Ionian Village
Encyclopedia
Ionian Village is a private summer camp facility of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
, located on the shores of the Ionian Sea
, in western Peloponnese
, Greece
. Over 16,000 Greek-Americans have visited the camp since its establishment in 1969.
Ionian Village operates a summer travel camp program for Greek-American youth. Each July and August, several hundred young adults in various age groups, from 12 to 18 years, fly together from New York to Athens and travel by motor coach to the camp, located near Vartholomio
, west of the regional trading town of Amaliada
. Volunteer staff for the camp are selected competitively from culturally and linguistically qualified Orthodox Christian college students from across North America.
The camp program of Ionian Village features a blend of athletics, aquatics, arts and crafts, cultural activities, Greek language education, religious instruction and travel to Greek historical sites such as ancient Olympia
, Delphi
and Zakynthos
. Daily routine at the camp closely simulates the blend and pace of religious, recreational and cultural activities as may be experienced in a typical Greek village. Camp sessions are 18 days in length, ending with tours of the Acropolis
of ancient Athens and islands in the Saronic Gulf
. Travel destinations may change from year to year in order to cover a range of important religious, historical or cultural sites across the country.
for the children of early- and mid-twentieth century Greek immigrants in United States and Canada.
The original land grant of 2,840 acres—11,500 stremmata (see stremma
) or 11.5 square kilometers—of pine forest and virgin beachfront on the north-west coast of Ilia Prefecture, on the Peloponnese
mainland was secured by the then-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America in 1966 as a gift from the government of Greece, with supportive sponsorship from Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis
.
In mid-July 1975, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
visited the Ionian Village to officiate at the opening of a new recreational building dedicated in memory of Aristotle Onassis. See this photo of the commemorative plaque unveiled by Mrs. Onassis at the opening.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Church of Constantinople. Its current primate is Archbishop Demetrios of America.-About the Archdiocese:...
, located on the shores of the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, in western Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Over 16,000 Greek-Americans have visited the camp since its establishment in 1969.
Ionian Village operates a summer travel camp program for Greek-American youth. Each July and August, several hundred young adults in various age groups, from 12 to 18 years, fly together from New York to Athens and travel by motor coach to the camp, located near Vartholomio
Vartholomio
Vartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast...
, west of the regional trading town of Amaliada
Amaliada
Amaliada is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has 32,090 citizens...
. Volunteer staff for the camp are selected competitively from culturally and linguistically qualified Orthodox Christian college students from across North America.
The camp program of Ionian Village features a blend of athletics, aquatics, arts and crafts, cultural activities, Greek language education, religious instruction and travel to Greek historical sites such as ancient Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
, Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
and Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
. Daily routine at the camp closely simulates the blend and pace of religious, recreational and cultural activities as may be experienced in a typical Greek village. Camp sessions are 18 days in length, ending with tours of the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
of ancient Athens and islands in the Saronic Gulf
Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf or Gulf of Aegina in Greece forms part of the Aegean Sea and defines the eastern side of the isthmus of Corinth. It is the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal, which cuts across the isthmus.-Geography:The gulf includes the islands of; Aegina, Salamis, and Poros along with...
. Travel destinations may change from year to year in order to cover a range of important religious, historical or cultural sites across the country.
Founding and history
The camp was established in 1969 at the initiative of Archbishop Iakovos of America (of the then-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America) as a means of fostering cultural and religious ties to GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for the children of early- and mid-twentieth century Greek immigrants in United States and Canada.
The original land grant of 2,840 acres—11,500 stremmata (see stremma
Stremma
The stremma is a Greek unit of land area, equal to 1,000 square metres, also called the 'royal' stremma. The name comes from a root meaning 'to turn', presumably referring to the amount of land that can be plowed/turned in a day....
) or 11.5 square kilometers—of pine forest and virgin beachfront on the north-west coast of Ilia Prefecture, on the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
mainland was secured by the then-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America in 1966 as a gift from the government of Greece, with supportive sponsorship from Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Sokratis Onassis , commonly called Ari or Aristo Onassis, was a prominent Greek shipping magnate.- Early life :Onassis was born in Karatass, a suburb of Smyrna to Socrates and Penelope Onassis...
.
In mid-July 1975, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
visited the Ionian Village to officiate at the opening of a new recreational building dedicated in memory of Aristotle Onassis. See this photo of the commemorative plaque unveiled by Mrs. Onassis at the opening.