This morning (24 June 2026), the bronze bust of the late Cretan musician and resistance figure Nikos Xylouris was reinstated in its original location at Cyprus Square in the Oasi district of Heraklion. The statue had been vandalized in the early hours of 21 April 2026.
Restoration and Ceremony
Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos and Deputy Mayor for Culture Rina Papadaki-Skalidi attended the reinstallation ceremony. The bust was restored free of charge by the Gavala Art Foundry in Athens. Repairs to the pedestal and the reinstallation itself were carried out by an artist who chose to remain anonymous.
Statements from Officials
In his remarks, Mayor Kalokairinos referred to Xylouris as the ‘Archangel of Crete’ and underscored his pivotal role in the anti-dictatorship resistance, calling him ‘one of the most powerful voices against the Greek military junta’. Commenting on the timing of the vandalism, he noted it was ‘no coincidence’ that it occurred on 21 April — the anniversary of the 1967 coup — and stressed that restoring the monument reaffirms the city’s commitment to democratic values and human rights.
Kalokairinos thanked all those involved in the restoration and raised the broader issue of safeguarding public space, stating that ‘the need for protection of public spaces against vandalism is now clearly on the agenda’.
Deputy Mayor Papadaki-Skalidi emphasized the municipality’s swift response following the incident, including the filing of an official complaint against unknown perpetrators and the immediate launch of restoration procedures. ‘A matter that hurt us, wounded us, and offended us all has now been rectified,’ she said, expressing her satisfaction at the return of a monument honoring ‘a towering figure of music and resistance’.