Τhe speech delivered by Mrs. Kalliopi Trikili-Kassara, President of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Kalymnos, during the tribute to Cyprus entitled “Kalymnos and Cyprus: Greek Bonds – I Do Not Forget… 51 Years – July 20, 2025”, held at the Open Theater of Chora, Kalymnos, on July 20, 2025:
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our gathering this evening.
With us are our distinguished guests from the Folklore Association of Limassol, Cyprus, along with their President, Mr. Konstantinos Protopapas. It is our honor that they accepted the invitation of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Kalymnos.
Today, July 20th, is a symbolic and important day for both Cyprus and Greece. For it was on this very day, 51 years ago, July 20th, 1974, that the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus took place.
That is why we chose this date to come together—to remember those days, and also to become acquainted with the music, dance, and culture of Cyprus.
The title of our event is: “Kalymnos and Cyprus: Greek Bonds.” These bonds are timeless and truly Greek in essence, as we know from ancient inscriptions found both at Christos of Jerusalem in Kalymnos and at Amathus, on the southern coast of Cyprus. These inscriptions point to communication between Kalymnians and Cypriots. The late headmaster George Koukoulis recorded these in his book “Kalymnos of the Inscriptions.”
Tonight is a night of duty and honor—a tribute to Cyprus and its people.
It is a night of duty, because many Kalymnians found shelter and hospitality on the island of Cyprus during the difficult years of World War II, when they were forced to leave our island in search of survival.
It is also a night of duty because many Kalymnian sponge divers dove into the waters of Cyprus over the years. During their time there, they formed friendships and strong social ties with Cypriots. Relationships were built—friendships, bonds of kinship, and cultural exchanges. In their social gatherings, especially the traditional sponge-diving feasts, the Cypriot song “Ta Rialia” was and still is sung passionately.
So tonight is a night of duty, but also one of honor—to the struggles of the Cypriot people.
It is also an honor because, during those difficult days of the invasion, there were Kalymnians serving in Cyprus who experienced the events firsthand. Among them were Antonis Trikilis and Georgios Papamichael, who are no longer with us. But with us tonight is Mr. Theoharis Tsoukalas, who served aboard the landing ship “Lesvos.” This ship bombarded the Turkish-controlled sector of Paphos, thus preventing the fall of Paphos and Western Cyprus. Mr. Tsoukalas served as an artillery officer on the ship.
Sadly, there is also one missing Kalymnian, by the name Chatzistavris, whose fate remains unknown.
Moreover, we know that many Kalymnian families hosted young Cypriot children here for many summers—children who had suffered greatly and who grew to love Kalymnos. These emotional bonds continue to this day. Special mention must be made of the late headmaster George Lysikatos, who was a leading force in this initiative.
How can we not say that our bonds are Greek? We are united by language, religion, history, music, literature, and culture.
And at this point, with respect, I must make mention of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Famagusta, founded in 1930, one of the earliest chapters, recipient of an Academy of Athens award. Now displaced, it is based in Limassol, with branches in Larnaca, Nicosia, and Paralimni.
Mr. Protopapas, President of the Folklore Association of Limassol, in memory of all that we’ve shared and of tonight’s special gathering, I invite you to come forward to receive some commemorative gifts from us:
- A bust of the Kalymnian Maiden, the emblem of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women of Kalymnos.
- Three book-CD publications from our editions:
a. The Kalymnian Carols
b. The Bridal Songs
c. 70 Years of Free Dodecanese – Songs of Freedom
- A natural sea sponge, to remind you of the Kalymnian sponge divers who once dove in your waters.
