ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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"July 9, 1821 in Nicosia Cyprus" is a poem by Cypriot poet, Vassilis Michailidis. It refers to the hanging of Archbishop Cyprus Kyprianou on 9 July 1821. It appears to have been written in the years 1884–1895 and first published in 1911. The poem is structured in 24 rhapsodes which include 560 fifteen-syllable lyrics and is written in the Cypriot dialect.

Background

In 1804, the Greeks of Cyprus revolted against Ottoman rule, but the revolt was suppressed. Dragumanos Hatzigeorgakis Kornesios was Karatomos and in 1809, a year later, Kyprianos took his place.

Unknown when exactly, Archbishop Kyprianou was initiated into the Society of Friends, as concluded by the fact that in 1820, he hosted Friendly Demetrius Ipatros and promised him financial assistance for the Revolution. In October of that same year, Antony Pelopidas (under the orders of Alexander Hypantis), was sent to receive the Archbishop's contribution.

The Friendship Society decided not to engage Cyprus in an armed struggle, because due to its geographical position it would be extremely difficult for the Greek forces to dominate there, but to limit themselves to material assistance. When the Greek Revolution began, the Sultan ordered the disarming of Cypriots – something that was done without resistance. Kyprianou tried to convince the Cypriots to obey and assured the Turkish governor, Kyuchuk Mehmet, of the obedience of the Greeks.

Despite these efforts, Archimandrite Theofylactos Thesees distributed notices in Larnaca, in order to stir up the Greeks of Cyprus. His actions were denounced by the Ottoman governor at the High Gate. The Sultan allowed Kuchuk to arrest and execute those who participated in this movement and confiscate their fortunes.

On Saturday, July 9, 1821, Archimandrite Kyprianou and Metropolitans Pafos, Kitium and Kyrynia were killed. A group of clerics buried the remains of Archimandrite and Metropolitans the following day (Sunday, July 10), in the precinct of the church of Panagia Faneromeni (Nicosia), where a mausoleum that exists to date was built. Later 4,000 soldiers arrived from Egypt, who terrorized the population of Cyprus.

The executions continued until 14 July and resulted in the death of 470 or 486 Greeks of Cyprus and Islamism 36, to save death.

References for 9 July

English traveler John Carne writes that he had met Archbishop Kyprianou who concluded from developments the violent end he was going to have. Carne notes the words of Kyprianou: "My death is not far away. I know they only wait for an opportunity to kill me." French Ambassador Jérôme Méchain writes about the experiences of the Ottomans:

According to Swedish Bergren, "The Lady dressed everywhere in black, many houses were splashed with blood".

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