Abstract:
Endowments established a long-term relationship between the benefactors, the institution entrusted with the administration of the endowment and society at large. The endowments of the Greek-Orthodox merchants Kyriako Christo Aformo (1800), Demeter Michael Laso (1841) and Constantin Freiherr von Bellio (1840/1843) as well as the archbishop of the Holy Trinity Kosmas Liveropulos (1878/1880) were established for the foundation of six beds in the Vienna General Hospital (Allgemeines Krankenhaus) and the Hospital of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God (Spital der Barmherzigen Brüder) in Vienna. The Greek-Orthodox Community of the Holy Trinity functioned as a mediator between the patients, the hospitals and the foundations while the financial investment of the endowments’ capital was organized by the hospitals. The article gives an overview of the foundation of beds in hospitals in Austria, their organisation, their requirements and terms. The foundations of hospital beds show the strong relation between the settlement of Greek-Orthodox merchants from the Ottoman Empire in Vienna and their relationship to both their society of origin and the host society.