The history of Greece’s old public buildings is often much richer and more complex than we imagine. All you have to do is read stories and facts and understand how different everything was even in their slightest details a few years ago. Even behind the construction of buildings such as hospitals were hiding great efforts, difficulties, and even fundraisers. This is the case with a Greek hospital in Attica which was built in the late 1800s with a nationwide fundraiser. It is the Children’s Hospital of Agia Sophia.
The hospital in Attica that was built with a nationwide fundraiser
The Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital was built in the autumn of 1896 on a plot of land that had been granted a few months earlier following a decision by the Council of the Orthodox Church. However, apart from the grant of the plot, it was also crucial where the money was found for its construction.
The initiative for its construction belonged to Princess Sophia, but the money was raised through a nationwide fundraiser. initially, the first School of Nursing operated there, while in January 1900 the founding statute of the hospital was published in the Government Gazette. Within 60 days the hospital already had 16 beds and its official opening took place.
In April 1900, the first sick child was admitted for hospitalization. The Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital is one of the most historic hospitals in the country. Characteristic is that during the Balkan wars this hospital in Attica was ordered to treat war-wounded and in 1914 its doctors participated in the home care of Macedonian refugees.
With information from: “Public Hospitals in Athens and Piraeus”, EDITION INAP
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Frequently Asked Questions
Agia Sophia Children's Hospital was built in the autumn of 1896 in Attica, Greece. The land was granted following a decision by the Council of the Orthodox Church, and the hospital was constructed through a nationwide fundraiser initiated by Princess Sophia.
The Agia Sophia Children's Hospital was funded through a nationwide fundraiser. While Princess Sophia took the initiative for its construction, the money needed for building the hospital was raised from public donations across Greece rather than government funding alone.
Agia Sophia Children's Hospital is one of the most historic hospitals in Greece. It played a crucial role during the Balkan wars by treating war-wounded, provided home care for Macedonian refugees in 1914, and pioneered children's healthcare in the country. In the 1980s and 1990s, it expanded with new departments including a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
Agia Sophia Children's Hospital officially opened in January 1900, within 60 days of its founding statute being published in the Government Gazette. The hospital initially had 16 beds, and the first sick child was admitted for hospitalization in April 1900.
The first School of Nursing in Greece operated at Agia Sophia Children's Hospital before it officially became a hospital. This nursing school was instrumental in training medical personnel for the hospital's operations when it officially opened in 1900.
