AGIOS EPIKTITOS

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Prior to 1974, Agios Epiktitos/Çatalköy was one of the largest villages in the Kyrenia region. It is situated almost six kilometers east of the town of Kyrenia. Although Turkish Cypriots had their small neighborhood until 1958, it was always a Greek Cypriot dominated settlement. The village always had two names, the Greek Agios Epiktitos and the Turkish Çatalköy. The Greek name of the village comes from a German saint who supposedly came to Cyprus in the 12th century. The Turkish name literally means “forked village,” probably acquiring this name because of a forked road in the middle of the village. 
 
Historical Population:

As may be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Muslims (Turkish Cypriots) constituted almost 26% of the population. Approximately ten years after the beginning of the British administration in the island, this number fell to 17%. Until 1931, the town’s Turkish population continued to decline, while the Greek population grew. In 1946, after the Second World War, Turkish Cypriots constituted only 6% of the town’s population. By 1960 there were only 9 Turkish Cypriots living in the village.

Displacement:

Due to intercommunal strife, all the Turkish Cypriots (around 60-70) were displaced from the village in 1958 and took refuge in Nicosia. Only nine of these went back to the village in 1960 and due to the later intercommunal strife they were displaced once again in January 1964 and took refuge first in Kazafani/Ozanköy, and then in the Agirda/Boghaz camp. Turkish Cypriots of the village remained in enclaves until the end of 1974, when some went back to Agios Epiktitos and the rest settled in Nicosia permanently.

The third displacement took place in July-August 1974, when most of the Greek Cypriots from Agios Epiktitos fled from the advancing Turkish army. However, 160 Greek Cypriots of the village were enclaved here until October 1975. Eventually they were all transferred to the other side of the divide by September 1976. Currently, the Greek Cypriots of Agios Epiktitos are scattered throughout the island’s south, with small pockets in towns. The number of the Greek Cypriots who were displaced in 1974 was around 1,260 (1,252 in1973).

Current Inhabitants:

Apart from the original Turkish Cypriots of Agios Epiktitos who returned in 1974 and 1975, there are displaced Turkish Cypriot from the island’s south, primarily from the Limassol area, mainly from Avdimou/Düzkaya village. There are also some Turkish Cypriots from Prastio/Yuvalı village in Paphos district. During the last ten years, many European citizens and Turkish Cypriots from elsewhere in Cyprus have bought property and settled in the village, which has become a small town. In addition, the village hosts many immigrant workers, mainly from Turkey and Pakistan, who are employed primarily in construction, gardening and tourism. The 2006 Turkish Cypriot census puts the village’s de jure population at 4,283. This number can easily go up to 6,000 on weekends and during holiday seasons.

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