Grand Lodge of Cyprus

The emergence and development of Freemasonry in Cyprus

The history of Freemasonry in Cyprus can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire over 200 years ago ^[2] . Historical records of the existence of Masonic lodges on the island describe the Larnaca region, where at that time consulates of many foreign countries were located, and Larnaca itself was then considered the capital and main port of the island. This is confirmed by the presence in the cemeteries of graves with Masonic symbols in the fence of the Church of St. Lazarus , as well as the handwritten manuscript of Petrakis Karidis (1751), and a circular letter against the Masons (1851), written by the archbishop of Cyprus, Cyprianos ^[3] . It is believed that the lodges held their meetings when enough brothers were recruited to attend the lodges as officers or passengers of ships in the port to increase the number of island masons. Since Cyprus was then occupied by Turkey, it was not possible to create permanent Masonic lodges ^[2] .

This period was marked by several claims for the right to control the territory of the island and trade on it. Management of the weakened Ottoman Empire ended when Cyprus was rented by the British Empire, and marked the beginning of administration on the island in 1878 ^[2] . However, the first Masonic lodges were organized by the British only ten years after the administration of the island began.

In 1888, ten years after the British occupation of Cyprus, the United Great Lodge of England created its first lodge in Cyprus, after which the Great Lodge of Greece created its first lodge in Cyprus in 1895 ^[2] . Great Britain officially annexed Cyprus in 1925. On August 16, 1960, Cyprus gained independence and recognition from the UN, taking into account two independently managed military bases that remained under British control.

The last occupation of Cypriot territory was due to the invasion of Turkey in 1974, which led to the further division of the island. Despite the difficulties in accessing this part of the island, the MLC jurisdiction of the KLK extends to both the Republic of Cyprus and the “Turkish zone of occupation”, and some Masons who are members of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus live in the occupied zone. Today, the northern part of the island, 37% of its territory, is in the occupied zone, 2-3% is controlled by the UN or is leased from two military bases in the UK, and 59% remains under the control of the Republic of Cyprus ^[2] .

Although the Republic of Cyprus was formed in 1960, the Masons of Cyprus for many reasons, primarily because of the emotional attachment to the existing long-standing relationship of their lodges with the Great Lodge of Greece, were not immediately able to proceed to form their own great lodge. After several attempts, Cypriot Masons on December 4, 2005 finally met at their General Assembly and made a historic decision to create their own jurisdiction - the Grand Lodge of Cyprus ^[2] .

Establishment of the VLK

The founders of the VLK were the following lodges (which were under the jurisdiction of the Great Lodge of Greece):

• ΚΙΜΩΝ or “Cimon”, in Larnaca , founded in 1918;
• ΣΟΛΩΝ or "Solon" in Nicosia , founded in 1921;
• ΚΙΝΥΡΑΣ or “Kiniras” in Paphos , founded in 1923;
• ΕΥΑΓΟΡΑΣ or “Evagoras” in Famagusta , founded in 1928, and was restored in Limassol in 1974;
• ΑΔΟΝΙΣ or “Adonis” in Nicosia, founded in 1961;
• ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΚΥΠΡΙΩΝ or "Cypriot Kinon", Nicosia, was founded in 1977.

The other two lodges of the Great Lodge of Greece, working in Cyprus, the Zeno in Limassol and the Phoenix in Nicosia, decided to join the Great Cyprus Lodge, organized in 1980 as a territorial unit of the United Great Lodge of England.

The establishment of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus took place on January 15, 2006, and on the same day the VLK held its first meeting and elections ^[1] .

Installation of VLK

The Grand Lodge of Cyprus was legally consecrated and installed ^{[4] by the} Grand Lodge of Greece, the Grand Lodge of Austria and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on October 8, 2006.

Sustainable Growth

The Great Lodge of Cyprus has experienced steady growth since its inception, and this trend is increasing with the expansion of recognition by other international Masonic organizations. Since 2010, relations have been stabilized with the United Great Lodge of England and its "Great Lodge of Cyprus."

The Great Lodge of Cyprus now consists of 13 lodges ^[5] . Lodges carry out their work in addition to the Greek language also in English, German, Italian and other languages. Register of lodges and languages ​​in which lodges work:

• Cimon No. 1, Larnaca, founding box of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• Solon No. 2, Nicosia, founder of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• Kiniras No. 3, Paphos, founder of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• Evagoras No. 4, Limassol, founder of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• Adonis No. 5, Nicosia, founder of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• “Cyprus Kinon” No. 6, Nicosia, founder of the Great Lodge of Cyprus;
• Goethe No. 7, in Larnaca, a German-speaking box;
• Giuseppe Garibaldi No. 8, Nicosia, Italian-speaking Lodge;
• Acropolis Amatusia No. 9, Limassol;
• Hiram Abbif No. 10, Nicosia;
• Salina No. 11, Larnaca, English-speaking box;
• “Strict Compliance” No. 12 (old No. 73), Limassol, English-speaking box;
• "St. Andrew ”No. 13, Limassol, English-speaking box.

The Agreement on Mutual Recognition and Intervisation with OVLA was ratified on June 6, 2010. At the end of 2013, the Great Lodge of Cyprus is mutually recognized by 140 regular great lodges .

There are 13 lodges under the jurisdiction of the Great Lodge of Cyprus, and the registry includes about 500 members ^[1] . The Grand Lodge of Cyprus has lodges working in Greek, German, Italian and English, and intends to create lodges in the near future that will work in Armenian and Turkish ^[1] . The annual assembly of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus is held in February ^[1] .

Organizations of additional degrees present in Cyprus that work in harmony with the Grand Lodge of Cyprus include the structures of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Charter , the Royal Arch , the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine , the Order of St. Thomas and the United Great Priory of the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem .

• List of Masonic organizations
• Organization of additional degrees
• Masonic regularity

• The site of the Great Lodge of Cyprus (Greek)
• The Grand Lodge of Cyprus website