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History of the village of Akanthou (Tatlisu)

This village is situated at the north coast of the north occupied Cyprus.

It was inhabited by Greeks for centuries. The villagers were very progressive, with modern ideas and a special love for their land. The exquisite beauty of the land and the village made them dedicated and proud. They developed great skills in agriculture, in farming and in cultivating the thousands of olive-trees and carop-trees.
Also, they showed great zeal and interest in education and in studies. Many of the Akanthians studied as teachers, doctors and in other fields as well.

In 1974 the progress of the village stopped, when the Turkish troops invaded and occupied half of the island of Cyprus. They sent away the inhabitants of all the villages and cities, by force, saying that they needed to protect the Turkish Cypriots. The village of Akanthou never had any Turkish Cypriot or a Muslim inhabitant Instead, in this village there is the biggest church in Cyprus, dedicated to Christ, and built by the bear hands of the villagers.