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.
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