By Michael Peters Kyriacou, Honorary President of the Cyprus Community of NSW
For Cyprus, Easter is the defining heartbeat of the year.
Rooted in the traditions of the Greek Orthodox faith and shaped by centuries of history, it speaks to something deeper: identity, continuity, resilience, renewal, faith and enduring hope.
Above all, Easter represents resilience and continuity, connecting Cyprus’ ancient past, Christian heritage and modern community life in a living expression of hope, renewal and collective spirit.
Across Cyprus, and the diaspora Easter is lived — not observed.
Churches are adorned with flowers, the Epitaphios moves solemnly through the streets, and the midnight proclamation of “Christ is Risen” brings communities together in a shared moment of light. Red eggs are cracked, families gather, ‘flaounes‘ traditional Cypriot cheese-filled pastries, are baked.
These are not rituals for show — they are expressions of belonging, continuity and meaning.
Easter in Cyprus is more than tradition — it is resilience and renewal.
Since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the ongoing occupation of the north, these traditions have not diminished — they have strengthened. Churches were lost, communities displaced, villages divided. But Easter endured — quietly affirming that identity, faith and culture cannot be erased.
Cyprus remains a spiritual anchor.
Through the legacy of the Church of Cyprus, one of the oldest autocephalous churches, the island continues to carry a message that has outlived conflict, division and time itself – a message that resonates across the diaspora.
Recent remarks by Hulusi Akar suggesting a “last Easter” for Greek Cypriots on the island stand in stark contrast to everything Easter represents: peace, renewal and our shared humanity. Many within the Cypriot community — especially those who lived through displacement — see that contrast clearly. On one side: light, renewal and hope. On the other: division and hostility. History has already answered which endures.
Easter is not defined by rhetoric. It is defined by resilience.
At its core, it is a call to conscience – towards peace, reconciliation and responsibility. It reminds us that selfishness and division have no place in a meaningful life.
It calls on us to be better. To care. To give. To build.
That message has travelled.
In Australia, the Cypriot community in New South Wales has not simply preserved these traditions — it is renewing them. Easter is lived. Families gather, values are passed on, and community remains central. But renewal is not passive. The Cyprus Community of NSW, as an institution, is itself in renewal — actively building.
Through scholarships, leadership programs, youth pathways and active subcommittees, it is shaping a future grounded in opportunity, inclusion and participation. From heritage and archives to youth, welfare, the arts and education – this is a living organisation.
Like the message of Easter — which is for all — so too is the Community: open to all to step forward, to contribute, and to help build something meaningful. A community for young families, for youth, for our elderly and our neighbours — a place of opportunity for connection, growth, purpose and renewal.
The recent Australia–Cyprus Achievement Awards reflect this clearly — recognising not status, but contribution; not words, but impact. They honour those who make a difference — those who help, who heal, who renew, and who advance tolerance through action.
Easter reminds us of that truth.
Renewal is always possible — but only if we choose it.
And in a world too often defined by division, Cyprus — through its people — continues to stand for something better: peace, unity and inclusiveness.
The Cyprus Community of NSW wishes all a peaceful Easter — a time of reflection, renewal and renewed commitment to community, family, unity and the enduring values that bring us together.
