Gjergj Qiriazi

Gjergj Qiriazi, known as George Kyrias in English (1868 — 30 December 1912), was an Albanian publisher and writer. He was born in Monastir (modern Bitola), Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), where he attended the local school. Like his brother Gjerasim, he studied at the American College in Samokov, Bulgaria. He worked for the British and Foreign Bible Society and took over the direction of the first Albanian girls' school in Korçë upon the death of his brother. In 1908 he was the president of the Albanian Bashkimi club in Monastir and later became vice-president.[2] In 1908, he was a delegate at the Congress of Monastir.[3] Qiriazi also worked as an interpreter at the Austro-Hungarian consulate in Bitola.[4] A Turkish language high school (idadiye) for boys was created in 1908 and Qiriazi was appointed as a teacher of the Albanian language.[5] In 1909, the Young Turk government planned to assassinate Qiriazi for his involvement in the Albanian national movement.[6]

Gjergj Qiriazi George Kyrias
Gjergj Qiriazi
Born	1868 Manastir, Vilayet of Monastir, Ottoman Empire[1] (present-day Bitola, North Macedonia)
Died	December 30, 1912 Manastir, Vilayet of Monastir, Ottoman Empire (present-day Bitola, North Macedonia)
Other names	George Kyrias
Citizenship	Ottoman
Known for	Christian Literature Albanian School in Korçë "Bashkim' i Kombit" newspaper Congress of Monastir
Notable work	Kënkë të shenjtëruara (Monastir, 1906)
Relatives	Brother of Gjerasim Qiriazi (1858-1894) Sevasti Qiriazi (1871-1949) Parashqevi Qiriazi (1880-1970)[1]

Gjergj Qiriazi was one of the founders of the Albanian printing press Bashkimi i Kombit. He helped his brother Gejrasim to publish two volumes of literature, namely Hristomathi a udhëheqës për ç'do shtëpi shqiptari (Monastir, 1902) and a co-wrote with him a collection of religious verse Kënkë të shenjtëruara (Monastir, 1906).[7]

Qiriazi also translated John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress as Udhëtari, printed in 1927 by Dhori Koti publishers.

See also

• Kyrias Family

References

1. Elsie, Robert (2001). A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology, and folk culture. Library of Congress: New York University Press. pp. 210–212. ISBN 0-8147-2214-8. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
2. Skendi 1967, pp. 350, 353.
3. Skendi 1967, p. 370.
4. Skendi 1967, p. 207.
5. Skendi 1967, p. 367.
6. Skendi, Stavro (1967). The Albanian national awakening. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 363. ISBN 9781400847761.
7. Aux origines du nationalisme albanais: la naissance d'une nation by Nathalie Clayer. 2007.