Intellectual Personalities 10.10.2014

The 3rd FDC on Intellectual Personalities in Cyprus is on four stamps about :

(0.64) Antis Pernaris. He was born in Nicosia in 1903 and died in 1980. He was a poet, novelist, journalist and a theatre critic, one of the pioneers of the Cypriot literary generation of the 30's. His literary work is distinguished by its clarity of expression, its lyricism and dedication to the national folk tradition and its national character. Apart from poetry he also wrote stories, plays and studies. His journalistic activity was varied and remarkable, especially in his contribution to Cyprus education. His efforts to establish the demotic language in elementary education and the application of modern education precepts in the education of his birthplace, was quite significant and multifaceted. In 1970 the Ministry of Education and Culture presented him with the award for Overall Contribution to Greek literature in Cyprus.

(0.64) Kypros Chrysanthis. He was born in Nicosia in 1915 and died in 1998. He was a remarkable novelist making a diverse and extensive contribution to Cypriot literature. He was a doctor by profession and for many years was a school physician and a professor of hygiene at the Pancyprian Gymnasium and the Pedagogical Academy of Cyprus. He was a prolific writer and, in addition to poetry, was interested in prose writing, essays and even children's literature. For more than 30 years he was the editor in chief of "Pnevmatiki Kypros", a literary magazine. Over the span of 50 years of literary activity he contributed various articles to the daily press and magazines and was also the informative link on issues regarding intellectual creation between the Greek centre and Cyprus not only during the period of British rule but also following the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus.

(0.85) Costas Montis. A leading Cypriot writer. He was born in Famagusta in 1914 and died in 2004. His large collection of poems has set him apart as a remarkable poet. Many of his works have been included in anthologies, translated into foreign languages and many have been set to music. He wrote in the Greek demotic language and in the idiomatic Cypriot dialect. He also wrote prose and plays for the theatre. He wrote around 40 works for the stage, radio and television. His various satires and lyrics were very successful. He was also a journalist. His contribution in the field of anthologies is also significant. His literary achievement was honoured with the State Prize for Poetry in 1968 and in 1973 he was honoured with an Award for his Overall Contribution to Cypriot and Greek Literacy. In 1994 he was bestowed with the Award for Excellence in letters and the Arts by the Republic of Cyprus. In 1999 he was nominated for the Noble Prize by the School of Philosophy of the University of Cyprus and the Ministry of Education and Culture. In 2000 the Academy of Athens declared him a corresponding member. In 2001 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens.

(0.85) Glafkos Alithersis. He was born in Limassol in 1897 and died in his birthplace in 1965. At the age of 16 he volunteered for the Greek army and fought in th4 Balkan War of 1913. After the war ended he returned to Cyprus and continued his studies ad the Pancyprian Gymnasium. He excelled as an athlete and was a Cyprus champion. He served as a gymnastics teacher in Alexandria where he had emigrated and where he spend his most creative years, always closely associated with Cypriot writers and regularly publishing in Cypriot magazines of the time. He particularly stood out for his poetic work which was multi-faceted and multi-dimensional and revealed in-depth research and reflection. In addition to poetry, he wrote prose, theatrical works essays and studies. His contribution to Cypriot prose is impressive, as was his contribution to modern Greek Letters.