Από τα βουνά της Λακωνίας ως τ' αστέρια της Αυστραλίας: Η οδύσσεια του καθηγητή Ανδρέα Κορωνιού

Τον μεγάλωσε η γιαγιά του. Του έλεγε συνέχεια να γίνει κάτι παραπάνω από τον μέσο όρο. Αυτό τον οδήγησε από τη Σπάρτη, χωρίς να ξέρει λέξη αγγλικά, στο να ηγείται της διαστημικής επανάστασης της Αυστραλίας.

Στον κόσμο των δορυφόρων και της διαστημικής τεχνολογίας, ο καθηγητής Αδρέας Κορωνιός είναι μια τεράστια προσωπικότητα, διευθύνων σύμβουλος του SmartSat CRC στην Αυστραλία, ένας εθνικός ηγέτης που οδηγεί τη χώρα προς τ' αστέρια. Κι όμως, η απίστευτη πορεία του ξεκίνησε από τα πιο ταπεινά μέρη: ένα μικρό χωριό στα βουνά της Λακωνίας. Εκεί, σε ηλικία μόλις δύο ετών, τον άφησαν στα χέρια της γιαγιάς του, μιας γυναίκας που η σοφία της έγινε η πυξίδα όλης του της ζωής.

Πώς φτιάχτηκε ένας Σπαρτιάτης

Γεννήθηκε στις 5 Δεκεμβρίου 1954. Το όνομά του είναι Ανδρέας Κορωνιός. Μεγάλωσε μέσα στη φτώχεια, ένα από πέντε αδέρφια σε ένα φτωχό χωριό της Λακωνίας. Στα δύο του χρόνια, οι γονείς του έφυγαν δήθεν για να βρουν δουλειά στην Αθήνα, αλλά δεν ξαναγύρισαν ποτέ.

Ο ίδιος λέει: «Με μεγάλωσε η γιαγιά μου και συνέχεια μου έλεγε ότι πρέπει να γίνω κάποιος καλύτερος από τον μέσο όρο. Αυτό ήταν η πυξίδα μου».

Η αντοχή του, αυτή η σπαρτιατική επιμονή που βγαίνει από τα βουνά της Λακωνίας, χτίστηκε από νωρίς. Στην εφηβεία του, βασικά τα έβγαζε πέρα μόνος του. Κατάλαβε ότι η φτώχεια και οι λίγες ευκαιρίες στην Ελλάδα μετά τον πόλεμο δεν του άφηναν περιθώρια για μέλλον. Όταν πέθανε η γιαγιά του, στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του ’70, έκοψε τον τελευταίο του δεσμό με την πατρίδα. Τότε, σε ηλικία 17 χρονών, πήρε την απόφαση που καθόρισε τη μοίρα του.

Αναχώρηση για την «Τυχερή Χώρα»

Με λίγη πίκρα και πολύ φιλότιμο, μπήκε στο θρυλικό πλοίο των μεταναστών «Πατρίς». Αυτό το καράβι έκανε 91 ταξίδια μεταξύ 1959 και 1975, κουβαλώντας ελπίδες από τη Μεσόγειο στην Αυστραλία. Για τον Ανδρέα, που ουσιαστικά ήταν ορφανός, δεν ήταν απλώς ένα ταξίδι πάνω από τον Ινδικό Ωκεανό, ήταν ένα άλμα στο άγνωστο. Έφτασε στη Μελβούρνη τον Δεκέμβρη του 1971. Δεν ήξερε ούτε μια λέξη αγγλικά, δεν τον περίμενε κανείς, δεν είχε σπίτι να πάει.

Ο ίδιος λέει με σεμνότητα: «Δεν έκανα τίποτα παραπάνω απ' ό,τι έκαναν όλοι οι Έλληνες μετανάστες που πάλευαν και επέμεναν για να τα καταφέρουν».

Γίνεται Αυστραλός

Η αλλαγή ήταν δύσκολη, αλλά αποτελεσματική. Ενώ άλλοι μετανάστες δούλευαν σε εργοστάσια ή φάρμες, εκείνος διάλεξε διαφορετικό δρόμο: μπήκε στον αυστραλιανό στρατό. Έκανε εντατική εκπαίδευση, βρήκε πειθαρχία και δομή, και παράλληλα πήρε τον δρόμο για την υπηκοότητα. Τη μέρα στρατιωτικά καθήκοντα, τη νύχτα διάβαζε αγγλικά με μανία για να ξεπεράσει το γλωσσικό εμπόδιο.

