The old Armenian compound on Victoria street, occupied Nicosia
History of Gibrahayer
In 1999, Gibrahayer e-magazine started circulating Armenian news and events from Cyprus, the Diaspora, Armenia and Artsakh to a distribution list of 35 recipients and over the past 20 years it grew into one of the largest e-magazines in Armenian reality, published from the smallest of Armenian communities in the Diaspora in Nicosia – Cyprus.
Gibrahayer e-magazine also sends a newsletter to a separate email distribution list directed to Armenian Cypriots, informing them of Armenian Cypriot events.
It also manages a mobile phone messaging service for community alerts.
The people
A number of prominent activists have contributed into transforming Gibrahayer e-magazine to what it is today.
In 2004 Professor Hovhanessian Pilikian from London U.K. joined Gibrahayer and held a separate section.
In 2004, Dr. Nazaret Armenagian of Limassol, designed the first mailer which was used until 2010.
Cartoonist Tatiana Ferahian joined Gibrahayer in late 2004 and her corner represented amalgamations of Armenian-Cypriot social commentaries, painted with her usual wry and ironic humour, stimulated and encouraged awareness and interest toward our community’s everyday happenings.
In 2006 a young Armenian Cypriot Sevag Devletian, joined Gibrahayer and undertook the News in Brief and Sports section.
In 2008 a young Greek Cypriot university student – Alexander-Michael Hadjilyra – who prepared a Chronicle on the minorities of Cyprus joined our team, and since then through his work he has become an expert on our community’s history and life.
Gibrahayer e-Magazine – like all newsletters and e-magazines – has enabled us to connect to each other and share information. Perhaps the most important factor for our success has been the network of people who have quickly and accurately sent news, feedback and opinions in a collective effort to stay informed and inform the people around us.
In 2010 Gibrahayer e-magazine received a Media Award from the Republic of Armenia in a ceremony in the capital of Artsakh Stepanakert.
In 2015 the Editor of Gibrahayer e-magazine Simon Aynedjian was decorated by the President of the Republic of Armenia with the Movses Khorenatsi Medal in a ceremony in Nicosia – Cyprus.