Tag Archives: Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης)

Memorial to the EOKA 1955-59 fighters

P1060687n P1060690n P1060691n P1060692n

Artist: Theodoros Vasiliou 

Location: Palaichori Orinis. Nicosia district

Material: Marble and copper

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial is dedicated to Michalis Karaolis (Μιχάλης Καραολής), Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) and Nikos Georgiou (Νίκος Γεωργίου).  The initiative was taken by Zina Kanther who funded its construction. The unveiling took place on November 19th 1961. 

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Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) statue

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Κυριάκος Μάτσης (8)n Κυριάκος Μάτσης (9)n

Artist: Evangelos Moustakas  

Location: Kyriakou Matsi Avenue, Presidential Palace roundabout, Strovolos.     Nicosia district 

Material: Brass

Dimensions: 2.30 meters (the statue)

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Adrienne Christiansen & Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2002 by the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle (SIMAE). The unveiling took place on June 27th 2002.  

The pyramid behind Kyriakos Matsis symbolizes the tomb. It is torn in two parts because of the explosion of the grenade. Matsis seems to be coming out through the split pyramid, his tomb. Thus, the explosion of the grenade which caused his death, offers him immortality. 

Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 20, 1999, p. 24.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/16, documents January 26, 1998; February 17, 1998.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/18, document March 24, 1999.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, documents March 26, 2007; January 11, 2008.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.10, document May 12, 2009; Meetings minutes April 26, 2002; May 7, 2009; April 9, 2009; June 11, 2009.  

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Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) statue

Ανδριάντας Κυριάκου Μάτση (1)n Ανδριάντας Κυριάκου Μάτση (6)n

Artist: Leonidas Spanos 

Location: Archbishop Makarios III Avenue, Lakatamia. Nicosia district

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2008 by Lakatamia National Union “Kyriakos Matsis”. The unveiling took place on October 4th 2009.

On the wall behind the statue, on the (viewer’s) left hand side, are written his words: “I fight for this land, so those who water it with their sweat can live free, able to claim its ownership and management” (Αγωνίζομαι τη γη αυτή να τη ζουν αυτοί που τη ποτίζουν με τον ιδρώτα τους και να περπατούν πάνω της ελεύθεροι, διαφεντευτές της, κυρίαρχοί της). On the right hand side is noted his answer to Field Marshal Harding: “We do not fight for the money, we fight for the values” (Ου περί χρημάτων τον αγώνα ποιούμεθα αλλά περί αρετής).

Selected sources:
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, Meeting Minutes January 31, 2008.

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Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης) bust

Προτομή Κυριάκου Μάτση (3)n Προτομή Κυριάκου Μάτση (6)n

Artist: Andreas Savvides 

Location: Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Sources, Acheon Avenue, Agios Dometios. Nicosia district

Dimensions: 172 cm (+ 20 cm the steps) x 36 cm x 26 cm

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the bust was taken in 1994 by the Ministry’s Agricultural Department association of the employees. The unveiling took place on November 19th 1995.

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The EOKA 1955-59 guerrilla fighter statue and heroes’ busts

Andreas Karyos n Evagoras papachristoforoun
Andreas Karyos                                                 Evagoras Papachristoforou 

Fotis Pittasn Georgios Karyosn
Fotis Pittas                                                       Georgios Karyos

Kyriakos Matsisn Markos Drakos n
Kyriakos Marsis                                                 Markos Drakos

Michail Giorgallasn Memorial to the 1955-59 political prisoners (2)n
Michail Giorgallasn

Memorial to the 1955-59 political prisonersn The detention campn The EOKA 1955-59 guerilla fighter statue (2)n The EOKA 1955-59 guerilla fighter statuen xn xxn

 Artist (for the statue): Giorgos Mavroyenis

Material (of the statue): Bronze

Dimensions (of the statue): Life size

Constructor (for the statue): GBAS Constructions Ltd

Busts: Andreas Karyos (Ανδρέας Κάρυος)

Georgios Karyos (Γεώργιος Κάρυος)

Evagoras Papachristoforou (Ευαγόρας Παπαχριστοφόρου)

Kyriakos Matsis (Κυριάκος Μάτσης)

Michail Giorgallas (Μιχαήλ Γιωργαλλάς)

Markos Drakos (Μάρκος Δράκος)

Fotis Pittas (Φώτης Πίττας)

Artist: Leonidas Spanos

Dimensions: 135 cm (+ 22 cm the pedestal) x 45 cm x 45 cm

Kokkinothrimithia detention camp was the place where many of the EOKA 1955-59 fighters were imprisoned and some of them executed. According to the Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle (SIMAE), the number of detained EOKA fighters was more than 3000. The detention camp closed in 1959, when the EOKA guerilla war ended. Until November 1955, when the camp opened, the prisoners were kept at Nicosia central prison and at Kerynia Castle.

The guerrilla fighter statue was donated in 2011 by the artist Giorgos Mavroyenis as homage to the EOKA struggle.The memorial to the 1955-59 political prisoners was commissioned by SIMAE, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Association of Political Prisoners. The unveiling took place on November 2nd 2002. 

The initiative for all the busts was taken by the Association of Political Prisoners. SIMAE commissioned those of Andreas and Georgios Karyos, and Fotis Pittas. In the cases of Evagoras Papachristoforou and Kyriakos Matsis, family members (Panayiota Papachristoforou and Yiannakis Matsis, respectively) funded the busts. Faneromenis’ church commissioned Michail Giorgallas’ bust and the Cypriot Workers Confederation (SEK/ΣΕΚ) commissioned Markos Drakos’ bust.

The unveiling of Andreas Karyos, Michail Giorgallas and Markos Drakos busts took place in October 2008, when for the others the official ceremony followed a year later, on November 1st 2009.

Selected sources:
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008.9, documents June 6, 2008; January 11, 2008.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, documents June 6, 2008; October 9, 2008; November 14, 2008; Meeting Minutes May 7, 2009; October 9, 2008.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.11, document May 12, 2009.

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