With the arrival of the British in July 1878 and their progressive administration , the already small Armenian community of the island was particularly strengthened . Known for their linguistic skills , several Armenians were contracted to Cyprus to work as interpreters and public servants at the consulates and the British administration , such as Apisoghom Utidjian . The number of Armenians in Cyprus significantly increased following the massive deportations , the massacres and the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans and the Young Turks . Cyprus welcomed over 10,000 refugees from Cilicia , Smyrna and Constantinople , who arrived in Larnaca and all its other harbours , about 1,500 of them made the island their new home . Industrious , cultivated and progressive , they brought new life into the old community and establish themselves as people of the arts , letters and sciences , entrepreneurs and merchants , craftsmen and photographers , as well as professionals who introduced new crafts , dishes and sweets to the island , thus contributing to Cyprus ' socioeconomic and cultural development . The newcomers established associations , choirs , sports groups , Scout groups , bands , churches , schools and cemeteries throughout Cyprus . Armenians were the first locksmiths , mechanics , seat , comb and stamp makers , upholsterers , watchmakers and zincographers in Cyprus . They were the first to introduce the cinema , they significantly improved the craft of shoemaking and it was Armenians who first introduced Armenian bastourma , baklava , dried apricots , gassosa , gyros , halva , ice cubes , koubes , lahmadjoun , lokmadhes and pompes into the Cypriot cuisine . Armenians also introduced two techniques of embroidery needlework : the Aintab work and the Marash work
Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Armenians in Cyprus