Pancyprian Gymnasium
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| Pancyprian Gymnasium | |
|
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| School type | public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1812 |
| Founder | Archbishop Kyprianos |
| Location | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Website | www.pancypriangymnasium.ac.cy |
The Pancyprian Gymnasium (Παγκύπριο Γυμνάσιο) was founded in 1812 by Archbishop Kyprianos at a time when Cyprus was still under Ottoman occupation. It was originally called the Hellenic School (Ελληνική Σχολή) and is the oldest high school still in operation on the island. The school was expanded in 1893 to incorporate a lyceum when Cyprus was under British occupation and changed its name to its current one in 1896.
It is located opposite the archbishopric within the walls of the old city of Nicosia. The original building was destroyed in a fire in 1920 and parts of the school were completely rebuilt in neoclassical style. Of particular historical interest is the crypt of the school located beneath the main entrance. This is where Archbishop Kyprianos was said to have held secret meetings with representatives of the Philiki Etairia in the early 19th century. The school also incorporates a substantial collection of artifacts, art and books. The Severios Library which opened in 1949 holds over 60,000 manuscripts. [1]
Through benevolent donations the school has become very wealthy. On an educational level it is highly regarded and considered a model school. Many influential figures have studied and taught here.
- Prominent alumni include the late Archbishop Makarios, the current president of the republic Tassos Papadopoulos[2], Glafkos Clerides and political party leader Dr Vassos Lyssarides.
- Chrysostomos I taught theology there from 1961 to 1966. Lawrence Durrell taught English here from 1953 to 1956. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ American Library Association - Report on activities in Cyprus [1]
- ^ Comment - Our president cannot distinguish myth from reality. (Cyprus Mail archive article - Sunday, July 10, 2005) [2]
- ^ Maurice Cardiff,. Friends Abroad: Memories of Lawrence Durrell, Freya Stark, Patrick Leigh-Fermor, Peggy Guggenheim and Others. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-86064-221-7.
