Maronites

Maronites settled in Cyprus between the 8th and the 13th centuries. The Maronite church in Cyprus was operating under the rule of the Greek Orthodox Church until 1845, when it regained independency. When the Republic of Cyprus was formed in 1960 approximately 2.750 Maronites were living on the island and had to choose to belong either to the Greek Cypriot or to the Turkish Cypriot community. Their choice of the former was based on the comparatively closer cultural affinities. 

Bishop Ioannis Phoradaris (Ιωάννης Φοραδάρης) and Ioannis Mavridis (Ιωάννης Μαυρίδης) busts