Newsroom / CNA
At 105 years old, Argyri Achillea of Tala is preparing to cast her vote once again, continuing a tradition she has maintained throughout her life as the oldest registered voter in the Paphos district.
Late Sunday morning, her granddaughter Sofia will accompany her to the polling station, something the centenarian says she still looks forward to every election day. Her message for Cyprus remains simple: she hopes for peace and love across the world.
Achillea’s story stretches across more than a century of Cypriot history. Born and raised in rural Cyprus, she spent decades working tirelessly to support her family. She labored in the fields during harvest season, worked with agricultural crops and carobs, and even joined road crews in order to provide for her eight children, five sons and three daughters.
Alongside her work, she operated a traditional coffee shop in Tala that became a familiar meeting place for villagers over the years.
Today, her family has grown to include 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren. Although some of her children now live abroad or in Nicosia, relatives remain closely connected and frequently gather around her home.
Her husband, Sophocles Achilleos, originally from Amargeti, ran a bus service connecting Tala and Emba before his death more than 27 years ago.
Family members describe her as hardworking, resilient and deeply devoted to both her loved ones and her faith. Her son Dinos recalled watching his mother travel to the Mesaoria region for seasonal farm work and spend long days laboring to ensure her children had what they needed growing up.
Her granddaughter Sofia remembers learning traditional recipes from her, including flaounes and homemade sausages, while also recalling the busy atmosphere of the family coffee shop where neighborhood children would gather.
Achillea remains active in her daily routines, attends church regularly and continues to hold strong religious beliefs. Her youngest son Alexandros, who now helps care for her, says she taught him many practical skills, including cooking, but says the greatest lesson she passed on was her strength and dedication to family.
During conversations with relatives, Achillea also spoke about her connection to the internationally known singer and songwriter Cat Stevens, explaining that his father and her mother were siblings.
