Fr. Anastasios Gounaris

Fr. Anastasios Gounaris was born on May 29, 1957, in New Bedford, MA.

From a young age Anastasios’ interests centered on reading, the space program, and the sea. As “Taso” grew he determined that he would reach for the stars as an astronaut – a goal that he strove for by excelling in mathematics and the science.

On the parish front, Taso was always active as an altar boy and in GOYA and he served as a helper to his parish’s chanters.  During college, Taso even served on the parish council.

Graduating from New Bedford High School in 1975 and on a full state scholarship, Taso attended the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth to study electrical engineering.

In 1977, Taso participated in the Archdiocese’s Ionian Village Spiritual Odyssey program.

After graduating from UMass with a BS in electrical engineering, he began his studies at Holy Cross School of Theology and served as teaching assistant to renowned Orthodox patristic scholar Dr. Panayotis Christou and to Holy Cross Canon Law professor Lewis Patsavos.

During his time at Holy Cross, Taso met his future wife, Maria Evangelou-Haralambou Sinodinou-Kamilou. Anastasios and Maria were married in June 1983 and have two daughters: Eleni and Katrina Paraskevi.

Taso was ordained a deacon by Bishop Philip on September 11, 1983 in his home parish of St. George in New Bedford.  Two weeks later, on September 25, 1983 he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Spyridon Church in New York City.

In September 1985, Fr. Taso was assigned by Bishop Timothy of Detroit, to the St. Demetrios parish in Saginaw, MI and on October 1, 1991 to the Holy Trinity parish in Indianapolis, also elevating Father to the rank of Economos.

To this day, Father Anastasios enjoys travel and reading and spending time by the sea.