A life-size statue of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian was unveiled Sunday in the Armenian village of Moughni–in honor of the man known for his charitable work and devotion to the church.
The statue–designed by Ara Shiraz–is located in the yard of the school named after Archbishop Ashjian–who faithfully served the Armenian Church for half a century–including twenty years as the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States and Canada.
Prior to his death in 2003–Ashjian lived in Armenia where he undertook extraordinary charitable work including the care of orphans–the elderly–the re-transmission of the faith to the people after 70 years of communist rule–bringing back to life centuries-old monasteries and churches–and the publication of hundreds of historical and literary books.
In Moughni–Archbishop Ashjian revitalized the village through the renovation of the St. Gevorg church and the building of a community center.
The statue will remind residents of his contribution to the village and to Armenian society at large.
My step-father(after my dad died in 1935) was Charles M. Ashjian of Fresno, CA.