HOSPITAL

HOSPITAL. The hospital (xenona or nosokomeion) was a regular feature of Byzantine (q.v.) life, such institutions for the care of the elderly, ill, and homeless being the continual object of the benefactions of the wealthy and powerful. The emperors as “imitators of Christ” were obliged to lead the way by reflecting God’s love for humanity, his philanthropia, and often did so through the founding and endowing of hospitals. These institutions were normally attached to monasteries, provision for which had appeared as early as Basil the Great’s legislation on monasticism (q.v.), and staffed by professionally trained physicians and nurses, the standard of whose care appears to have normally been very high.