Armenian School in Nicosia

Armenian School in Nicosia, c. 1907. Originally formed as a place to give an Armenian education to the few local Armenian children, it evolved into a safe harbour for Armenian orphans fleeing persecution and genocide, and eventually the school became one of the best academically performing schools in Cyprus. All children in the photograph are dressed in their best clothes and the girls’ hair is decorated with ribbons. The three adults are presumably associated with the school, most probably being teachers. The priest is most probably der Hovhannes Shahinian. The man on the left is wearing a western-style suit, a white shirt and a tie. The woman on the right is wearing a long skirt with a belt around her waist and a white, high-necked, long-sleeved blouse. She has her hair caught up.