Anastasios Diamandes Zaraphonithes was born on Easter Sunday, 1846 (likely March 31st) on the Greek island of Arnos, near Arnas. He left Smyrna, Greece in early May, 1869, at which point he traveled to Wheaton to begin his studies. While a student, Anastasios lived with President Jonathan Blanchard (other boarders were from Scotland and England, certainly offering a variety for the Blanchard children). He completed his studies in 1873. Afterwards he moved to New York where he became a student at Union Seminary and is listed as receiving a diploma in the May 1876 Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He then entered medical school until 1878. In the meantime Zaraphonithes was granted an honorary masters degree from Wheaton in 1877, the same year he was ordained a Baptist minister. He became a naturalized citizen on June 22nd the following year in Chicago.

After his naturalization he returned to his hometown in Greece to serve as a medical missionary, where he stayed until 1882. While there he and his wife had two of their three children: Diamanda G. (October 19, 1880), Leroy S. (May 23, 1882) and Jennie F. (March 28, 1887) – Jennie being born on a second tour from 1884-1887. Returning to the United States in 1887 Zaraphonithes studied dentistry for a year at the Dental College of New York City. Afterwards he traveled the United States for four years before returning to Greece as a medical missionary in 1892.

Zaraphonithes applied for a passport on May 7th, 1892 in New York where he is listed as a physician. This application also describes his physical appearance as follows:


Age:	46 years	Mouth:	Medium
Stature:	5 feet, 5 1/2 inches, Eng.	Chin:	Prominent
Forehead:	Prominent	Hair:	Black
Eyes:	Blueish Gray	Complexion:	Dark
Nose:	Medium	Face:	Round

His permanent residences, at the time of his application, was listed as Long Ridge, Marshall Co., Illinois. It was his plan to go abroad within two years of his application, "if convenient."

In 1909 Zaraphonithes is listed in the Directory of Social and Health Agencies of New York City as the Manager of the Free Employment Bureau (Greek), located at 164 Second Ave.

The Alumni Catalogue of the Union Theological Seminary, 1836-1936 (1937, p. 69) lists Zaraphonithes as dying in Winchester, California (between Sun City and San Jacinto), November 5, 1913.|