Christodoulos and George: The Last Woodcarvers in Cyprus

The art of woodcarving in Cyprus, with a history spanning thousands of years, is preserved today by a few artisans. Christodoulos Agridiotis and his brother George continue the tradition they learned from their father 40 years ago.

Christodoulos is one of the Cypriot artists featured on the European craftsmanship map, the Homo Faber Guide. He mentions that woodcarving in Cyprus has a long history, especially in ecclesiastical art.

Cypriot wood carvings often include symbols such as birds, flowers, angels, the cross, and cypresses. While once common in many homes, today the art is mainly preserved through ecclesiastical tradition. Hotels and other businesses continue to use wood carvings on ceilings and walls.

Christodoulos emphasizes the need for more support for woodcarving from the state, with the aim of integrating the art into public buildings. The process of creating a wood carving requires planning, knowledge, experience, and patience.

The Agridiotis brothers use woods such as African walnut, European wood, beech, and lime. One of their most important works is the iconostasis of the Apostle Barnabas Cathedral in Nicosia.

Report by: Olga Konstantinou