Μια αθλητική ζημιά τον ανάγκασε ν' αλλάξει πορεία. Στράφηκε από τη σωματική δουλειά στο μυαλό. Ρίχτηκε στην ακαδημαϊκή ζωή με την ίδια ορμή. Πήρε πτυχίο ηλεκτρολόγου μηχανικού, μετά ασχολήθηκε με την πληροφορική, έκανε μεταπτυχιακό, πήγε και στην Αμερική για ειδίκευση. Το πιο εντυπωσιακό; Αυτό το παιδί που ήρθε με άδεια χέρια πήρε διδακτορικό από το Πανεπιστήμιο του Κουίνσλαντ και έγινε επιστήμονας πληροφοριακών συστημάτων.

Ανέβηκε βαθμιαία στην ακαδημαϊκή ιεραρχία, έγινε αναπληρωτής καθηγητής στο Κουίνσλαντ, τον πήραν στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Νότιας Αυστραλίας, όπου έμεινε δεκαπέντε χρόνια ως επικεφαλής της Σχολής Πληροφορικής και Μαθηματικών, και τελικά έγινε κοσμήτορας.

Φτάνει τ' αστέρια

Σήμερα ο καθηγητής Κορωνιός ηγείται του SmartSat CRC, μιας κοινοπραξίας 270 εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων με πανεπιστήμια και αμυντικούς εταίρους, που θέλει να εκτοξεύσει την Αυστραλία στην παγκόσμια διαστημική οικονομία. Με δική του ηγεσία, δουλεύουν πάνω σε αυτόνομα διαστημόπλοια, κβαντικά στρατιωτικά συστήματα επικοινωνιών, ακόμα και στο πρώτο αυστραλιανό ρολόι σε τροχιά.

Είναι επίσης Ομότιμος Καθηγητής στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Νότιας Αυστραλίας, Fellow της Αυστραλιανής Εταιρείας Πληροφορικής και Διακεκριμένος Ομιλητής της ACM. Τα ερευνητικά του ενδιαφέροντα περιλαμβάνουν ποιότητα δεδομένων, διακυβέρνηση πληροφορίας και στρατηγική ανάλυση. Έχει ιδρύσει ερευνητικά εργαστήρια, υπήρξε αρχισυντάκτης διεθνούς περιοδικού και έχει κάνει συμβουλευτική σε Αυστραλία και Νοτιοανατολική Ασία. Είναι μέλος της Διεθνούς Ακαδημίας Αστροναυτικής για τον καθοριστικό ρόλο του στον αυστραλιανό διαστημικό τομέα.

Γυρισμός στην πατρίδα

Παρόλο που κατέκτησε καινούριους κόσμους, δεν ξέχασε ποτέ τον παλιό. Σε αντίθεση με πολλούς μετανάστες που αφομοιώνονται και αφήνουν πίσω την πατρίδα, ο Κορωνιός έκανε την προσφορά προς την Ελλάδα βασικό πυλώνα της καριέρας του.

Συνεργάστηκε συστηματικά με την ελληνική πρεσβεία στην Αυστραλία, τον δήμαρχο Σπάρτης και το Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών, δίνοντας υποτροφίες σε υποψήφιους διδάκτορες και φέρνοντας σε επαφή ελληνικές νεοφυείς επιχειρήσεις με παγκόσμιους διαστημικούς παίκτες. Τον Οκτώβριο του 2024, το SmartSat CRC υπέγραψε μνημόνιο συνεργασίας με το Ελληνικό Κέντρο Διαστήματος, και τον Οκτώβριο του 2025 φιλοξένησε την ελληνική υφυπουργό Απόδημου Ελληνισμού στην Αδελαΐδα για να ενισχύσει τους δεσμούς μεταξύ προγονικής κληρονομιάς και σύγχρονης καινοτομίας. Λέει χαρακτηριστικά: «Το να δώσω πίσω στην Ελλάδα είναι προτεραιότητα για μένα. Θέλω να κάνω κάτι για τον τόπο μου».

Εκτός από την τεχνολογία, ο καθηγητής Κορωνιός επηρεάζεται από την αρχαία φιλοσοφία της πατρίδας του, τον Στωικισμό, και εφαρμόζει τις αρχές του στην ηγεσία και τις ηθικές του αποφάσεις.

