A massive stone building has been rising on Primorski Avenue in Bulgaria’s coastal city of Varna for 150 years now, catching the eye with its dignity and beauty. The first charity hospital in Bulgaria was once housed in this solid edifice built with the 25,000 Silver Rubles bequeathed by benefactor Paraskeva Nicolau.

We know very little about Paraskeva Nicolau, Associate Professor Klara Dokova from the Medical University of Varna told Radio Bulgaria. He was born at the beginning of the 19^th century in Varna. His father Nicola was a merchant who had broad connections in Constantinople and Odessa. Young Paraskeva inherited and developed successfully his father’s business and later lived and worked mainly in Odessa, where he was also known for his charitable activity. For this noble reason he became an honorary citizen of Odessa, but he never forgot his native town.

On January 30, 1858, in the presence of several notable merchants from Odessa, a medic and a priest, Paraskeva Nicolau signed his will. Four years later he sent it to the people he chose to execute his will - to build a hospital for medical treatment of orphans, ill, poor and elderly people. He chose the locality of Saint Elijah himself. There, he built a medical center with a pharmacy, a house for a doctor and servants, as well as a small park for the patients. He also ordered the planting of mulberry trees for feeding silkworms, so that the proceeds could help the hospital.

Paraskeva Nicolau also left a 24-page rule book where he described how the hospital had to be managed. According to this document, the medic had to be a Doctor of Medicine and the pharmacist had to possess a pharmacy certificate. Each year, the doctor had to present a written report to the board of trustees. Moreover, he was not allowed to take money or presents from the patients. The medical treatment of all people, regardless of their religion, nationality or gender was free of charge. The charity hospital had the capacity to admit 18 patients. It employed eight people and a priest. The hospital was unveiled in 1869 - seven years after Paraskeva Nicholau’s death.

In his will, Varna’s biggest donor allotted another large sum (50,000 Silver Rubles), this time for the construction of a church. Once, during a trip to Odessa, the sea waves began playing a deadly dance with his ship. Frightened, Paraskeva Nicolau begged Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker for help and promised to build a temple in his honour. Master builder Yanko Konstandi, who was later in charge of the construction of the Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral in Varna, erected the church in 11 years. The image of benefactor Paraskeva Nicolau was painted in the church’s narthex.

Paraskeva Nicolau carried out two more noble deeds, Associate Professor Klara Dokova adds. He donated money for scholarships of children from Varna to study trade and other sciences in Athens. Thanks to such scholarship, renowned Greek writer and poet Kostas Varnalis graduated philosophy in the University of Athens. Paraskeva Nicolau also left money to pay the dowery of the female orphans, which was a very noble cause at that time.

The generosity and the nobility of the Varna-born merchant are remembered to this day. One of the streets in Varna was also named after him. The Museum on the History of Medicine which is the only museum dedicated to the history of medicine on the Balkans is housed at the former charity hospital building. Many worshippers continue to go for a prayer to the local church of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov