Russian Philanthropy in Greece and Crete during the Reign of King George I

Abstract

The Russian government allocated substantial funds for a variety of charitable acts in monolithic Greece between 1867 and 1909: the construction of numerous churches, hospitals, orphanages, etc. One of the most glorious pages of Russian charitable aid is the building of the Evangelismos hospital in Athens, the largest in the Middle East at the time. On the initiative of Queen Olga of the Hellenes, a Russian cemetery was arranged for Russian sailors, which later became the Necropolis of Piraeus; a naval hospital was built in Piraeus, where the poorest Greeks were also treated. Russian sailors took part in extinguishing fires, helping the population affected by earthquakes, rescuing the Christian population of Crete. The Russian sailors took part in extinguishing fires and assisting people who suffered earthquakes and saved the Christian population of Crete from the Turkish massacres during the uprisings of 1867—1869, 1878 and 1897.