Kikis L. Christofides

Kikis L. Christofides (1941-2016) was an initiate and Daskalos' closest and most advanced disciple, who studied and practiced with him for over 20 years. He appears in Kyriacos C. Markides first four books (with the first two focusing on Daskalos) as 'Kostas'. Christofides had his own groups since 1972, alongside the circle around Daskalos, and one was free to go to both teachers who had both a different style and offering.

Editor note:

To date, we have not been able to trace back records or notes from his lectures at Erevna or before. Therefore the information on this site is limited to quotes and excerpts from Kyriacos C. Markides' books. Very little further information is available on Christofides who was shying away from public attention and media, and did not want any books published.

Aspects

biographical information
- studied civil engineering in the UK, worked for Shell Oil, lost everything due to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Individuality
- claimed that in one of his incarnations he was a knight in the court of Richard Lionheart and took part in the crusades (MOS p 136)
Regarding the Erevna organization and Christofides role
- was established by Daskalos with his blessings, and Kikis Christofides as head and legal representative and as a secretary Yianoulla Venn. Main reason was that after the success of the books of Markides;, thousands of visitors from around the globe started coming to Cyprus to meet Daskalos. Daskalos asked Kikis to take some weight from his shoulders and be the head of his circles in Limassol through Erevna. [source: info from internet, anonymous source present at Stoa in Strovolos in 1989 when the announcement was made]. Apparently Daskalos and Christofides remained in close contact (despite the so-called published 'separation' in the media]
- Christofides never got any financial benefits from this and declined offers for books about him.

Illustrations

Lecture coverage and references

Kyriacos C. Markides

in Riding with the Lion (RWL). In Markides' books, Kostas refers to Kikis L. Christofides

... I had further opportunities to meet with Kostas .. often at his gas station where, in between customers, we would engage in endless philosophical discussions. He never failed to astonish me with his penetrating insights into esoteric knowledge, even if on occasion we would disagree on some particular detail.
My real work is not this," he reassured me one day while engrossed in a pile of legal documents. He had just returned from a two-day business trip to London to sort out his affairs with Shell Oil Company management. He did not have to explain to me the meaning of his words since I knew that Kostas' conception of his mission in this life was not to pump gasoline but to be a healer and to disseminate esoteric wisdom through Erevna.
Yet Kostas, a devoted husband and father of two, had to work in the ordinary way to make his living. His wife, too, who as it happened was a cousin of Emily's, was particularly emphatic in not wanting her husband to turn into a revered and distant full-time guru. Already their lives have been affected by the endless influx of visitors not only from Cyprus but from all over the world seeking healing and spiritual wisdom.
In spite of all the international attention there was this dignified, I would say heroic, stubbornness on the part of Kostas, who was determined not to fall into the trap of guru worship.

2025-03 - Philip S.

from personal information exchange, info from mails here SWCC (shortened without contents changes)

Question:

Spiritual masters have gone about divulging their teachings, open and freely and never for money. Daskalos gave freely for anyone, without expecting anything in return. That has been no different with other spiritual teachers like Blavatsky, Steiner, Beinsa Douno, and others.

Why are Christofides lectures are kept (like behind walls) from the free flow of information so they can reach any soul who would benefit: was this his personal choice and vision of how things should be?

In ‘Riding with the Lion’, Kostas (Christofides) is quoted as stating"Erevna does not have any teaching ... Erevna is involved with the Teaching. There is a big difference. If you call it the teaching of Erevna, then you appropriate it as your own, as if the wisdom of God is the property of this or that group or organization. Erevna is preoccupied with the Teaching and tries to convey it to others. .. this Teaching .. is the outpouring of wisdom, which everyone has access to. It is not owned by anybody in particular. It is neither the monopoly nor the property of any guru, or any mystical group."

In that context, how come that this wisdom is only made available with controlled filtering. How did Kikis L. Christofides feel about this and what was his vision in this regard?

[On Kikis L. Christofides]
Personally, I searched for many years going to various highly regarded teachers to find the person that was right for me and my searching. When I found Kikis, I knew directly that he had the integrity and profound wisdom and compassion that I sought.
My understanding is that Kyriacos [Markides] saw Kikis as an advanced disciple of Daskalos, that he saw him reflected through Daskalos .. but the senior researchers in Cyprus would say he was not .. but that actually he was [not just a student, but] far more advanced. He was just younger by a generation. He led many circles in Cyprus in the early years.
Kikis never accepted any money for his teaching or his healing work.
Kikis did not want the teachings that came through him to be openly shared. He was very concerned that they could be used by some for very negative purposes, especially with regards to the exercises.
He also did not want some to take these teachings and become teachers and make an income from this (and this is happening with some of the students of Daskalos).
[On Erevna]
The way Erevna functions is different from many spiritual approaches ... there is a process whereby interested people can join the organization and begin to receive the lessons, which start at a basic level and become more complex and deep as one proceeds. And there are hundreds of lessons. It is slow and difficult work and balanced introspection is vital.
Erevna also had to function in the very conservative environment of the Cypriot Orthodox church, and thus sought to maintain a low profile.
The fees Erevna charges are for the administration of the organization, and paying support people who handle various aspects of the work.

Quotes

source: public information taken over from another website

Whatever we give with our heart without expecting anything in return - that is the way.
Just by speaking out the problem, healing can happen.
Condemning a fellow human being is (hypocrisy or) an attempt to hide one's own faults and weaknesses.
Thoughts without feelings are perfect. Then they are no longer thoughts, but contemplation. Normal thoughts cannot express the qualities of contemplation.
Time and space are only meanings, but not realities.
Agapi means love in the sense of "life itself". It means embracing everyone and everything indiscriminately, without reason and without expecting anything in return.
Reality is lived mechanically by Man. People constantly have experiences without realizing them.
Never think positively about something negative. Forget the negative - then it forgets you too.
Everyone is on the same path as you. They take the same steps and their legs tire as they walk through life, just like yours.

Excerpts

Not exhaustive, but as a starting point, the links below point to some quotes based on and taken from the books by Markides, here excerpted and put in topic context:

and also on

False prophet#Note 1 - About certain gurus and spiritual teachers, and their stage of moral development

Kikis L. Christofides

Contents