Heather Gialousis, from the St, John s Greek Orthodox Church s Drive-Thru Seafood Fest, prepares to go boxes with food. Many churches in the area had to alter their plans for the annual Lenten Fish Fry s held throughout the Lent season.
Many Valley churches and organizations are offering up fish and sides for those giving up meat on Fridays during the Lenten season.
A year ago, these places were at their height for having fish dinner fundraisers until ordered by state and county health officials to shut down in the COVID-19 pandemic’s early days.
The dinners have started once again this year, but with social distancing guidelines in place including no inside dining but rather drive-thru, carryout fish dinners.
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.