New York – The site of Ionian Village in Vartholomio, Ilia, Greece, sustained extensive damage from fierce tornados that went through that location and the wider area of the prefecture of Ilia, earlier today. Ionian Village is the international Summer Camp ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Greece.

The programs of Ionian Village had concluded earlier in August and there were no campers or staff present. There are no reported casualties.

The Director of Ionian Village, Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, is on his way to Greece to assess the damage. More news regarding the extent of the damage and efforts to address this catastrophe will be made available in the following days.

At this time, His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, asks the faithful of the Archdiocese to pray fervently for all those affected throughout Greece and most especially for the beloved Ionian Village, which has been the summer home of thousands of campers over the past 46 years.