Historical Vignette Evangelia Mourellou1, Stephanos Gratseas2, Gregory Tsoucalas1 1 Department of the History of Medicine and Medical Deontology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. 2 Vikelaia Municipal Library of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Correspondece Address:  As. Prof Gregory Tsoucalas, School of Medicine, Voutes, Heraklion, 71003 PC, email: gregorytsoukalas@uoc.gr Abstract Healthcare evolved gradually in Crete and was characterized by the development of numerous clinics in Heraklion before the establishment of a general hospital in the late 20th century. A notable milestone in this evolution is the General Clinic of Evangelismos, which was originally functioning as the French School of Nuns, which was founded in 1906 and operated for 35 years, before being repurposed as a German Military Hospital during World War II. After the war, physicians Konstantinos Markatatis, Evangelos Chatzakis, and Konstantinos Karyotakis acquired the building, which later became the General Clinic “Evangelismos”. It operated until 1985 and in 2002 was occupated by anarchists. The building remains a symbol of Heraklion’s evolving healthcare landscape up until this day. Keywords: State of Crete (Romanized: Kritiki Politeia), Municipality of Heraklion, French School of Nuns. Introduction The history of healthcare in Crete is interesting, since it did not evolve rapidly, but gradually in the span of numerous years. During this period of time, a great number of clinics operated in Heraklion, since there wasn’t a general hospital to be of medical assistance for the people of the city until the late decades of the 20th century. Even though at the end of the Ottoman period some laws concerning public health were passed, but there was still significant work that needed to be done. The main concern of the autonomous government was the management of epidemics and sexually transmitted infections, as well as the safety of food and beverage, while at the same time trying to transition towards a modern health system [1]. A significant milestone in the history of medical care in Heraklion is undoubtedly the operation of the General Clinic of Evangelismos, which first operated as a French School of Nuns. Evangelismos clinic existed in an era when a series of private clinics have tried to ameliorate health care in the island of Crete [Table 1] [2]. This historical vignette presents its history. The French Schools of Nuns of Heraklion. It was back in 1906 when the French School of Nuns was built in Heraklion, based on designs of Konstantinos Tsantirakis [Figures 1-2] [3]. This school was a model educational institution, which operated under the direction of Mother Superior Gabrielle Rio of the Monastery of St. Joseph of the Apparition, and included a kindergarten, an elementary school and a high school [4]. Figure 1. Architectural Designs 1900-1910. Evangelismos can be found at ΚΠ1-124 (red arrow). Document type: Permit Application, Date: 28/4/1906, Owner: St. Markatatou, Location: Soultan Ibrahim, Consulting Engineer: E. Basias, Inspecting Engineer: Kyriakos?, Date of Preparation: 05/05/1903, Remarks: E2, S1. The document was found at: Archive Department, Vikelaia Municipal Library of Heraklion. Before the start of World War II in 1941, the young ladies of Heraklion received a high-level classical education, and thousands of them attended the French School of Nuns, where they were also taught foreign languages, music, home economics, handicrafts and dance. Figure 2. Constructional diagram found at: Archive Department, Vikelaia Municipal Library of Heraklion. The building of the school, which had a rather impressive architecture for its time, would house the French Schools of Nuns for 35 years, until June of 1941, when it was forced to cease its operations and turn into a German Military Hospital [5]. Sisters from the same monastery established the first French school in Chania in 1985, which engaged in significant philanthropic activities, especially in the first years of its’ operation, and functioned until 1983, for 131 years, as well as a French language school in Rethymno [Figure 3 & Figure 4] [6]. General Clinic Evangelismos and its’ neglect. Following the liberation in 1945, the property was initially rented and then bought in 1949 by physicians Konstantinos Markatatis, Evangelos Chatzakis, and Konstantinos Karyotakis. They converted it into a medical facility named General Clinic “Evangelismos” [Figure 5], which operated until June of 1985, when physician Iordanis Datseris announced the suspension of its operations [7]. Figure 3. Sister Placide with students of the French Convent School “Saint Joseph de l’Apparition”, 1930, Archive of Konstantinos E. Mamalakis, Heraklion, Museum of History of Crete. Figure 4. Nuns and students outside the building of The French Schools of Nuns, Evangelismos building, Newspaper Patris, June the 9th, 1985. A few years before the closure of the clinic, the one-third share of Konstantinos Markatatis was bewueathed to the planned Medical School of the University of Crete, “…From the Evangelismos Clinic, I own one-third, which I donate to the University of Crete, which is expected to be established soon, as an initial contribution for future benefactors”. After the closure of the clinic, the heirs of the remaining two-thirds offered to sell their shares to the Municipality of Heraklion, but their offer was rejected at the time by the municipal authorities. It was a decade later that the University of Crete acquired the remaining shares, taking full ownership of the building, which remained for approximately 18 years unused. In May 2002 Evangelismos became occupied by anarchists and in 2015 some maintenance and restoration efforts were made, funded by the occupants and supported by sympathizers of the occupation [Figure 6] [4]. Figure 5. Private Clinic Evangelismos, Newspaper Patris, June the 9th, 1985. Epilogue The changes and challenges faced by Heraklion’s healthcare system can be reflected at the transformation of the building housing the French School of Nuns into the General Clinic “Evangelismos” and its subsequent period of neglect and occupation by anarchists. From a center of education, to a medical facility and finally an occupied space, Evangelismos depicts the complexities of historical preservation and adaptation, since it didn’t manage to become a place that would house the advancing medical education and research. Evangelismos serves as a key point for the community of Heraklion, as well as a testament of the many hardships that Heraklion’s healthcare infrastructure went through, while trying to adapt to the rapidly changing times. Figure 6. Evangelismos Clinic nowadays, retrieved from: https://www.kritipoliskaixoria.gr/2023/09/blog-post_233.html. References 1. Bournova E. Santé publique et corps médical en transition: le cas de la Crète au début du XXe siècle. In Annales de démographie historique. Morbidité, mortalité, santé 1996:119-136. 2. Detorakis Th. The History of Crete. Heraklion, 1990. 3. 1875-1925: Indicative Timeline from the Great Castle in Heraklion. Found at: https://ekim.gr/xronologio/1/el/. Retrieved on: 15/7/2024. 4. The neoclassical building, known as ‘Evangelismos’ in Heraklion. 22/3/2016 at iscreta.gr. Found at: http://iscreta.gr/2016/03/το-νεοκλασικό-κτήριο-γνωστό-ως-ευαγγ/. Retrieved on: 15/7/2024. 5. French nuns educated young ladies from Crete. 22/11/2018 at maleviziotis.gr. Found at: https://maleviziotis.gr/2018/11/22/γαλλίδες-καλόγριες-εκπαίδευαν-νεαρέ/. Retrieved on: 15/7/2024. 6. Nikolaos Foukarakis, The French Convent School in Heraklion. Found at: https://e-mesara.gr/i-galliki-scholi-ton-kalograion-sto-irrakleio/. Retrieved on: 15/7/2024. 7. Datseris Ioannis. Clinic Evangelismos. 2/7/1985 at I Allagi newspaper.