Greek Cypriots

Greek Cypriots form one of the chief Cyprus ethnic groups constituting the population of the country. The Greek Cypriots amount to almost four-fifths of the total population. The origins of the Greek Cypriots can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the island and the colonizers from Peloponnese.

The Peloponnese settlers arrived in Cyprus in around 1200 B.C. The flow of settlers continued till the 16th century and the people occupied a significant part of the island. The amalgamation of the immigrants from Peloponnese with the natives of Cyprus resulted in the origination of the Greek Cypriots.

The main language of the Greek Cypriots is Greek. English is also used as another important language in the region occupied by the Greek Cypriots. The chief religion practiced by the Greek Cypriots is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Church of Cyprus is not under the aegis of any patriarch.

The Church of Cyprus forms the center of the lives of the Greek Cypriots. The Archbishop Anthemius first got the privilege of being relieved of the authority of a patriarch by Zeno, the Byzantine emperor in AD 488. The privilege was a permanent one granted to the Church of Cyprus.

During the Ottoman Empire, the Church of Cyprus again witnessed a massive change. The Archbishop of the Church was given the huge responsibility of the Orthodox people. The responsibility of the Archbishop was not only with regard to the religious but also the secular attitude of the Greek Cypriots.

Greek Cypriots in recent times occupy a major portion of the island. The relocation of the Greek Cypriots following the Population Exchange Agreement has removed many of the people from their homes. The agreement between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has however resulted in the peaceful co-existence of the two groups in Cyprus.