Μήνυμα για τη νέα γενιά

Ο καθηγητής Κορωνιός συχνά σκέφτεται πόσο απίθανη φαίνεται η διαδρομή του. Θυμάται ότι ως παιδί είχε τεντώσει σύρματα στο χωριό για να φτιάξει έναν τηλέγραφο με έναν φίλο του. Δεν φανταζόταν τότε ότι αυτή η παιχνιδιάρικη περιέργεια θα προμήνυε μια καριέρα που εκτοξεύει δορυφόρους.

Λέει στα νέα παιδιά: «Ο καθένας μπορεί να ασχοληθεί με το διάστημα ή με τις θετικές επιστήμες. Αρκεί να έχει όρεξη να δουλέψει πραγματικά και να επιμένει. Εγώ ήρθα από ένα μικρό χωριό της Ελλάδας. Το να ηγούμαι μιας ομάδας σε αυτόν τον τομέα ήταν το τελευταίο πράγμα που θα ονειρευόμουν ποτέ».

Από το ορφανό παιδί της Λακωνίας στον ηγέτη μιας τεχνολογικής επανάστασης στην Αυστραλία, η ιστορία του είναι ένα μάθημα για το πνεύμα του μετανάστη: ότι η πιο δυνατή πυξίδα είναι ένα ψίθυρο της γιαγιάς να γίνεις καλύτερος, το πιο σκληρό εμπόδιο είναι ένα ταξίδι με πλοίο προς το άγνωστο, και ο δρόμος για τ' αστέρια δεν είναι στρωμένος με χρυσάφι, αλλά με ατόφια, αλύγιστη επιμονή.

From Sparta's Hills to Australia's Stars: The Odyssey of Prof. Andy Koronios

He was raised by his grandmother. She told him to become better than average. That compass took him from Sparta with no English to leading Australia's space revolution.

In the world of satellite technology and space innovation, Professor Andy Koronios is a towering figure, the CEO of Australia’s SmartSat CRC, a national leader driving the country's ambitions among the stars. Yet, his extraordinary journey began in the most unassuming of circumstances: a small village in the hills of Sparta, Greece, where as a two-year-old boy, he was handed over to the care of his grandmother, a woman whose wisdom would become the compass for his entire life.

The Making of a Spartan

A grandmother's whisper to be better

Born on December 5, 1954, Andreas Koronios entered a world of hardship. He was one of five siblings in an impoverished region of southern Greece. In a heart-wrenching turn of events when he was just two years old, his parents left their children behind in Sparta, ostensibly to seek employment in Athens, but they never returned.

"My grandmother raised me, and she always used to tell me that I need to become someone better than average. This to me has been my compass," Prof. Koronios reflects.

This Spartan resilience, the tenacity born from the rocky hills of Laconia, was forged early. By his teenage years, he was effectively fending for himself, realising that the poverty and limited opportunities of post-war Greece offered little chance for a future. When his grandmother passed away in the early 1970s, the last tie that bound him to his homeland was severed, and the young man made a decision that would define his destiny.

Leaving for the "Lucky Country"

At the age of 17, carrying little more than grief and an unstoppable ambition, Andreas embarked on a voyage that mirrored the hopes of tens of thousands of Greeks before him. He boarded the legendary migrant ship, the Patris, a vessel that made 91 voyages bringing hopeful souls from the Mediterranean to the shores of Australia between 1959 and 1975.

"The Patris was a vessel that carried all their hopes and dreams," one historian later noted of the liner that holds a special place in the history of the diaspora. For the nearly-orphaned teenager, it was not just a physical journey across the Indian Ocean but a leap into the complete unknown. Arriving in Melbourne in December 1971, he found himself in a land where he did not speak a single word of English, with no family waiting for him, and no home to go to.

"I did nothing more than all the Greek migrants who tried hard and persisted to do better," he says, modestly attributing his drive to the widespread migrant ethos.

An Australian in the Making

The transition was brutal but effective. While many migrants worked in factories or fields, Andy Koronios had a different strategy: he joined the defence forces. Enlisting in the Australian Army, he completed intense military training, a period that provided him with structure, discipline, and citizenship pathways. During the day, he performed military duties; by night, he devoured English lessons, determined to shed the linguistic barrier that held him back.

