The two-day 4th Conference “Paralimni, History and Culture, " organized by the Municipality of Paralimni–Deryneia on Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22, 2026.
The conference brought together speakers from academia and the scientific community, as well as from the fields of historical and folklore research, highlighting aspects of the ancient and modern history of Paralimni, as well as the region’s folk traditions. Through the papers presented, important aspects of local history were illuminated, ranging from the Stone Age, the period of the Kingdom of Salamis, and the Venetian occupation, to the tragic events of 1974, as well as issues related to folklore, religious tradition, and the intellectual life of the region.
The conference has now established itself as a vital forum for documenting, studying, and highlighting the rich historical and cultural heritage of Paralimni and the wider free province of Famagusta. The event aims to enhance historical knowledge, highlight the cultural identity of the region, and foster a vibrant forum for scholarly dialogue on the history and culture of the area.
On the opening day of the conference, welcoming remarks were delivered by the Mayor of Paralimni–Deryneia, Mr. George Nikoletos, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta, on behalf of His Eminence the Metropolitan, as well as the Inspector of Secondary Education, Mr. Angelos Chrysostomou, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, under whose auspices the conference was held. As part of the opening ceremony, a tribute was also paid to Professor George Georgis and the late Nikoletto of Sparta, in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the historical and intellectual life of the region.
The overall coordination and supervision of the conference were handled by the head of the Municipality’s Cultural Department, Marinos Pavlikkas, while the Organizing Committee consisted of the Mayor of Paralimni–Deryneia, Mr. George Nikoletto, as Chair, and Messrs. Andreas Evangelou, Christina Kakoura, Andreas Oikonomou, Andreas Papafilippou, Irini Skitsa Hatzagathangelou, Angelos Smagas, and Despo Farkoni Efthymiou, while overall coordination was handled by the Head of the Cultural Services Department of the Municipality of Paralimni–Deryneia, Mr. Marinos Pavlikkas. The late Nikoletos Spartiatis was also a member of the Organizing Committee. The conference was held under the auspices of the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth, Dr. Athina Michaelidou.
The following papers were presented at the conference: “Paralimni in the Stone Age, ” by Dr. Angelos Smagas and Dimitris Kyriakou; “Paralimni during the Kingdom of Salamis, ” by Dr. Anna Satraki; “The Excavations at Panagiotissa and Their Historical Context, ” by Polina Christofi; “Social Life in Paralimni in 1974, ” by Andreas Evangelou and Andreas Oikonomou; “Secondary Education in Paralimni during the 1974–1975 School Year, ” by Irini Skitsa Hatzagathangelou; “The Iconography of Saint George in Paralimni, ” by Dr. Christodoulos Hatzichristodoulou; “Saint George and Easter, ” by Dr. Christina Kakoura; “Folk Traditions about Saint George in Cyprus and Paralimni, ” by Kostis Kokkinofta; “The Alakati and the Orchard of Saint George, ” by Sergios Sergiou-Kerkoulla and Giorgos Sergiou-Kerkoulla; “The Poetry Collection ‘Andreas’ ‘Anthodesmi’ by Konstantinos Efstathiou, from Paralimni, Famagusta, Cyprus (Limassol, 1899): A First Comprehensive Presentation of the Rare Edition,” by Petros Papapolyviou; “Archaeological Evidence on Paralimni during the Venetian Period, ” by Dr. Nasa Patapiou; “Paralimni in the First Scientific Maps of Cyprus (1953),” by Dr. Nicoletta Dimitriou; “The Contribution of the People of Paralimni to the Defense of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, ” by Charalambos Alexandrou and Giorgos Potamos; “Captivity in 1974: The Case of the Captured Residents of Paralimni, ” by Dr. Angelos Fias; “Firsthand Account of Captivity, ” by Andreas Fanos; “Wounded Residents of Paralimni During the Events of 1974, ” by Andreas Oikonomou; “Casualties and Missing Persons from Paralimni in 1974 According to the Municipal Archives, ” by Marinos Pavlikkas; “The Front Line in Paralimni–Deryneia in 1974, ” by Andreas Papafilippou; and “The Green Line in Paralimni and the Kokkinochoria, ” by Dr. Lambros Kaoullas.
Before the conference concluded, an artistic performance was presented, organized by students and faculty members of the Paralimni Technical and Vocational School of Education and Training.
