On 5th July, a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Cypriot Community Centre grand hall was filled with first, second, third and fourth generation Rizokarpassides ranging in age from 2 to 92 to celebrate their Rizokarpasso roots and enjoy a delicious traditional Cypriot summer buffet with family and friends. Some danced to the music of Sotiris Shangoli and all enjoyed the company of friends and relatives in what was a truly, family and friends orientated, joyful community atmosphere. We recalled and were proud of our ethnic roots but also remembered the sacrifice that our enclaved compatriots in Rizokarpasso have made since 1974 and their heroic decision to remain in their ancestral homes. Although a very small number of compatriots have returned to Rizokarpasso recently, as the years pass, the original enclaved people are growing older and their numbers are decreasing, whilst there were about 4,000 Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpasso before the Turkish invasion of 1974, there are now 258 of which 52 are school children.
The President of the National Federation of Cypriots UK Christos Karaolis, whose maternal grandmother was from Rizokarpasso, attended the event as did the Executive Secretary of the Greek Cypriot Brotherhood Andreas Karaolis. The President of the Association of Rizokarpasso Mary Karaolis welcomed and thanked those present for their commitment and continuous support and Maria Demetriou Vice President of the Association was MC. Everyone agreed that it was great to have the opportunity to have lunch together and catch up with family and friends. There was a special welcome for Costas Hadjiyiannis (Zardis) and family who had travelled 194 miles from Leeds to attend the event and have lunch with family and friends and also to Androulla and Sotiris Constantinou who celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Everyone was delighted to be enjoying their meal at tables, that were not numbered but instead were allocated Rizokarpasso place names e.g. Afendrika, Agios Philon, Asprokolympos, Agios Synesios, Agios Therissos, Agia Triada, Apostolos Andreas, Bashiammos, Helones, Korakas, Leko, Livae, The older people present explained to the second and subsequent generations where these places were in Rizokarpasso, where their illegally occupied properties were located and what a beautiful and historically significant place Rizokarpasso is.