A sports injury eventually changed his trajectory, forcing him to look beyond physical labour toward the power of the mind. He threw himself into academia with the same ferocity he had applied to his training. He earned an electrical engineering degree, branched into IT, completed a master’s degree, and travelled to the United States to deepen his expertise. Perhaps most impressively, this boy who arrived with nothing went on to earn a PhD from the University of Queensland, becoming a scholar in Information Systems.

Rising through the academic ranks, he became an associate professor at the University of Queensland before being recruited to the University of South Australia. There, he spent fifteen years as the Head of the School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, eventually becoming the Dean of Industry and Enterprise.

Reaching for the Stars

Today, Prof. Koronios leads the SmartSat CRC, a $270 million consortium of universities and defence partners aiming to catapult Australia into the global space economy. Under his leadership, the organisation is working on everything from autonomous spacecraft and quantum-secure military communications to Australia's first orbiting space clock.

Andy is also an Emeritus Professor at the University of South Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and a Distinguished Speaker of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). His research interests span data quality, information governance, and strategic analytics, areas where he has established research labs, served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Information Quality, and consulted extensively across Australia and Southeast Asia. He has also been honoured as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics for his pivotal role in the Australian space sector.

The Return to the Homeland

Despite conquering new worlds, Andy Koronios never forgot the old one. Unlike many immigrants who assimilate and leave the motherland behind, Koronios has made the "giving back" to Greece a central pillar of his career.

He has worked systematically with the Greek Embassy in Australia, the Mayor of Sparta, and the University of Patras, offering scholarships to PhD students and fostering collaborations between Greek start-ups and global space players. In October 2024, his SmartSat CRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hellenic Space Centre, and in October 2025, he hosted Greece’s Deputy Minister for Greeks Abroad in Adelaide to deepen the bonds between ancestral heritage and cutting-edge innovation. "Giving back to Greece is a priority for me. I want to do something for my home country," he states.

Moreover, beyond the technology, Andy is influenced by the ancient philosophy of his homeland, Stoicism, applying its principles to his leadership and ethical decision-making.

A Message to the Next Generation

Prof. Koronios often reflects on the implausibility of his journey. He recalls stringing wires across his village as a child to build a telegraph with a friend. He had no idea that this playful curiosity foreshadowed a career leading satellite launches.

"Anyone can be involved in the space industry or in STEM. Have the willingness to really work and be persistent," he encourages. "I came from a little village in Greece, and leading a group of people in this area was the last thing I ever dreamed of."

From the orphaned son of Sparta to the leader of a technological revolution in Australia, his story serves as a testament to the migrant spirit: that the strongest compass is a grandmother's whisper to be better; the toughest obstacle is a ship voyage into the unknown; and the path to the stars is paved not with gold, but with sheer, unyielding persistence.

Vale George Rozaklis (1949-2026)

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of George Rozaklis, who departed this life on Monday, 13 April 2026, in Adelaide, aged 76.

Born in Karitsa, Laconia, on 3rd September 1949, George left his village at the age of 24 in search of a better future, arriving in Australia on 30 December 1973. His wife, Roula, joined him in March 1974, and together they began life in their new homeland.

They settled in Forestville, where they raised their family, Dimitri, Katerina, Matoula and Theodoros, with love, care and hard work. George first worked in factories, though his heart remained with the land. He later farmed strawberries and Brussels sprouts in the Adelaide Hills and, through persistence and dedication, realised his dream of owning his own property in Whites Valley.

George was a man of quiet generosity and steady character. He gave freely of his time and effort to the Pan-Laconian Society of South Australia and the Karitsa Community, contributing in a manner that was constant, sincere, and without fanfare. Alongside Roula, he built a life shaped by resilience, love and gratitude, always maintaining a deep connection to his homeland.

He will be dearly missed by his family, relatives, fellow villagers, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

George is survived by his beloved wife Roula, his children, and his cherished grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, at 2.00 pm at the Church of St George, Thebarton. Interment will follow at Centennial Park Cemetery. Coffee will be served afterwards at the Pan-Laconian Family Centre, 24 Aldridge Avenue, Plympton Park.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.

May his memory be eternal.

The Art of Loom Weaving Preserved in Geraki

By Angelos Angelidis
Eleftheros Typos
14 April 2026

“I have been weaving since the age of twenty, nearly half a century. By 2020, I was the last weaver in the village. The craft was on the brink of disappearing.”

