NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios of America has appointed the Rev. Deacon Evagoras C. Constantinides as the new Director of Ionian Village. Deacon Evagoras, who will also continue to serve as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Direct Archdiocesan District, will oversee the continuation and expansion of the immensely successful Ionian Village program which has changed the lives of thousands of young Orthodox Christians in its over 40 years of ministry.

Deacon Evagoras grew up outside of Chicago, Illinois and lived in Bethesda, Maryland prior to attending Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He has extensive experience in the fields of youth and camping ministries, having served camps and conducting retreats across the country. Prior to entering the seminary, Deacon Evagoras served as a counselor at Fanari Camp in Chicago. He also served Camp Saint Paul, the camping ministry of the Direct Archdiocesan District, as both Boys Director and Program Director. Additionally, Deacon Evagoras served as Program Director at Summer Fenn Day Camp, an eight-week day camp for children ages 5-15 in Concord, Massachusetts. He is very conscious of the remarkable spiritual impact Ionian Village has on our Greek Orthodox youth and young adults, having participated in the program multiple times as a camper and serving as a staff member for three years. He is eager to continue the rich Ionian Village tradition of discovering Greece and living Orthodoxy.

Deacon Evagoras holds a degree in Communication Studies from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois and a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in December 2009 by His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane and will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood November 20, by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, in Flushing, NY. His wife Maria (Calender), of Bethesda, Maryland, has also participated in Ionian Village as a camper and served as staff member for multiple summers. Deacon Evagoras is the son of Fr. Christopher and Presvytera Angie Constantinides of Holy Trinity in Dallas, Texas and the grandson of Fr. Evagoras Constantinides of Merrillville, Indiana.