IV Next is an exciting new ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America for college students and young adults offered by Ionian Village.

Full participation and all costs associated with this program (flight to and from Greece, meals, travel, lodging) are subsidized through a generous grant from Leadership 100. IV Next will focus on the influential excursions of the classic Ionian Village program and the future of the participants by providing access to mentors, working with Leadership 100.

Dozens of colleges and universities offer study abroad programs in Greece, and many of the programs of our own diaspora offer similar opportunities. However, IV Next is the only travel-based program for young adults that has our Greek Orthodox Faith as a core tenet of the program. Only IV Next combines professional development, international travel, and the Orthodox Faith into one all-inclusive program.

The twelve-day itinerary includes time at the historic Ionian Village campgrounds, as well as excursions to the cornerstones of the travel program. Throughout the program, participants will engage in discussions about career goals, the financial realities of being a millennial, and how to successfully incorporate our Orthodox Faith into everyday business life. These conversations and sessions will provide not only a more solid understanding of vocation, but also serve as an excellent inter-community networking opportunity.

Through a varied schedule that includes churches and monasteries, meetings with political and religious figures, and museums and archaeological sites, IV Next participants will become intimately familiar with all aspects of Greece, her culture and people.

Over 150 applications were received for this program, marking the need for a program like this amongst the young adults of our community. Participants of the IV Next program will be selected by a selection committee consisting of representatives from the Office of Ionian Village as well as the trip leaders, Fr. Vincent and Presvytera Minucci.