Tag Archives: Symeonidis Chrisimos Christos (Συμεωνίδης Χρίσιμος Χρίστος)

Memorial to the Kythrea dead

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Cultural Athletic union of Kythrea (PAOK) premises, Stavrou Avenue, Strovolos. Nicosia district

Category: Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was commissioned by the cultural Athletic union of Kythrea (PAOK) and the unveiling took place on May 2^nd 2010. Kythrea community is located in the occupied area but continues to elect its authorities in the free part of the island, as all occupied municipalities and communities still do on a regular basis.

Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/3, document April 18, 2002.

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Memorial to Archbishop Kyprianos (Αρχιεπίσκοπος Κυπριανός)

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Archbishop Kyprianos Lyceum, Strovolos. Nicosia district

Category: Cypriot Church

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 2006 by the Archbishop Kyprianos Lyceum graduates of 1976, who coordinated the fundraising. The unveiling took place on March 24^th 2006.

Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/10, document December 21, 2005.
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/11, document January 13, 2006.

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Iakovos Patatsos (Ιάκωβος Πατάτσος) statue

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Stasinou Avenue, Elenio elementary school, Nicosia. Nicosia district

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 190 cm

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative was taken by an ad hoc committee for the memorial which coordinated the fundraising. The statue was placed outside the elementary school he attended, and the unveiling took place on April 24^th 1996. The date was scheduled to coincide with the 40^th anniversary of his arrest, on April 24^th 1956.

Patatsos is also known as “The struggle’s saint” because of his devotion to religion and to spiritual matters. An inscription in byzantine style letters attests this image of him. For that reason he is symbolically depicted holding a book with a cross. The base is designed on two levels which seek to give the impression of relaxed motion, although, according to the sculptor, he is depicted the exact moment he goes to the gallows. The construction with the cubes and the doves, symbols of peace and/or victory, and the Holy Spirit, followed some time after the original unveiling. A second inscription on the wall behind him commemorates the names of the nine fighters who were hanged in Nicosia central prison.

Selected sources:
~ Μάχη (Mahi), April 3, 1996, p. 3.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), January 5, 1994, p. 19.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), March 16, 1995, p. 15.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/12, document December 17, 1993; Meetings Minutes May 24, 1994; July 25, 1994.
~Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/13, document April 19, 1995.
~ Αρχείο Δήμου Λευκωσίας (Nicosia Municipality Archive), 06-7.8, document October 29, 1992.
~ Αρχείο Δήμου Λευκωσίας (Nicosia Municipality Archive), 06-7.10, document February 22, 1996.

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Theodosis Pieridis (Θεοδόσης Πιερίδης) bust

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Kostas Misiaoulis Street, Tseri. Nicosia district

Dimensions: 141 cm x 44 cm x 34 cm

Category: Public Figures

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

Theodosis Pieridis was a poet. The initiative for the bust was taken in 2006 and the unveiling took place on June 17^th 2007.

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Memorial to the Prodromos’ Archbishops

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Community square, Prodromos. Limassol district

Category: Cypriot Church

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken by the inhabitants of Prodromos village and the Prodromos friends’ association, the Morfou Archbishopric and the Prodromos community committee funded the construction.

The portraits of the four Archiboshops of Cyprus, originated from Prodromos village, are carved on medals and inserted on the commemorative wall. The Archbishops are Makarios I (Μακάριος Α’), Sofronios ΙΙΙ (Σωφρόνιος Γ’), Kyrillos II (Κύριλλος Β’) and Makarios II (Μακάριος Β’).

Adjacent to them is placed a memorial stele for the village dead and missing.

The unveiling took place on June 26^th 2011.

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Archimandrite Ieronymos Myriantheas (Αρχιμανδρίτης Ιερώνυμος Μυριανθέας) bust

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Primary school yard, Kaminaria. Limassol district

Dimensions: 177 cm x 54 cm x 41 cm

Category: Public Figures, Cypriot Church

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken by an ad hoc private committee for the memorial. The bust was made in 1997 and the unveiling took place on November 1^st 1998.

Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), November 7, 1998, p. 8.

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Nearchos Kliridis (Νέαρχος Κληρίδης) bust

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Agros. Limassol district

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 137 cm x 45 cm x 34 cm

Category: Public Figures

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

Nearchos Kliridis was a teacher, writer and a scholar of folklore history. The bust was donated by the Photos Photiadis Foundation and Carlsberg Company. It was made in 1998 and the unveiling took place the following year, on October 10^th.

Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), February 4, 1999, p. 4.

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Kyriakos Apeitos (Κυριάκος Απέητος) bust

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: “Apeitios” school, Agros. Limassol district

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 142 cm (+ 16 cm the step) x 66 cm x 44 cm

Category: Public Figures

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

Kyriakos Apeitos was the founder of the “Apeitios” school. The initiative for his bust was taken by the Agros School Supervision. The unveiling took place on November 1^st 1997.

At the bottom of the pedestal is placed an ossuary with Kyriakos and his wife, Klio, remnants.

Selected sources:
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/16, Meeting Minutes September 16, 1997.

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Memorial to the Pitsilia Women Fighters

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Saint Kyriaki church, Agros. Limassol district

Category: ΕΟΚΑ 1955-59, Cypriot Women

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the memorial was taken in 1998 by an ad hoc committee for the memorial to the EOKA 1955-59 fighters.

The distinct segregation between masculine and feminine identities becomes explicitly tangible in the case of the sole memorial acknowledging and honoring women’s contribution to national struggles, paying a “reverent commemoration and praise” to them as indicated on the inscription.

Nevertheless, the sculpture does not include any of the expected, or necessary under the circumstances, male attitudes of aggressiveness or militaristic spirit. On the contrary, the woman depicted is illustrated in favour of the female stereotype, as a mild, rather agreeable creature, saluting with her right hand while holding a stone in her left hand, which rests bended on her stomach. Symbolic cultural values prove rigid enough to prevent any visual representation of a shifting identity, which could deconstruct the dominant codes.

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Michail Koutsoftas (Μιχαήλ Κουτσόφτας) and Andreas Panagidis (Ανδρέας Παναγίδης) busts

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: “Michail Koutsoftas and Andreas Panagidis” Paleometocho lyceum.

Nicosia district

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 138 cm x 39 cm x 28 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for the busts was taken in 2003 by a private ad hoc committee “for the preservation of Koutsofta and Panayidis memory”. The unveiling took place on May 18^th 2005.

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Memorial to the dead and to Nikitari Mother

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Material: Bronze (the busts and the medals)

Location: Nikitari village. Nicosia village

Dimensions: 136 cm x 40 cm x 305 cm (Spyrou bust). 115 cm (+81 cm the pedestal)

55 cm x 44~74 cm (the bust of the mother)

Category: War Volunteers, Turkish Invasion, National Guard, EOKA 1955-59, Cypriot Women

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was initially intended to commemorate only Kostas Spyrou who was killed during the Turkish invasion in 1974. It was subsequently designed to pay respects to all those Nikitari fighters who have died since 1940, including the volunteers during the Second World War. Nevertheless, Spyrou is the only one to be commemorated with a bust.

The Mother’s bust was added in 2006. Under her feet is written: “Mother, lady of Nikitari, lady of freedom, you crown your children as heroes” («Μάνα, κυρά του Νικηταριού, κυρά της λευτεριάς, τα παιδιά σου ήρωες τιμάς»).

The female figure here intentionally keeps an ambiguous identity symbolizing simultaneously the concepts of both motherhood and motherland. Both identities aim to promote and underline the sacrificial nature of motherhood, and the women’s duty to serve and perpetuate the family and the nation.

