Archbishop Kyprianos, 150th Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, Republic of Cyprus

At the outbreak of the Greek revolution in 1821 the Ottoman Sultan ordered the Pasha of Acre to send troops to Cyprus and authorized Kuchuk Mehmet, Governor of Cyprus to kill as many Christians as he thought necessary. The governor decided that four prelates and a few prominent and wealthy Christians must be sacrificed to avoid a revolt. The Greek population was apprehensive and remained aloof while Archbishop Kyprianos proclaimed his love for peace and his obedience to the Sultan. The governor however, persisting in inventing a plot, persuaded the Grand Vezir of its reality and obtained approval to severely punish and make an example of the leaders. On July 9th 1821 Archbishop Kyprianos and three bishops were arrested and brought into the square opposite the governor's palace. The Archbishop was hanged and the three bishops beheaded. Many notables were also killed. The foreign consuls showed great humanity and in particular the French consul who helped many in mortal danger by giving them refuge at the consulate and then sending them out on European vessels. Today a marble bust of Archbishop Kyprianos overlooks the square that bears his name in the old city of Nicosia.