In the heart of Laconia, where the slopes of Mount Parnon meet history, Geraki stands as a living beacon of culture.

Yet behind the village’s stone-built charm, a quieter and more troubling reality had been unfolding in recent years. The art of weaving, a vital means of survival and expression passed down through generations for millennia, had come perilously close to extinction. By 2020, the situation had reached a critical point. In a village once renowned for its weaving, only a single active weaver remained. Quite literally, the craft was saved at the eleventh hour.

The story of its revival began with the concern of the villagers themselves. Sixty-seven-year-old Chrysoula Stamatopoulou, a weaver and now an instructor at the Weaving Centre, told Eleftheros Typos: “I was born and raised in Geraki. I have been weaving since I was twenty, nearly half a century. By 2020, I was the last weaver in the village. The craft was at risk of vanishing.” This realisation sounded the alarm. The Cultural Association of Geronthres did not stand by. It approached the Laconia Regional Authority, seeking a structured, long-term solution rather than a simple grant. The response was both swift and meaningful. With funding from the Region of the Peloponnese, the support of the Municipality of Evrotas, which provided the premises, and in collaboration with the Parnon Development Organisation, the experimental “Weaving Instruction Unit” was established in 2021.

Its success has been remarkable. “To date, more than eighty people have been trained, including five men,” notes Mrs Stamatopoulou, highlighting that men now taking up the loom reflects a broader social shift and a renewed respect for craftsmanship, not merely as domestic work but as a viable profession. Geraki’s reputation has since spread beyond Laconia. Trainees from Portugal, France and England have travelled to the village to learn the craft of the upright loom. Particularly striking is the case of an Australian of Greek heritage who, after completing his training, returned home and now weaves and sells his own creations, carrying the Geraki tradition to the other side of the world.

What sets Geraki apart globally is its use of the upright, or vertical, loom. This is not simply a tool but one whose form has remained largely unchanged since antiquity. Depicted in Egyptian wall paintings over 3,500 years old and in Byzantine manuscripts such as the Book of Job, the upright loom has found its last stronghold in Geraki. Even the construction of new equipment for the Weaving Centre became an act of revival in itself. Local carpenters and blacksmiths were enlisted to build the looms and traditional combs, ensuring that the knowledge of making the instrument would not be lost alongside the weaving technique. On the upright loom, the weaver works seated, while the warp is set vertically around two horizontal beams.

Geraki’s kilims are handwoven rugs distinguished by their intricate floral and geometric patterns. Traditionally, the yarns, wool sourced from local flocks, were dyed using natural pigments from Mount Parnon, such as melegos for black and walnut husks for brown.

The Cultural Association of Geronthres and local bodies now aim to establish a Weaving Museum and to fully document and preserve this tradition. Since 2022, collaboration with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation centres at UCLA and Simon Fraser University has opened new avenues for research, ensuring that this ancient craft not only survives but continues to evolve.

Heat, Heritage and Home: Karitsiotes Gather Beneath the Hackberries of Goodwood Park

“In 36-degree heat and deep summer shade, a small park in Goodwood became, once again, the living heart of Karitsa.”

The sun blazed with the fierce intensity only an Australian summer can bring, the mercury climbing to 36 degrees, yet Soutar Park in Goodwood was alive from early on with laughter, voices and the aroma of barbecues. Under the shade of the great hackberry trees, Karitsa folk, young and old, gathered as they do each year, continuing a tradition that stretches back decades, back to when the first villagers stood on this very spot, keeping the heart of their ancestral village alive in their new adopted home.

Karitsa itself was once a close-knit community of some 450 people, subsistence land tillers cum olive growers cum sheep and goat herders, nestled on the foothills of the Parnon mountains in Laconia, Greece. Today, the village numbers barely 220 permanent residents. Yet here in Australia, particularly in and around the suburb of Goodwood, the number of Karitsa’s descendants now far exceeds the population of the village itself, a powerful reminder of migration, resilience and the enduring pull of shared roots. 

The grills were fired up, tables laid with care, and volunteers moved among the guests, tending to every detail with patience and warmth. Children ran between the trees, laughing and chasing one another, while the oldies, with their thoughts drifting back to the village, exchanged handshakes, embraces and stories from long ago. Every smile, every gesture, every burst of laughter seemed to form a bridge between past and present, bringing the community’s shared memory vividly to life.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Mayor of Unley, Mr Michael Hewitson, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Tsokas, and his wife. Their attendance conveyed a clear message of respect and recognition for the long-standing and vibrant relationship between the local council and the Karitsa community.