The memorial was funded by a private ad hoc committee for the Nikitari memorial, the Community Committee, and the Nikitari expatriates union and friends. The unveiling took place on November 26^th 2006.

Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee) 14.3.01/4, Meeting Minutes October 10, 2002.

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Fidias Symeonidis (Φειδίας Συμεωνίδης) and Tryfonas Tryfonas (Τρύφωνας Τρύφωνας) busts

Fidias Symeonidis Tryfonas Tryfonas

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Outside Lagoudera village. Nicosia district.

Dimensions for both busts: 131 cm x 40~58 cm x 30~49 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59, National Guard, Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative and the commission of Fidias Symenonidis’ bust were taken by his EOKA 1955-59 co-fighters in 1989. The bust was delivered in 2001.

The initiative for Tryfonas Tryfonas’ bust was taken by the General Staff of the National Guard in 1984, and the cost was covered through private and state funds. Tryfonas’ bust was delivered in 2002.

Adjacent to their busts a pedestal commemorates the two, listed as missing, Andreas K. Ioannou (Ανδρέας Π. Ιωάννου) and Panayiotis P. Chatzipanayioti (Παναγιώτης Π. Χ’’Παναγιώτη). The dove, symbol of peace and reassurance, nested in a crosswise arrangement of laurel branches, is a widespread symbolism of heroic sacrificial deeds in Cypriot memorials.

Selected sources:
~ Σημερινή (Simerini), January 19, 1984, p. 14.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), December 6, 1989, p. 15.

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Stavros Stylianidis (Σταύρος Στυλιανίδης) and Pantelis Katelaris (Παντελής Κατελάρης) busts

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Tamasos and Orinis Diocese, Episkopio village. Nicosia district.

Dimensions: 127 cm x 52 cm x 42 cm

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The initiative for Stylianidis bust was taken by an ad hoc group of EOKA fighters and the unveiling took part on July 3^rd 2011. The initiative for Katelaris bust was taken by “Pantelis Katelaris” association and the unveiling took place on November 8^th 2009. Next to them there is a pedestal dedicated to the, listed as missing, Nikos Petridis (Νίκος Πετρίδης).

Selected sources:
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.94.7, vol. 7, document March 2, 2005.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, document November 14, 2008; Meeting Minutes December 13, 2007.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2008, Meeting Minutes May 13, 2008.

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Memorial to the Polis Chrysochou dead

Γεώργιος Στυλιανού (5)n

Artists: Unknown (for Stylianou), Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos (for Rossidi)

Location: Apostle Andreas church yard at Polis Chrysochou. Pafos district.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 155 cm x 36 cm (Stylianou’ bust), 136 cm x 40 cm (Rossidi’ bust)

Category: EOKA 1955-59, National Guard

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial is dedicated to Georgios Stylianou (Γεώργιος Στυλιανού) and to Antonis Fivou Rossidi (Αντώνης Φοίβου Ρωσσίδη). Stylianou’ bust was commissioned in 1960 by the Greek Cypriots from Polis Chrysochou living in Darwin, Australia. According to sources the sculptor was from Athens, Greece.

Antonis Fivou Rossidi was member of the National Guard. His bust was commissioned in 2003. No further information on Rossidi’s commissioners is available.

Selected sources:
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), October 27, 1960, p. 6.

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Andreas Geroudis (Ανδρέας Γερούδης) bust

Artist: Christos Symeonidis-Chrisimos

Location 3^rd Pafos Elementary School, Pafos Municipality. Pafos district.

Dimensions: 140 cm (+50 cm the step) x 44 cm x 34 cm

Category: Inter-communal conflicts 1963-64

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

A private committee for the construction of Andreas Geroudis’ bust commissioned the bust in 2003 through a competition.

Selected sources:
~ Αρχείο Συμβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Μνημείων Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (Advisory Monuments’ Committee), 14.3.01/5, Meeting Minutes July 29, 2003.

