Theodoulos Kallinikos

Theodoulos Kallinikos (Greek: Θεόδουλος Καλλίνικος) (Leukoniko, 5 May 1904 – 9 May 2004) was an archon protopsaltes (cantor) of the Church of Cyprus and a musicologist of Cypriot folk music.

Early life and education Kallinikos was born on 5 May 1904 in Leukoniko, he graduated from the primary school of his village and attended a theological seminary. In 1919, at the age of 17, he went to Nicosia and studied under the eminent music teacher and protopsaltes Stylianos Hourmouzios, and attended Byzantine music classes until 1924. Later, in 1933-1934 he went to Athens, where he studied at the National Conservatory of Athens, learning Byzantine and European music, under Manolis Kalomiris, Ioannis Sakellaridis, Dionysios Lavrangas and Spyros Kapsaskis. In 1925 he was appointed as a psaltes in Prastio.

From 1924 until 1948 he travelled throughout Cyprus recording folk songs. He worked on the material for three years and in 1951 he published it

Personal life He was married with Maroulla. They had one daughter, called Margarita, who worked for the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and was a member of EOKA. He was an avid writer: he published 21 books on Byzantine music and some works on Cypriot folk music. He gave talks in many conferences. For his contribution, the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus awarded him the highest honorary office: "Archon Cantor of the Church of Cyprus", in 1977. In 2005, one year after his death, the Municipality of Lefkoniko and his family organised a philological symposium in his memory. In 18 October 2019 the Municipality of Nicosia organised a Byzantine and folk music concert in his memory. In 2014 he was commemorated by a stamp from the Cyprus post.

Honours

Commendation of the Academy of Athens (1978) Golden Cross of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1986)

Excellence in Letters and Arts of the Republic of Cyprus (1993)

Publications

Καλλίνικος, Θ. (1948). Εθνική ψαλμωδία. Εν Λευκωσία. Καλλίνικος, Θ. (1951). Κυπριακή Λαική Μούσα. Λευκωσία: Εταιρεία Κυπριακών Σπουδών. Καλλίνικος, Θ. (1981). Μέγα Θεωρητικό.