In his address, the Mayor highlighted the significant contribution made by Karitsiotes and Greek migrants more broadly to the development of the area, stressing that gatherings such as this are far more than social occasions; they are living beacons of memory and culture. As his words echoed beneath the hackberries, the baton was passed to the Karitsa Community President, who linked the memory of the past with plans for the future.

Australian-born Michael Malavazos shared in the warmth of the day, holding in his hands the manuscript of a forthcoming book to be sponsored by the City of Unley.

“The Karitsa Gathering is not simply a reunion,” he said. “It is the soul of Karitsa here, so far from our ancestral village. Thanks to our volunteers, Karitsa remains united and alive. This year, with the support of the City of Unley, that spirit will take on a lasting form through the publication of a book marking the Community’s 40th anniversary, featuring profiles and photographs of the first seventy families from the village who settled in Australia.”

His words wrapped the atmosphere in a gentle nostalgia, paving the way for the forthcoming book and for the next generation of the community. Particularly heartening was the presence of third- and fourth-generation Karitsiotes, children and grandchildren of the first migrants, born and raised in Australia yet deeply rooted in their ancestral village. Alongside them were friends of the community, fond of the village, adding yet more warmth, laughter and life to the gathering.

And as the sun began to dip behind the hackberry trees, the community, descendants of a once-thriving mountain village now smaller in number at home than abroad, quietly renewed its promise: to come together, to remember, and to keep Karitsa alive, for their children, their grandchildren, and the generations still to come.

Photographs courtesy of Eleni Koutsoviti Mavraidi and Peter Katsambis

Long-Distance Conversations from Athens: Chrysoula Melissinakis and Panagiotis Mavraidis on the Voice of Greece

 “Language, memory and music: the threads that keep us connected across oceans.”

While currently in Athens, Pan-Laconian Society members Chrysoula Melissinakis and Panagiotis Mavraidis were invited to share their story on Greek national radio. On 15 December 2025, they appeared on “Kouventes Makrines” (Long-Distance Conversations), broadcast by the Voice of Greece, offering listeners a thoughtful and heartfelt account of their journey from Greece to Adelaide and their ongoing commitment to Hellenism abroad.

Broadcast from the studios of the Voice of Greece, Chrysoula and Panagiotis spoke candidly about the decision they made 14 years ago to migrate to Australia, a decision they say they have never regretted. Their reflections touched on the challenges of beginning a new life, the opportunities they encountered, and the enduring importance of Greek language and culture in their everyday lives.

A central theme of the discussion was Greek-language education in Adelaide. Chrysoula, who teaches Greek to both children and aduls, spoke about the joy and responsibility of passing on the language, and about education as a living link between generations and homelands.

They also spoke with pride about the Greek Museum of Adelaide, which they founded five years ago. The museum has become a focal point for community memory and cultural storytelling, and they shared their current efforts to secure a permanent home for the collection, an important next step in ensuring its future.

The conversation also highlighted Melodia Adelaide, the Greek-language radio station created and run by Panagiotis. Through music, interviews and community programming, Melodia Adelaide continues to connect Greek Australians with each other, with Greece, and with the wider Hellenic world.

The interview serves as a powerful reminder of the vitality of the Greek diaspora and the impact of individuals who quietly and steadily build cultural bridges across continents. We warmly congratulate Chrysoula Melissinakis and Panagiotis Mavraidis for representing our community with insight, generosity and pride.

Members and friends are encouraged to listen to the full interview online, available via the Voice of Greece on-demand platform:
https://vog.ert.gr/ondemand/kouventes-makrines-me-ti-xrysoula-melissinaki-kai-ton-panagioti-mayraeidi-apo-tin-adelaida-15-12-25/

Counting Coins by Day, Hunting History by Night: A Treasurer’s Remarkable Find

It seems that when club treasurer Stelios Hagias is not diligently counting our pennies, he takes great delight in delving into old—very old—newspapers. On this occasion, he has unearthed what he believes to be the very first recorded Orthodox baptisms in Birmingham, Alabama. The clipping comes from The Birmingham Age-Herald of Friday, June 22, 1900, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the earliest days of organised Greek Orthodox life in the city.

