1. Home of Anthemios
It was originally the home of Anthemius, praetorian prefect of the eastern territory and grandfather of the emperor of the western Roman territory. He was assassinated in 472 BC. His mansions were turned into a home for the elderly and a church. It was located in the homonymous district in the western part of Constantinople, close to the cistern of Mokios on the seventh hill.
Saint Stephen (Feb. 27) served as a courtier of the Emperor Maurice (582-602). After retiring from public service, he founded a hospice for the aged (gerokomeion), which abutted on a hostel for strangers. It is noteworthy that this is the only home for the aged, out of twenty-seven that existed in Constantinople, which had been operating until the fall of Constantinople (last mention in 1446). It was located on the Golden Horn gulf in the vicinity of the Plateia Gate (today known as Un Kapanı Kapısi), in the Armatios district. Saint Stephen reposed in peace in the year 614.
3. Home of Geragathe
It is reported to have been founded by a so-called Agathe, daughter of Patrice Peter. She was named ‘Geragathe’ (meaning "elderly and virtuous") because she kept her virginity to an old age. All occurrences between her and the emperor Constantine V (741-775) have not been sufficiently documented for. The foundations were in the old “Petrion”, on the Gulf of the Golden Horn.
4. Home of Dexiocrates
It was built by Patrice Dexiocrates who lived during the reign of Theodosius II (408-450) within his mansions. It was the Patriarch John V (669-675) who had taken the initiative for its foundation in the 7th century.
5. Home of Helene
Helene, its founder, was wife to the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (913-959). After her death the emperor gave the foundation significant privileges which were ratified with an imperial golden seal.
6. Home of Eugene
There is little evidence regarding this foundation, except for a stamp dating back to the 9th century. It was situated in the “Prosphorianon”, where the railway station of Sirkeci is today.
7. Home of Ephrata
According to the Chronicle of Anonymous (14th century), Ephrata built himself a mansion, which later became a Home for the Elderly located in Demakella, later named after Ephrata(Constantine Satha, Medieval Library, Volume VI, 53), in the present area of Kumkapı (known in Greek as “Kontoskali”).
8. Dedicated to Saint Elias
The only evidence for its existence comes from a legal document. Its location is uncertain. It is likely that it was adjacent to or belonged to the Church of the Prophet Elias which was inside the Petrion.
9. Home of Isidoros
He was the brother of Efvoulos and lived in the era of Justin I (518-527). He converted his mansion into a Home for the Elderly and added a church to it to cater for the elderly.
10. Home of Carianos
It was founded during the reign of Emperor Maurice (582-602) by Patrice Carianos. It was in the area of Blachernae, in the district which is still known as ‘Carianos’.
11. At the Church of Saint Clement
Scarce evidence suggests that it was run by Patriarch Peter (654-666). It was located next to the Church of Saint Clement “far away in the Eudoxias, beyond the Anaplou”, on the banks of the Bosporus where the Rumeli Hisarı is now found.
12. The Arcade (Kefe)
It was constructed by the emperor Leo VI the Wise (886-912), who turned a public building named ‘Kefe’ into a Home for the Elderly. (The Greek word ‘kefe’ means a scent or an arched pathway, an arcade). It was visited by the emperor on Friday each Holy Week on his way back from Blachernae where he went for pilgrimage. Hence, it must have been near Blachernae.
13. At Mangana
It was a home for the poor and the elderly built by the founder of the Convent of Saint George of Mangana, Constantine the IX Monomachos (1042-1055), adjacent to the convent facing the Sea of Propontis.
14. Home of Melovios
The only reference to it lies in the ‘Lives of Saints’, where the saints Theodore the Presbyter and Paphsolypios “from the Melovios’ Home for the Elderly” are commemorated on April 15th.
15. At the Myreleou Convent
As stated in a legal decision, this foundation was founded by Emperor Romanos Lekapenos (920-944). Presumably it was next to the homonymous convent whose church has survived until now and is known as Bodrum Cami.
16. Home of Narsos
It was originally the home of Narsos, who had been prefect during the reign of Justin II (565-578). He financed the building of a hostel, a home for the elderly and a church. The district known as ‘Narsou’ lay between the Drungarii Gate (Odun Kapi) and the Gate of St. John at the Golden Horn (Zindan Kapi), close to Suleymaniye Cami.
17. At St. Paul’s Orphanage
This was a branch of the great homonymous orphanage, located, according to Anna Komnena, “in the vicinity of the acropolis”, where today the Yali Kösk stands, inside the Gül Hane. For more details see St. Paul’s Orphanage.
18. At Petria
It is only mentioned in the constitutional documents of an imperial building. It was built on the Golden Horn Gulf in the homonymous district belonging to the Phanar.
19. Home of Peter
In the years of Justinian (527-565), it was the residence of Patrice Peter and was converted into a home for the elderly with a church. There is no evidence of its location.
20. At the Stables of Prassini
During his very short reign, Artavasdos (742) built a home for the elderly where the stables of the Prassini (the Greens) where earlier. It was situated at the coast of Zeugma near the Drungarii Gate (Odun Kapı).
21. Home of Romanos
It was built by Romanos Argiros (1028-1034) and situated by the Domninos River, close to the Market (Kapali Çarsi).
22. At Sagma
It was founded by Stefan, a courtier of Emperor Maurice (582-602). The location of Sagma is unknown.
23. Home of Sevirus
It was founded by Patrice Sevirus who was a step brother of Emperor Constance (642-668). It was built inside his mansions and located close to the Forum of Tauri, in the vicinity of the Cami of Beyazit
24. At Skala
It was operated by Patriarch Thomas (667-669) before his elevation to the throne. It was situated in today’s Bebek on the Bosporus.
25. Home of Florence
Originally the home of Patrice Florence, who lived in the era of Arkadios (395-408), and became a center for the elderly prior to his death. It was inside the old gardens of Seragio.
26. At Samatya
It is alleged to have been founded by St. Helen (247-328), Constantine the Great’s mother. It was located in Samatya by the coast.
27. Constantine’s Home
Constantine Porphyrogenitos (913-959) converted the majestic stables which had been built at the rear of and around the Church of Hagia Sophia (God’s Wisdom) by the Patriarch Theophylaktos (931-956) into a home for the elderly.
