Baloukli's Greek nursing home is situated beside the Greek hospital of Constantinople. Its financial resources come from the exploitation of real estate and Greek family's manors while it only houses Orthodox Greeks, free of charge. Today more than 110 elderly live there.
No Greek staff
The matron of the nursing home is the only Greek who works in the nursing home, the rest of the staff is Turkish. The Greek minority is hopelessly declining in Constantinople and the nursing home cannot be staffed by Greeks alone. Nevertheless, this fact does not impact the quality of the services provided, as the Turkish staff performs its duties impeccably.
The organization and the tidiness of the nursing home are exemplary while food, baths and medication are always on time. Greek satellite television can be viewed in every room and the elderly can practice their faith at the spacious church of Saints Anargyroi, housed in the same building. There is also a broadcast of the service over loudspeakers for those who are bedridden.
Bright and clean
On our way to the nursing home, we thought that we were going to see an old dark building, where forsaken, powerless old Greek people would be withering. When we got there, though, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was a hospitable, bright and spotless place.
The Greeks of Constantinople, who have experienced great sorrows during the past decades, are lucky to have an institution where they can live their last few years decently.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com
MORE PHOTOS
The Archaeological Museum of Tegea houses ancient Greek treasures of immense beauty, which are presented in a masterful way. Touring the museum is an almost mystic experience.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens houses the new Greek National Opera since 2017. This is an unsurpassed work of art of minimalist style, for which all Greeks are proud.
The state-of-the-art spaces of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Culture Center in Athens were flooded with visitors from Greece and abroad who attended the Nostos 2023 international conference on Mental Health.
Access is not allowed in Vidronisi, as it is full of wild birds' eggs and chicks.
Egrikapi is a neglected gate of the Byzantine castle of Constantinople. At the dawn of 29th May 1453, a group of Turkish soldiers entered the castle through it and broke the city's defense from within.
Medieval salt pit, corrosion and immobility due to the saltiness, wild birds' shelter, magical images, thermal waters.
A exciting tour in Constantinople to investigate credible information regarding the burial ground of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine Palaiologos. The information we gathered is astounding!
Next to the ancient Greek theater of Mantineia in Arcadia is located Saint Fotini. It is a building that combines ancient Greek and Christian influences. Many great names in art were flattered about this church, but many also strongly disputed it.