Philanthropy and appropriation policies towards the orphans and foundlings of the Greek Orthodox Community of Istanbul, (1852-1908)

Abstract

This study, on the one hand, focuses on the treatment of orphans and foundlings of the Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul and concentrates on the appropriation policies applied towards them. On the other hand, it discusses the role of the philanthropy in terms of how it functioned as a welfare state in the public issues of the community with a motive to impose a certain ideology and intention on the poor and destitute members of the community. In this context, this thesis deals with the organization of the Yedikule Orphanage which was established in 1852, as a part of National Philanthropy institutions and discussions related to its transfer to Prinkipo in 1903 between the authorities of the community and the Ottoman state. It also argues that these orphanages, the Prinkipo national orphanage which continued to function in its new building in Büyükada after 1903, and the orphanage of girls, established in 1906 in Kınalıada (Proti), tried to be considered as one of the most important educational institutions of the Orthodox Greek community of Istanbul where they taught the Greek language and Greek orthodox ethnic identity. However, as it is asserted in this thesis, although these orphanages take attention due to their impressive buildings, their long distance from the city centre, the isolation and the marginalisation of the orphans as well as their dependency to generous donations of the benevolent continued have been increased.