HOWLAND Panos P. Zafirides, 93, passed away Saturday, April 7, 2024. Panos was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Greece, to parents Petros and Kyriakoula Zafirides.
Historical accounts and descriptions of early Greek-Australian events and ceremonies are by all indications a rarity. In contrast to today’s consumer society, the advancement of technology has made it easier to capture and showcase the memories of an event or a ceremony.
In many instances, when articulating our Australian Greek history, it seems fashionable to use anecdotal evidence as a means of information.
It is a relatively rare occurrence to discover a text or a testimonial that records with accuracy a Greek Orthodox sacrament that took place in Australia for the first time. In this instance we are referring to the first officially acknowledged Greek Orthodox wedding in Australia that was solemnized at St John’s Greek Orthodox Church Melbourne, on November 20 1898 by Fr Athanasios Kantopoulos soon after his arrival to Australia from Jerusalem.