(Why Young Greek-Americans Should Go to Ionian Village – Part I)

This is the second of three articles I have written about Ionian Village (IV) – the Greek Orthodox summer camp held near Patras, Greece, for young Hellenes. Ask thousands of Greek-Americans over the years about Ionian Village (IV) and they will use phrases like “life-changing” and “the best summer of my life” to describe it.

These three articles will function like a conversation, as if the three Benis brothers, Alexandros, Nick, and I were in a room full of Greek youths who are curious to learn more about IV.

We can attest to having the same priceless experience, and a whole lot more. Between us, we’ve been fortunate to go to the camp eight times. That pretty much makes us experts on the matter.

Each article will enable on of us, Nick and Alexandros and me, to talk about our unique experiences in own voices. Next up is Alexandros.

Alexandros Benis, 21 (IV ’18, ’19)

I was the only Greek kid at my high school. Sure, I went to church most Sundays growing up, but I didn’t have many friends my age there. That’s why going to IV with 250 other kids just like me was such a life-changing experience. It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say it was a true spiritual awakening. In fact, I often tell people my life is now defined by my experiences there. I think of it as my life before I went to IV, and my life after I went to IV.

Going to camp in Greece really made me wake up to my Greek identity. Although I always naturally gravitated to my heritage thanks to my upbringing, it was really shaken awake by going to IV. I was amazed by finally being able to ‘see my faith’ for the first time: venerating the relics of incorrupt Saints, witnessing miracles, and seeing places of worship from the smallest village churches to the greatest Greek Cathedrals. You really get to see Orthodoxy in all of its forms.

On top of that, you get to do it all with people who you can relate to on a very deep level. That was important for me, as someone who lived far away from church in a city without a lot of Greek people. I didn’t grow up as surrounded by the Greek community as someone from Boston, New York, or Chicago might have been.

Going to IV for the first time… gosh, I was so into it. I fell in love with it. I got used to going to church twice a day, every day. I got used to praying before meals. And in general, I was amazed by how everyone was on board with it. My fellow campers were really, really happy to be there.

IV also did wonders for my permanent spiritual life. I had never realized the importance of regular church attendance before – but at IV, we got to attend Orthros and Vespers every day. We held a Paraklesis service each Wednesday. And thanks to IV, I now feel comfortable talking to priests and understanding the manner and expectations of going to a monastery.

All of this lit a fire inside me that made me want to learn more, and after the ‘IV high’ wore off and I went back to the United States, I ended up dedicating a lot of my energy and personal time towards the study of theology and church history.

I think I can speak for so many thousands of Greek-Americans who have gone when I say that it was one of the best experiences of my life, and it was certainly the most transformative experience of my life. IV marked a starkly positive turning point for me, and I am very happy to say that I went there and still treasure the memories I made to this day.