Overview of Cyprus

Cyprus has been the home of two distinct peoples, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. The island has seen a succession of rulers, namely Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Turks who ruled the Island as part of the Ottoman Empire, from 1571 until 1878. There are, in fact, there were two communities of Cyprus – the Turkish Cypriots & Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots in the main Moslem and the Greek Cypriots mainly adherents of the Greek Orthodox Church. The communities lived relatively peacefully until events the full History & cause of which are disputed created the position we are in today.

The people of Lurcina and the surrounding villages are an example of where Turkish Cypriots spoke both Greek & Turkish and shared their lives and cultures.