) in 1812 which was the first secondary school on the island and which is still located opposite the archbishopric inNicosia.
In 1818, Kyprianos was initiated into the Friendly Society (Philiki Etairia) which was preparing the ground for war and liberation from theOttoman Empire. In 1820,Alexander Ypsilantis contacted the archbishop asking for Cyprus to join in the armed struggle. Kyprianos' reply was pragmatic: He suggested that Cyprus support the upcoming revolution with money and supplies as any armed struggle was bound to end in disaster. Cyprus, being an isolated island far fromGreece, had no substantial navy and no tradition ofKlepht warfare like other parts of the Greek world.
However, when the Greek War of Independence broke out on 25 March 1821, Cypriots left in large numbers to fight inGreece, while proclamations were distributed in every corner of the island. The localpasha, Küçük Mehmet, reacted with fury, calling in reinforcements, confiscating weapons and arresting several prominent Cypriots. Archbishop Kyprianos was urged (by his friends) to leave the island as the situation worsened but refused to do so. Finally, on 9 July 1821 Küçük Mehmet had the gates to the walled city of Nicosia closed and executed, by beheading or hanging, 470 important Cypriots amongst them Chrysanthos (bishop ofPaphos), Meletios (bishop of Kition) and Lavrentios (bishop ofKyrenia). Archbishop Kyprianos was publicly hanged from a tree opposite the former palace of theLusignan Kings of Cyprus. The events leading up to his execution were documented in an epic poem written in theCypriot dialect byVassilis Michaelides.
Kyprianos was outspoken on the issue ofFreemasonry which he condemned.[1]
Archbishop Kyprianos and the bishops Chrysanthos, Meletios and Lavrentios were buried in the crypt of the monument at the Faneromeni Church, Nicosia.
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