Greek-Cypriot Poet Bust Unveiled at Columbia University

The bust of Greek-Cypriot poet Costas Montis was unveiled at Columbia University in New York during an event to honor the “Year Costas Montis, 100 years since his birth.”

The sculpture, created by American artist Arcady Kotler and funded by the Photos Photiades Foundation, was unveiled towards the end of the event by Archbishop Demetrios of America.

The event was organized from the initiative of Cyprus’ Consul General in New York, Vasilis Philippou, in collaboration with the Greek Studies Department at Columbia University.

Maria Hadjipolycarpou, Professor of Comparative Literature at Columbia University, stressed that “Costas Montis deserves to be placed among the world’s great novelists, especially among those writers who face similar dilemmas in a post-colonial world.”

Philippou spoke about his personal acquaintance with the poet, while Archbishop Demetrios praised Montis’ “literary discourse” and his contribution to the emergence of Cyprus’ hellenism.

The Greek-Cypriot poet’s daughter, Stalo Montis-Pouagare, attended the event and spoke about her father’s everyday creative moments and his passion for Cyprus and Hellenism.

The Consul of Greece in New York, Manos Koubarakis, and the President of the Cyprus Federation of America, Costas Tsentas, also made speeches and read poems during the event.

Montis was an influential and prolific Cypriot poet, novelist, and playwright. He was born on February 18, 1914, in Famagusta. During his life, he received numerous honors and awards, including honorary doctorates from the University of Cyprus and the University of Athens. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1984 and appointed a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens, the highest honor the Academy can confer to non-Greek citizens.