This 1900 newspaper article documents what appears to be the first Greek Orthodox baptisms performed in Birmingham, Alabama, marking a foundational moment for the city’s early Greek community. It highlights the role of Father Dorotheo in uniting scattered Greek immigrants, establishing organised worship, and preserving Orthodox traditions at a time when no Greek church yet existed. The report offers rare insight into early immigrant religious life, inter-church cooperation, and the cultural presence of Greeks in the American South at the turn of the 20th century.

Original Article (Reprinted in Its Entirety)

Date-Line Attribution

Source: The Birmingham Age-Herald
Date: Friday, 22 June 1900
Place of Publication: Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Editorial Note

This article is reproduced in full from The Birmingham Age-Herald and reflects the language, style, and perspectives of its time. It is presented here for its historical value, offering a rare contemporary account of the early Greek Orthodox presence in Birmingham and the establishment of communal religious life among Greek immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.

 FATHER DOROTHEO THE GREEK PRIEST
Administered Baptism to Two Children Yesterday.
AT CHURCH OF THE ADVENT

The Ceremony First Performed Here Since Eastern Priest Was Called to this CountryBaptisms Next Sunday.

The Rev. Father Dorotheo, a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church of Constantinople, is here as the guest of Mr. C. K. Caralis, and has been in charge of the Greek and Russian population in the city. Since the Rev. Father Dorotheo has been here he has succeeded in organizing the Greeks, who have been scattered over a large extent of the city, and has united them into a common brotherhood. He is administering his church work, in which he includes sermons, and has been giving to his Greek brethren religious advice, which cannot be neglected by the many from Chicago or elsewhere who are here.

The first baptismal ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Dorotheo yesterday afternoon at the Church of the Advent. The two children were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. William Boutsick of Jackson. The father of the children is one of the substantial and wealthy Greeks of the city. He is a member of the Greek Orthodox church, most of whom were present at the ceremony, which was one of unusual interest to them. A large congregation were assembled at the Methodist church, The Rev. Father Dorotheo, who was the officiating priest, wore the peculiar vestments of the Eastern church of all silk done in fine needlework, and having on his head a crown, the same as the Russian priest wears.

Father Dorotheo wore the sacerdotal robes, which were of dark blue silk with embroidery of gold. The vestments were the same as those worn by the Russian priests, except that the Greeks wear a crown. Father Dorotheo, in administering the baptismal ceremony, used the Greek ritual. The names of the children were Emmanuel and Mary.

The custom, which is a holiday of the Greek church, is to have the ceremony in a church of the Greek church. But, in this case, on account of the Greek church being now in course of erection, the pastor had to procure a place elsewhere in which to administer the rites. As he was used to the forms of the service, he succeeded in performing the same with great ease and in the presence of the large congregation, he having been assisted by another priest.

The sponsors were Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Zannas. The priest made no mistake and performed the ceremony in the same way as if he had been in a church of his own. He spoke of the customs and usages of the Greek Orthodox church, and he promised to give those present the first information of the Greek church, and he would begin to give the sermon from next Sunday, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, in the Methodist church, in which he has been officiating.

A large dish of water, consecrated by the priest, was one of the striking features of the service. A bottle of oil, also that the priest had consecrated, was used. The priest, taking a small quantity of oil, anointed the little ones, firstly the forehead, then the mouth, the ears, the hands, the feet, and after that the back, and then again the breast, and after that the feet. The oil was put on with the end of his little finger, as it is a custom of the Greek Orthodox church.

After anointing the children and before immersing them, the priest placed a chain and a cross on the neck of each, this being the custom of the Greek church. Then he immersed them in the water and then covered them with a white cloth, and this he did in the presence of the parents and the sponsors. The ceremony was a very interesting one, and the church was well filled. Many people were present, among whom were some of the most substantial Greeks in the city. Father Dorotheo wore the priest's crown and all his sacerdotal robes and carried a prayer book, all according to the Greek Orthodox ritual.

The reception of the children into the Greek church was done by anointing them with the holy water, and the names given them were Emmanuel and Mary.

Father Dorotheo is quite scholarly, and he has a large experience in church work in Greece, after having been professor in the Greek college at Sparta.

He has been appointed by the Greek Orthodox church in Constantinople, and has power to organize and administer to his Greek brethren in the churches where he officiates. He will administer baptism next Sunday to a number of other children expected to be there, as he has been appointed by the Greek church.