The 6th Seferis Symposium was held at the "Giorgos Seferis" Cultural Center last Friday, November 3, 2023, which was inaugurated by the President and Mayor Christos Zannettos, as well as the unveiling of the statue of the Nobel Prize-winning poet.
The President of the Republic said in his greeting that "Seferis is inexhaustible", since as he said no matter how much one studies his poetic career, this is the great magic with Seferis, he will always reveal something new, something impressive, something unknown at the given time dot. Whatever one may say about the poet of "Deck Logs A, B, C" is very little to cover his personality, character, vast literary work, poetry, novel, essays, translations and the correspondence".
"Let's remember, he added, Seferis' many visits to Cyprus, the first of which was in 1953, his efforts to contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus problem, since he had a special sensitivity to the Cypriot issue, his award of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963, another dimension of the poet, his well-known anti-Juntian action in 1969 in which, among other things, he wrote that "this anomaly must stop, it is a national imperative".
He also said that the statue and the "Giorgos Seferis" Cultural Center "will be a lasting reminder of the poet's love for our island and his special relationship with Agia Napa. At the same time, it will also symbolize the eternal gratitude of Cyprus to the great Greek scholar and the respect and appreciation of the Cypriot people for his multifaceted and multifaceted intellectual and not only work".
President Christodoulidis congratulated the Mayor of Agia Napa, all contributors to the symposium, the University of Cyprus, the University of Neapolis and his friend and teacher George George.
In his own greeting, the Mayor Mr. Christos Zannettou mentioned that as of yesterday, Friday, November 03, Seferis returned to Ayia Napa and Ayia Napa is reflecting on its roots. The opening of the "Giorgos Seferis" Cultural Center, he added, on November 3, 2023 is a milestone and marks the entry of Ayia Napa into a new era and Culture has now acquired its official central roof bearing a name as heavy as history.
The Seferi Cultural Center, he said, is for Ayia Napa the place where Culture takes root and carries our entire historical path, bridging the Ayia Napa of yesterday and today, acting as a custodian of our cultural and historical heritage.
Since the project that we are inaugurating tonight in the most nerve-wracking, historic spot of our Municipality, is part of the creation of a model project with a triple character: the urban square creating the first important imposing point of reference in our municipality with the name "Seferi" square, of the current cultural multipurpose center highlighting at the same time the cultural face of our Municipality and the highlighting of our cultural heritage.
All of this started with the purpose of reclaiming the space of where we are now, traversing a difficult road until we reach the end. However, committed to the vision, with love for our country we succeeded, and this is how we will proceed, without setbacks as this is the only way we can have progress, prosperity and development.
As of yesterday, Mayor Christos Zannettou noted "the heart of Culture is beating since the present project connects the Medieval Monastery of Agia Napa, the Central Square and the place where it all started. From now on, the "Giorgos Seferis" Cultural Center will house the established Seferis Symposium, it will host periodic exhibitions and lectures. It will carry out all kinds of cultural activities thus constituting the spiritual home of the residents of Ayia Napa as well as its visitors".
He emphasized that Ayia Napa from this space gives meaning to its path by returning to its roots because it deserves it.
Since yesterday, Mayor Christos Zannettou noted that "the heart of Culture is beating after the present project. He also expressed his heartfelt thanks to President Nikos Christodoulidis for inaugurating one of the most important projects of recent years in the city and to all those who contributed to its realization.
For his part, the Ambassador of Greece, Mr. Ioannis Papameletiou, praised the Greek diplomat Giorgos Seferis and referred to the efforts and actions of the Republic of Cyprus in the Zurich-London agreements and the contribution of the Nobel Prize winning poet.
The President of the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the University of Cyprus, Mrs. Marilena Karyolaimou, stated in her greeting that the establishment of the Seferis symposium is due to the synergy between the organizers - local bodies and university institutions - and the scholars of Seferis who embraced the institution from from the very first moment, offering the scientific public and all those interested in Seferic poetry, excellent studies.
In his own greeting, the Director General of the University of Neapolis Paphos, Mr. Andreas Moleskis, stated that the University of Neapolis is proud of its contribution to the renewal of international studies in Cyprus and assured that as a University of Neapolis they will continue and expand their cooperation with the Municipality Ayia Napa.
During the event, the Mayor Mr. Christos Zannettou presented the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis with a commemorative plaque for the honor of attending and celebrating the opening of the Cultural Center.
Commemorative plaques were also awarded by the President Nikos Christodoulidis and the Mayor Christos Zannettos to the sponsoring companies Karma Developers for the art of Andriantas by Giorgos Seferis and PGS Lighting Ltd, for the lighting of the Cultural Center, to the artist Filippos Giapani for the art of Andriantas Seferis, to the Former Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Professor of Modern History at the University of Neapolis, Mr. Giorgos Georgis as honorary Cultural Advisor of the Municipality of Agia Napa and to the writer, critic and poet Nasos Vagena for his great contribution to Greek Literature and especially for his Seferic work.
The event was interspersed with an artistic program presented by Theodoulos Papageorgiou (guitar, singing) and Kyriakos Markoullis (lute, singing).
The 6th Seferi Symposium was organized by the Municipality of Ayia Napa, the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, the Petrondas Modern Greek Studies Center of the University of Cyprus and the Postgraduate History Programs of the University of Neapolis Paphos.