NICOSIA — Dr. Antranig Ashjian–a former Cypriot parliamentarian and prominent community member–was laid to rest on Feb. 5 in Nicosia.
Ashjian was first elected to the Cypriot parliament in 1970.
He was re-elected in 1976 to a second six-year term. He was also the recipient of the "Knight of Cilicia" medal from the late Catholicos Khoren I–who was in Nicosia for the opening of the Nareg School.
A dentist by profession–Ashjian had also served on the Nicosia City Council and was a dedicated member of various Armenian and Cypriot organizations.
Vicar General–Right Rev. Yeghishe Manjikian presided over the funeral services held at the St. Mary’s Apostolic Church of Nicosia–where hundreds of mourners–including Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides–Prime Minister Spiros Kiprianou–the foreign–internal and health ministers–members of parliament–representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps. and heads of political parties–had gathered to bid a final farewell to the two-term parliamentarian. Parliamentarian Bedros Kalayjian and representatives of the Cypriot Prelacy’s Executive and Religious Councils also attended the services.
Vartan Tashjian–principal of Nicosia’s Nareg Armenian School eulogized Ashjian in Armenian– while Prime Minister Kiprianou and Right Rev. Manjikian praised the late Ashjian’s service in Greek and English–respectively. Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia–His Holiness Aram I and Prelate of Cyprus– Archbishop Sahag Ayvazian–expressed their condolences through telegrams.
