The Lodge “Kinyras” was founded on 8/21 April 1923 by thirteen Brethren of the Worshipful Lodge “Zenon”. Under the chairmanship of Bro∴ Christoforos G. Tornaritis, the new Lodge was consecrated and its Officers were installed, and authorized on May 8th of the same year by its Decree No. 193, the Most Serene Grand Orient of Greece therefore was given the name “Kinyras” No. 64 in the Orient of Paphos. There followed a first period of prosperity, from 1923 to 1931, during which thirty-three initiations took place, together with passings to the Second Degree and raisings to the Third, and a Night School was founded.
This progress was interrupted in 1931, when the October Events (the “Oktovriana”) caused the Lodge to become dormant and the school to close. The Lodge resumed its Labours on 29 November 1937, when new Officers were installed, with Bro∴ Iakovos Iakovides as Worshipful Master. A further suspension of Labours followed during the years of colonial repression, from 1955 until 28 March 1959.
On 3 February 1963, it was decided to purchase the present building, and on 30 April 1966 the Lodge held its first meeting on its own premises. In 1996, the building was damaged by an earthquake, which necessitated the demolition and rebuilding of part of the structure.
In 2006, the Lodge joined the Grand Lodge of Cyprus as “Kinyras” No. 3. In 2012, the build-ing was renovated and the Lodge organised a World Masonic Conference. In 2019, the English-speaking Lodge “Unity” No. 15 was founded, with a substantial contribution from members of “Kinyras”. Finally, in 2021, the building was struck by lightning and damaged by the ensuing fire; it was promptly restored thanks to the fraternal generosity of the members. The name “Kinyras” links the Lodge with the mythological heritage of Paphos and with the enduring pursuit of beauty.
The W∴ L∴ “Kinyras” was born of the joint endeavour of active and cultivated men, whose names are listed below.
Founding Members of the Lodge “Kinyras”: Bro∴ Christoforos G. Tornaritis, Physician; Bro∴ Zafeirios Malamatenios, Advocate; Bro∴ Stefanos Rouvalis, Tobacco Manufacturer; Bro∴ Charilaos Kakogiannis, Advocate; Bro∴ Sokratis G. Tornaritis, Physician; Bro∴ Alkiviadis K. Eleftheriades, Registrar; Bro∴ Konstantinos Chr. Imbos, Merchant; Bro∴ Sotirios S. Markides, Advocate; Bro∴ Pavlos K. Kythreotis, Merchant; Bro∴ Alekos N. Zenon, Advocate; Bro∴ Kyros N. Tritoftides, Teacher of French; Bro∴ Konstantinos Sotiriades, Civil Servant; Bro∴ Zenon Stavrinides, Engineer; The consecration of the Lodge and the installation of its Officers took place at the meeting of 10 June 1923, in the presence of representatives of many Masonic Lodges in Cyprus.
At the same meeting, the following were unanimously elected Honorary Worshipful Masters for their services to Freemasonry: Bro∴ Konstantinos Angelopoulos, Grand Master of the Most Serene Grand Or∴ of Greece; Bro∴ Ioannis G. Karageorgiades; and Bro∴ Christoforos G. Tornaritis.
The first initiations took place on 6 November 1923, when Konstantinos Doukas, Manager of the Ottoman Bank in Paphos, and Leonidas G. Ioannides were received into the Craft. By 1931, 33 candidates had been initiated, among them two Turkish Cypriots. Members of the Lodge distinguished themselves in Cypriot society as ministers, mayors, municipal councillors, pioneers of the Scout movement, newspaper publishers and benefactors of schools and libraries.
It is noteworthy that, from 1920 to 1996, with the exception of the period 1943-1953, every Mayor of Paphos was a Freemason and a member of “Kinyras”. Mayors of Paphos: Bro∴ Nikolas Nikolaides, 1920-1943; Bro∴ Iakovos Iakovides, 1953-1962; Bro∴ Ioannis Agrotis, 1964-1986; Bro∴ Andreas Ataliotis, 1986-1996.
From 1923 to 1931, the Lodge founded and maintained a Night School, which offered instruction in language, hygiene, knitting, sewing and pattern-cutting.
Such was the standing of the school that, in December 1927, the speaker at its Christmas celebration was Mr Leontios Leontiou, later Metropolitan of Paphos and Archbishop of Cyprus. In 1931, as a result of the October Events, the Lodge became dormant and the school closed; the school later reopened and operated from 1945 to 1951.
From 1931 to 1937, the Lodge remained inactive, owing to the ban on public assemblies. When some of these restrictions were lifted, new Officers were installed on 29 November 1937, with Bro∴ Iakovos Iakovides as W...M∴
At that time, the Lodge met in premises belonging to Bro∴ Pavlos Kythreotis. In 1954, Bro∴ Dimitris Papadimitriou deposited ten pounds to establish a fund for the acquisition of a Masonic Hall; voluntary contributions and loans followed.
On 3 February 1963, during the Mastership of Brother Panikos Sivitanides, it was decided to purchase the present building for £1,500, a sum which, including the alterations carried out in 1966, rose to £1,800. The first meeting in the Lodge’s own premises was held on 30 April 1966, during the Mastership of Bro∴ Faidros Galatopoulos. In 1996, the severe earthquake that struck Paphos necessitated the demolition of part of the building, which was restored through voluntary contributions from the Brethren and from the Grand Lodge of Greece. In 2021, during the Mastership of Bro∴ Giorgos Christodoulides, a fire caused by a lightning strike inflicted extensive damage on the building. Once again, the Brethren, the sister Lodges and the Supreme Council of the 33rd and Last Degree for Cyprus of the A∴ A∴ S∴ R∴ contributed generously, while Brethren laboured for weeks on the restoration.
In 2006, with the founding of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus and with the consent of the Grand Lodge of Greece, “Kinyras” No. 64 received the number 3 and adopted a new emblem, with-out any break in its historical continuity.
In 2012, during the Mastership of Bro∴ Pantelis Evangelou, and with Bro∴ Kostas Lambrou as Chairman of the Committee, the building was renovated, funded by contributions from the Grand Lodge of Cyprus, donations and a loan, and carried out through personal labour of the Brethren. In the same year, the Lodge organised a World Masonic Conference.
In 2019, during the Mastership of Bro∴ Dimitris Loukaides, members of the Lodge “Kinyras” No. 3 and the Lodge “Evagoras” No. 4 founded the English-speaking Lodge “Unity” No. 15 in the Orient of Limassol.
Since its foundation, the Lodge has welcomed 242 members. When the city needed educa-tion, the Lodge founded a school. When it needed leadership, its members served in public life. When prohibition came, the Lodge waited patiently. When earthquake and fire came, it rebuilt.
What is built upon principles cannot be torn down, for its foundation lies in the hearts of those who serve it. From the founders of 1923 to the Brethren of today, the Lodge “Kinyras” No. 3 remains a guardian of memory, a school of virtue and a workshop of light in the Orient of Paphos.
From the anniversary album “Grand Lodge of Cyprus 2006–2026”.
