NEW YORK – The New Year started dynamically for the Pancyprian Association of America, which held its annual cutting of the Vasilopita at its first annual meeting of the year at Dionysos Restaurant in Astoria on Wednesday, Jan. 3. On Friday, January 5, the association turns 43 years old and continues the struggle for the Cyprus issue and other national issues as well as the preservation of traditions, customs, and culture.

The executive secretary of the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce Despina Axiotakis was the lucky one this year, finding the coin in her piece of the Vasilopita.

Kyriakos Papastylianou, the President of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations (FCAO), attended the event and referred to their efforts to attract young people to the organization. He also noted that the FCAO National Convention is scheduled for Saturday, April 21. Cyprus Pancyprian President Christos Christodoulou also attended the meeting.

The Pancyprian President Philip Christopher made a historical review of the struggles and the 43-year activity of the Association and commemorated the fighters who are no longer with us.

estaurant in Astoria with Dr. Florentia Christodoulidou, at left. Photo by Costa Bej[/caption]

At the same time, he noted that on January 20 they will host the 43rd Annual Gala at Terrace on the Park in Flushing, NY and invited the various departments to invite all their members to participate.

He also made extensive reference to the cultural work of Pancyprian and emphasized that the theatrical group under the direction of Leonidas Loizidis will present Sophocles’ tragedy Electra at the Queens Theater in the Park in Flushing on Feb. 24.

The Women’s Division of Pancyprian on March 3 will host their annual dinner also at Terrace on the Park, where the Woman of the Year award will be presented to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

The Pancyprian Association held its annual cutting of the Vasilopita at Dionysos R