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Memorial to the Paralimni dead and missing 2

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: 2nd Paralimni elementary school. Ammochostos district.

Category: Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was commissioned by Adamou Koumis family and is dedicated to the missing Theodoros Koumis.

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Memorial to the Paralimni dead and missing

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: 1st Paralimni elementary school. Ammochostos district.

Material: Marble

Category:Turkish Invasion

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The memorial was commissioned by Markou Glykenou family and is dedicated to the missing officer Symeon Glykenos.

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Memorial to the EOKA 1955-59 heroes

Artists: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos, Phylactis Ierides,

Philippos Yiapanis

Location: On the Avgorou-Lioperiou road. Ammochostos district.

Dimensions: The memorial occupies an area of 14,500 m.sq.

Category: EOKA 1955-59

Photography: Vicky Karaiskou

The wish to honour the Avgorou dead fighters goes back to 1962 when the first actions to gather the necessary funds took place. More than twenty years afterwards, in March 1985, the EOKA 1955-59 Avgorou members’ decision to construct a memorial materialized.

The intention of the initiative was to remind the origins, symbolize the main principles of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle, and commemorate Modestos Panteli, the first EOKA fighter who died on April 1^st 1955.

For that reason the area where the memorial is situated today was symbolically chosen, being the exact place of his death. The memorial honors the memory of all Avgorou and the nearby Liopetri village EOKA’s dead fighters and aspired to be the reference point for the whole of Cyprus during the annual commemorations on April 1st.

The funding of this extensive project was secured mainly by the EOKA 1955-59 members, and the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 Struggle (SIMAE). Other state and private entities also made contributions.

A procession path flanked with a row of cypress trees links the ancient Greek Corinthian style entrance with the Mycenaean-like tomb. The path opens up to an ancient Greek theater construction. The distance between the theater’s semicircular auditorium and the tomb is flanked with dark stone panels where the names of the dead appear.

Inside the tomb, 26 portraits in relief were made by the three sculptors. Because of the limited budget, black and white photographs of the deceased substituted part of the total of 108 portraits initially planned to cover the walls.

Following the ancient Greek tradition, where theaters were adjacent to temples and in particular to Dionysus temple in order to underline the origins and the higher purpose of the theater culture, at Avgorou village, the nearby chapel was erected to remind the close relation between religion and motherland in modern Cyprus.

The unveiling of the monument took place on October 18^th 2002.

Selected sources:
~ Σημερινή (Simerini), March 13, 1985, p. 3.
~ Ελευθερία (Eleftheria), December 16, 1962, p. 8.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), October 18, 2002, p. 20.
~ Φιλελεύθερος (Fileleftheros), October 20, 2002, p. 32.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/2.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/12, Meetings Minutes, September 13, 1994; November 10, 1994.
~ Κρατικό Αρχείο Κύπρου, Αρχείο Πολιτιστικών Υπηρεσιών Υπουργείου Παιδείας & Πολιτισμού (State Archive of Cyprus): 268/1968/18, document December 2, 1998.
~ Ιστορικό Αρχείο ΣΙΜΑΕ (Historical Archive of the Board for the Historical Memory of the EOKA 1955-59 struggle), 17.2009.10, Meeting Minutes April 26, 2002.

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Paralimni mother monument

Artist: Christos Symeonidis Chrisimos

Location: Paralimni Square. Ammochostos district.

Category: Cypriot women

Photography: Evangelia Matthopoulou

The monument was commissioned by the Paralimni Municipality. It was delivered in 2011 and was situated in Agios Georgios Park, creating a unified whole with the preexisting – since 2003 – dead and missing heroes’ memorial.

A statement on the low pedestal underscores Cypriot women’s predominant duties and identity: She is “a busy bee, a field worker, a life pillar and mother of the Cypriot heroes” (Πολύβουη μέλισσα, της γης εργάτισσα, της ζωής στυλοβάτισσα, ηρώων μάνα Κυπριώτισσα).

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