08/31/2026
Did you know that our community has a museum? That's right! This museum documents the collective heritage of the Greeks on Vancouver Island, starting all the way back to the voyages of Juan de Fuca (Ioannis Fokás) in 1592. Thanks to Mrs. Wendy Smylitopoulos (pictured) our dedicated curator for many years, she and her team are tirelessly researching and collecting historical records and artefacts relating to the Greeks in Victoria and the rest of the island. This is incredibly important for if one knows not from where they have come, they will not have the adequate compass to navigate the storms of this life. Our ancestors have handed on to us our rich faith and tradition which is our duty to hand on to the coming generations. If you are of Greek heritage or part of a family with some Greek roots living on Vancouver Island, and have stories, historical records, or items passed down to you which you'd be willing to share, we would be honoured and blessed to know and help you preserve them before they are lost.
"Beholding the sea of life surging high with the storm of temptations, I have fled to your calm haven and cry aloud to you: Lead up my life from corruption, O Most Merciful One." (From the "canon" which is part of the morning Orthros service).
The museum is open on most Wednesdays and during our festival weekends which is taking place for another weekend. See our website for more details:
https://www.vvigcs.org/museum/
