Tochni

Tochni Τόχνη
Street in Tochni
Tochni Location in Cyprus
Coordinates: 34°46′50″N 33°19′24″E / 34.78056°N 33.32333°E / 34.78056; 33.32333Coordinates: 34°46′50″N 33°19′24″E / 34.78056°N 33.32333°E / 34.78056; 33.32333
Country	Cyprus
District	Larnaca District
Population (2001)[1]
• Total	322
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Tochni (Greek: Τόχνη, Turkish: Taşkent ^[2]) is a village located in the Larnaca District of Cyprus, about halfway between the cities of Larnaca and Limassol. Prior to 1974, the majority of the village was made up of Turkish Cypriots and it was known as "Taşkent".^[3] In August 1974, 85 inhabitants of the village was massacred by EOKA-B.^[4]

There are the ruins of a Latin church in the centre of the village, overlooking the Orthodox church of St Constantine and Helena. The current church has been reconstructed on the site of the original, over a bridge, said to have been founded by St Helena on return from the Holy Land having brought with her a piece of the True Cross.

There is also a mosque, madrasah and Muslim burial ground in the eastern part of the village, though these are in varying degrees of disrepair.

Today the village has been designated an beautiful 'agrotourism' location which promotes the restoration of the original village house in order to preserve the traditional Cypriot stone houses. The majority of properties use 'Tochni Stone' which is quarried nearby. You can also rent a bike and explore the countryside.^[5]

References

http://www.haberinizolsun.org/mak_1974.html

1. ↑ Census 2001
2. ↑ http://www.abgs.gov.tr/index.php?p=33624&l=1
3. ↑ http://www.kypros-cyprus.com/maps/1960.jpg
4. ↑ Paul Sant Cassia, Bodies of Evidence: Burial, Memory, and the Recovery of Missing Persons in Cyprus, Berghahn Books, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84545-228-5, Massacre&f=false p. 61.
5. ↑ http://www.cyprusvillages.com.cy/

v t e Larnaca District Settlements Agia Anna Agioi Vavatsinias Agios Thedoros Alaminos Alethriko Alykes Anafotida Anglisides Aplanta Aradippou Arsos Athienou Avdellero Choirokoitia Delikipos Dromolaxia Kalavasos Kalo Chorio Kato Drys Kellia Kiti Kivisili Klavdia Kofinou Kornos Lageia Larnaca Lefkara Livadia Louroujina Mari Maroni Mazotos Melini Melouseia Meneou Menogeia Mosfiloti Odou Ora Ormideia Oroklini Pergamos Perivolia Petrofani Psematismenos Psevdas Pyla Pyrga Skarinou Softades Tersefanou Tochni Tremetousia Troulloi Vavatsinia Vavla Xylofagou Xylotymvou Zygi

It ıs alleged that a local Greek Cypriot, Andriko Melani was ınvolved ın the massacre of 85 Turkısh Cyprıot civilians ın August 1974.

The allegatıons were made by the sole survıvor of the atrocıty, Suat Ferdar.

Families of the victims of these atrocities are planning to take legal actions to find and prosecute Andriko Melani and his associates who are suspects in the mass murder of 85 civilians from the village.

The Greek Cypriot authorities have decided to ignore appeals from victims families to bring the perpetrators to justice.