Laniteio Lyceum

Oldest Operational High School in Limassol, Cyprus

Laniteio Lyceum

Λανίτειο Λύκειο

Courtyard in-front of main entrance

Location

Limassol

Cyprus

Coordinates| 34°41′21″N 33°2′21″E﻿ / ﻿34.68917°N 33.03917°E﻿ / 34.68917; 33.03917
Information
Type| Public High-School
Founded| 1819; 205 years ago (1819)
School district| Limassol
Principal| Myrto Pouagkare (current)
Previous Principal| Giorgos Iosiphidis (2016-02/2022)
Secondary years taught| 10th through 12th grades
Enrollment| 1121 (Laniteio Lyceum A': 487 + Laniteio Lycem B': 634) (2012-2013)

The Laniteio Lyceum (Greek: Λανίτειο Λύκειο, romanized: Laníteio Lúkeio), founded in 1819, is the oldest operational high-school in Limassol, and the second oldest in Cyprus, after the Pancyprian Gymnasium, in Nicosia.

## History

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In 1819, a group of residents of Limassol established the first one-year Greek School in the city, with the first principal being Demetrios Themistokleous (Greek: Δημήτρης Θεμιστοκλέους). The school's operation was paused in 1821, due to the Greek War of Independence, and later continued in 1834, as a three-year school.

From 1870 until 1913, Andreas Themistokleous (Greek: Ανδρέας Θεμιστοκλέους), son of the first principal, Demetrios Themistokleous, held the position of principal, being the first to include physical education at schools in Limassol.

In 1896, the building which housed the school was deemed inhabitable after an earthquake. With the help from the Greek Government, a new building was built. In 1906 the school was recognized as a five-year school, with energies from Andreas Themistokleous, and in 1915, a sixth year was added, giving it recognition of a six-year school, and the same status of any school in Greece.

Statue in honor of Nicolas P. Lanitis in the school

In the early 1940s, the school appeared to have a housing-crisis, due to the rise of the number of students. In 1945, Nicolas P. Lanitis (Greek: Νικόλαος Π. Λανίτης), contributed largely in the construction of the current school building (which now houses the Laniteio Lyceum). And in 1952, the building was completed and the following school year, the school was renamed to Laniteion Greek Gymnasium (Greek: Λανίτειον Ελληνικόν Γυμνάσιον), being named after Nicolas P. Lanitis, for his contributions.

The school for the past two decades has played a big role ethnically in the city, and the island itself. In 1960, in the Laniteio school area, the Greek All-Girl Gymnasium of Limassol[a] began operating, and the following year, it was renamed to A' All-Girls Gymnasium of Limassol[b][c], and finally, after the school became a mixed-sex school, it was renamed to E' Gymnasium of Limassol[d][e] in 1973.

Following the events of 1974, and the ever-increasing number of students, the three-year G' Gymnasium of Limassol[f][g] operated in the school's area. While the school itself, with the E' Gymnasium of Limassol operated with morning and evening schedules for students.

During the reform of the educational system in the 1980s, the school cycle was split into two, the Gymnasium and Lyceum cycles. The Laniteion Greek Gymnasium was renamed to Laniteio Lyceum A'[h], while the E' Gymnasium of Limassol was renamed to Laniteio Lyceum B'.[i][j] In the 2013–2014 school year, the two schools merged into one, forming the current Laniteio Lyceum.[1][2][3]

## School grounds

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Laniteio Gymnasium, on the left is the old building of Laniteio Lyceum B, and the right the new building of the gymnasium Laniteio Theatre

The Laniteio Lyceum is one of the schools located within the grander Laniteio Schools area. The other main schools and facilities include:[1]

* Limassol School Board
* Laniteio Stadium
* Laniteio Theatre
* Laniteio Lyceum (also housing the "Marios Tokas” Music Lyceum and the Limassol Athletic Lyceum)
* Laniteio Gymnasium (also housing the Limassol Music Gymnasium and the Limassol Athletic Gymnasium)
* Laniteio Park
* 12th Primary School of Limassol - Laniteio

Church located on the grounds

A church, gardens, closed stadiums and smaller parks are also located within the school's area, open to the public.

## Notable alumni

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* Spyros Kyprianou, President of Cyprus from 1977 to 1988[3]
* George Vassiliou, President of Cyprus from 1988 to 1993[3]
* Stella Soulioti, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Cyprus[3]
* Criton Tournaritis, Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus[3]
* Rennos Frangoudis, Olympian Sprinter[3]
* Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou, Olympian Sprinter[3]
* Michael Cacoyannis, Film and Stage Director[3]
* John Modinos, Baritone[3]
* Marios Tokas, Composer[3]

## Notable faculty

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* Solon Michaelides, 1941 to 1956, Composer, Teacher, Musicologist[3]
* Vasileios Tatakis, 1923 to 1926, Philosophy Professor[3]
* Giorgos Fasouliotis, 1915 to 1928, Music Professor[3]
* Viktor Ioannidis, 1948 to 1965, Music Professor[3]

## See also

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* Pancyprian Gymnasium
* Limassol
* Cyprus

## References

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1. ^ a b "Συνδέσμος Αποφοίτων και Φίλων Λανιτείου". Συνδέσμος Αποφοίτων και Φίλων Λανιτείου (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
2. ^ "Ιστορικό Σχολείου - ΛΑΝΙΤΕΙΟ ΓΥΜΝΑΣΙΟ". gym-laniteio-lem.schools.ac.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ". lyk-laniteio-lem.schools.ac.cy (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-02-20.

## Notes

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1. ^ (Greek: Ελληνικόν Γυμνάσιον Θήλεων Λεμεσού)
2. ^ The letters in front of schools indicate the numbering of schools in the city. A’ meaning 1st.
3. ^ (Greek: Α´ Γυμνάσιο Θήλεων Λεμεσού)
4. ^ E’ as in 5th.
5. ^ (Greek: Ε´ Γυμνάσιο Λεμεσού)
6. ^ G’ as in 7th.
7. ^ (Greek: Η΄ Γυμνάσιο Λεμεσού)
8. ^ (Greek: Λανίτειο Λύκειο Α΄)
9. ^ B’ as in 2nd.
10. ^ (Greek: Λανίτειο Λύκειο Β΄)

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laniteio Lyceum.